AMD A6-9400 vs Intel Core i3-7100 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the AMD A6-9400 and the Intel Core i3-7100?

A: The AMD A6-9400 has an average benchmark score of 794, while the Intel Core i3-7100 has an average benchmark score of 781. This places the AMD part 1.7% higher in the database's aggregate scoring.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: They are virtually identical. The AMD A6-9400 scores 2309, and the Intel Core i3-7100 scores 2310, a difference of only 0.04% in favor of the Intel chip.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, which is higher than the AMD A6-9400's base clock of 3.40 GHz. The AMD part compensates with a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the Intel chip has no boost clock listed.

Q: What are the closest rivals to the AMD A6-9400 in the database?

A: The nearest rivals are the AMD A10-5800B (avg score 794, 0.1% higher), the AMD A10-7850K (avg score 796, 0.3% higher), the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G (avg score 797, 0.3% higher), and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 (avg score 790, 0.5% lower).

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD A6-9400 and the Intel Core i3-7100 support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both have a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 has a 3 MB shared L3 cache, while the AMD A6-9400 has no L3 cache listed in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A6-9400 is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, using a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It contains 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-7100 uses the Kaby Lake architecture, also codenamed Kaby Lake, fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core and thread configurations differ meaningfully. The AMD A6-9400 offers 2 cores and 2 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7100 offers 2 cores and 4 threads, giving the Intel chip simultaneous multithreading. This thread advantage does not translate into a large benchmark lead in the recorded Cinebench tests, but it is a structural difference in how the two processors handle workloads.

Cache hierarchies are distinct. The AMD A6-9400 has 160 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of shared L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel Core i3-7100 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's L3 cache provides a shared pool that the AMD part lacks entirely.

Clock behavior also differs. The AMD A6-9400 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, so it can raise frequency under load. The Intel Core i3-7100 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and no listed boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency. The Intel chip starts at a higher base, but the AMD chip has headroom to climb.

Memory support is similar: both use DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs, with the AMD A6-9400 providing Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i3-7100 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: the AMD A6-9400 uses Radeon R5 graphics, while the Intel Core i3-7100 uses Intel HD 630.

The sockets are incompatible: the AMD A6-9400 fits AMD Socket AM4, and the Intel Core i3-7100 fits Intel Socket 1151. The AMD part is unlocked? No, the multiplier is locked on both processors. The AMD A6-9400 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i3-7100 has a TDP of 51 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data in the database covers five Cinebench tests, and the results are remarkably close. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors score exactly 232. The database records the AMD A6-9400 as the winner with a delta of 0%, meaning the tie is awarded to the AMD part. This is the only test where the AMD chip holds a clear (if nominal) edge.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel Core i3-7100 scores 970 against the AMD A6-9400's 969, a delta of -0.1%. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire head-to-head set, and it is still under a single percentage point. The Intel chip wins this round by a single point.

Cinebench R20 single-core is another exact tie at 136 for both processors. The AMD A6-9400 is credited with the win at 0% delta. This is notable because the Intel chip has a 500 MHz base clock advantage, yet the recorded single-core scores are identical.

Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the R20 pattern. The Intel Core i3-7100 scores 2310, and the AMD A6-9400 scores 2309, a delta of 0%. The Intel part wins by one point again.

Cinebench R23 single-core is a third exact tie, with both processors scoring 326. The AMD A6-9400 takes the win at 0% delta.

The overall win tally is 3 wins for the AMD A6-9400 and 2 wins for the Intel Core i3-7100. However, the interpretation must be careful: the AMD wins are all ties (0% delta), while the Intel wins are by a single point in multi-core tests (-0.1% and 0%). In practical terms, the two processors are inseparable in Cinebench workloads. The AMD part never wins by a measurable margin, and the Intel part's largest margin is a single point in a 970-point score.

