AMD A6-3420M

The AMD A6-3420M is a 32nm quad-core mobile processor from the Llano generation, built on the K10 architecture and released in December 2011. It operates at a base clock of 1.50 GHz with a boost up to 2.40 GHz, draws 35W TDP, and integrates a Radeon HD 6520G GPU. Its Geekbench scores are 616 for multi-core and 234 for single-core, with an average benchmark score of 425; it ranks at the 6th percentile among all CPUs.

Who Should Consider It

Given its modest scores, the A6-3420M is suited for legacy or low-intensity workloads. The single-core score of 234 is low by modern standards, so tasks like web browsing with many tabs or office suites that rely on single-threaded performance will feel sluggish. However, the quad-core design and multi-core score of 616 suggest it can handle light multitasking and older multi-threaded applications. The integrated Radeon HD 6520G provides basic graphics capability, making it usable for video playback and casual games from its era. It is not a candidate for modern gaming or content creation; the 6th percentile ranking indicates it falls behind the vast majority of CPUs. Users who need a processor for a retro PC, a simple file server, or a low-power laptop for word processing might find it acceptable, but only if the workloads are undemanding and single-threaded performance is not critical.

How It Compares

The A6-3420M sits in a tight cluster of rivals. Against the AMD A8-3500M, which averages 426 points, the A6 is 0.1% slower. That difference is negligible in real-world terms, but the A8-3500M does have a slightly higher average score. The A6 is 0.2% faster than the AMD Phenom II X3 700e (average 424), a three-core desktop part that edges out the A6 by a hair. The Intel Celeron J4025, a modern dual-core, averages 426 and is 0.3% ahead of the A6. Finally, the A6 outperforms the Intel Core i5-460M by 0.8% (the i5-460M averages 422). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, indicating that the A6-3420M is performance-equivalent to these four rivals despite differences in architecture, core counts, and clock speeds. The benchmark data shows no significant winner among this group.

Platform and Compatibility

The A6-3420M uses the AMD Socket FS1, a mobile socket designed for the Llano family. It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory, with no ECC capability. There is no L3 cache; instead, each core has 128 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2. The integrated graphics is the Radeon HD 6520G. The processor is end-of-life, and its release date was December 19, 2011. Because it is a mobile part, upgrade paths are limited to other FS1 processors, but the platform is outdated. The multiplier is not unlocked, so overclocking is not an option. The data does not list PCIe support, which is typical for a mobile chip of this era.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does the A6-3420M have?

A: It has 4 cores and 4 threads, implying one thread per core.

Q: What is the TDP of this processor?

A: The TDP is 35 watts, which is typical for a mobile chip of its generation.

Q: Does it have an integrated GPU?

A: Yes, it integrates a Radeon HD 6520G.

Q: What memory does it support?

A: It supports DDR3 in dual-channel configuration, without ECC.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not supported.

Q: What is the process node?

A: The process node is 32 nm, with 1,178 million transistors on a 228 mm² die.

Power and Thermals

The 35W TDP places the A6-3420M in the low-power mobile segment. This figure implies that a modest cooling solution, such as a small fan or heat pipe, is sufficient. The 32nm process node contributes to the relatively low power draw. While the TDP is not the absolute lowest, it is well within the range for a thin-and-light laptop of 2011. The absence of a high core count or high clocks keeps thermal demands in check. For a user building a low-power system, this chip would not require an aggressive cooler, but the end-of-life status means thermal solutions are no longer manufactured for this socket.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Geekbench single-core score of 234 is markedly lower than the multi-core score of 616. This discrepancy indicates that the processor scales well across its four cores, but each core is individually weak. The base clock of 1.50 GHz and boost of 2.40 GHz are modest by any standard. In workloads that are single-threaded—such as many legacy applications, spreadsheets, or basic scripting—the A6-3420M will lag behind. Conversely, multi-threaded tasks that can use all four cores will see better performance, though the absolute multi-core score remains low. The 6th percentile overall ranking is dragged down by the poor single-thread showing; the multi-core score, while still low, is relatively better. Users should expect that modern web pages and operating systems will strain the single-core capabilities.

Benchmark Performance

In the Geekbench multi-core test, the A6-3420M scores 616, while its single-core score is 234. The average benchmark score across all tests is 425, placing it in the 6th percentile of all CPUs. This percentile is very low, indicating that the processor is outperformed by the vast majority of CPUs in the database. When compared to its nearest rivals, the deltas are minuscule: it is 0.1% behind the AMD A8-3500M (average 426), 0.2% ahead of the AMD Phenom II X3 700e (average 424), 0.3% behind the Intel Celeron J4025 (average 426), and 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i5-460M (average 422). These differences are within a fraction of a percent, so the A6-3420M is effectively tied with all four. The multi-core score of 616 is more than double the single-core score of 234, but the absolute numbers are low. The benchmark results show that the A6-3420M is a very weak processor by contemporary standards, but it holds its own against its immediate peers from the same era. The 6th percentile ranking is a stark reminder of its position in the overall CPU landscape.