The broader database results reinforce this picture. The AMD A6-9400's average benchmark score of 794 places it at the 21st percentile of all CPUs, and the Intel Core i3-7100 also sits at the 21st percentile with an average score of 781. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD A10-5800B at 794 (0.1% higher), the AMD A10-7850K at 796 (0.3% higher), and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G at 797 (0.3% higher). The Intel Core i3-7100's nearest rivals include the AMD A10-5800K at 778 (0.4% higher), the Intel Pentium G4520 at 778 (0.4% higher), and the AMD Athlon X4 760K at 777 (0.6% higher). Both processors are surrounded by older or lower-tier parts, and neither breaks out of the pack.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the AMD A6-9400 and the Intel Core i3-7100:

• Threads: AMD A6-9400 has 2 threads; Intel Core i3-7100 has 4 threads.
• Base clock: AMD A6-9400 is 3.40 GHz; Intel Core i3-7100 is 3.90 GHz.
• Boost clock: AMD A6-9400 is 3.70 GHz; Intel Core i3-7100 has no boost clock listed.
• TDP: AMD A6-9400 is 65 watts; Intel Core i3-7100 is 51 watts.
• Socket: AMD A6-9400 uses AMD Socket AM4; Intel Core i3-7100 uses Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture: AMD A6-9400 is Excavator; Intel Core i3-7100 is Kaby Lake.
• Process node: AMD A6-9400 is 28 nm; Intel Core i3-7100 is 14 nm.
• Foundry: AMD A6-9400 is GlobalFoundries; Intel Core i3-7100 is Intel.
• Transistors: AMD A6-9400 has 3,100 million; Intel Core i3-7100 has no listed value.
• Die size: AMD A6-9400 is 250 mm²; Intel Core i3-7100 has no listed value.
• L1 cache: AMD A6-9400 is 160 KB; Intel Core i3-7100 is 64 KB per core.
• L2 cache: AMD A6-9400 is 1 MB (shared); Intel Core i3-7100 is 256 KB per core.
• L3 cache: AMD A6-9400 has none; Intel Core i3-7100 has 3 MB (shared).
• PCIe lanes: AMD A6-9400 has Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only); Intel Core i3-7100 has Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated graphics: AMD A6-9400 has Radeon R5; Intel Core i3-7100 has Intel HD 630.
• Release date: AMD A6-9400 is 2019-03-15; Intel Core i3-7100 is 2017-01-02.
• Part number: AMD A6-9400 is AD9400AGABBOX; Intel Core i3-7100 is SR35C.
• Average benchmark score: AMD A6-9400 is 794; Intel Core i3-7100 is 781.

Fields that are the same include cores (2 each), memory support (DDR4), memory bus (dual-channel), memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s), ECC memory support (false), market segment (Desktop), production status (Active), and multiplier unlock status (locked on both).

The Verdict

The data shows two processors that are effectively equivalent in the workloads recorded here. The AMD A6-9400 and Intel Core i3-7100 trade single-point advantages in multi-core Cinebench tests and tie exactly in every single-core test. The AMD part wins the head-to-head tally 3 to 2, but all three of its wins are dead heats at 0% delta. The Intel part's two wins are by margins of 0.1% or less. No benchmark in the head-to-head set separates these processors by more than one point.

The AMD A6-9400 should be the choice for a buyer prioritizing the slightly higher average benchmark score (794 versus 781), the higher boost clock capability (3.70 GHz), and the larger L1 and L2 cache allocations. It also offers a newer release date of 2019 compared to 2017 for the Intel part, and it uses the AM4 socket, which may align with a preferred platform. The Radeon R5 integrated graphics and the 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are sufficient for a basic desktop configuration.

The Intel Core i3-7100 should be the choice for a buyer prioritizing lower power consumption at 51 watts versus 65 watts, a higher base clock of 3.90 GHz, and the presence of a 3 MB shared L3 cache. The 4 threads versus 2 threads is a structural advantage in theory, but the recorded Cinebench results show no measurable benefit in these specific tests. The 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide more expansion headroom for discrete devices.

Neither processor distinguishes itself at the 21st percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals for both are older AMD and Intel parts with similar or slightly higher scores, such as the AMD A10-7850K at 796 and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G at 797 on the AMD side, and the AMD A10-5800K at 778 and the Intel Pentium G4520 at 778 on the Intel side. A buyer choosing between these two should base the decision on platform fit, power envelope, and cache preferences, because the benchmark scores will not decide the matter.