AMD A6-5200

AMD A6-5200 is a 4-core, 4-thread mobile processor built on AMD's Jaguar architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It features a base clock of 2000 MHz with no boost capability, a 25 W TDP, and integrates a Radeon HD 8400 GPU, targeting the low-power mobile segment via the AMD Socket FT3 platform.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the AMD A6-5200 shows a percentile ranking of 50 against all CPUs, placing it squarely in the middle of the historical performance distribution. However, this percentile must be interpreted with caution: the average benchmark score is listed as 0, indicating that no direct synthetic scores are available in the current dataset. This absence of raw scores means the percentile is derived from the processor's architectural characteristics and historical placement rather than from measured workloads.

Given the lack of direct rival comparisons in the nearestRivals field, the performance analysis relies on the processor's specifications. With four Jaguar cores at 2.0 GHz, the A6-5200 is firmly positioned in the entry-level mobile segment. The 28 nm process node and 107 mm² die size suggest a design optimized for low cost and power efficiency rather than raw throughput. The 2 MB shared L2 cache and 64 KB L1 per core are modest by any standard, which will limit performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

The absence of a boost clock is significant. Unlike many contemporaries that offered dynamic frequency scaling, the A6-5200 is locked at 2000 MHz under all conditions. This means the processor cannot adapt to thermal or power headroom, capping its peak performance at a fixed level. For users comparing against rivals with boost capabilities, the A6-5200 will consistently fall behind in bursty workloads that benefit from temporary frequency increases.

The 50th percentile ranking is best understood as a historical midpoint. Among all CPUs ever benchmarked in the database, half are slower and half are faster. For a 2013-era mobile chip, this is a reasonable placement, but it does not indicate competitiveness with modern processors. The end-of-life production status further confirms that this is a legacy part, and benchmark expectations should be adjusted accordingly.

Power and Thermals

The A6-5200 carries a TDP of 25 W, which places it in the ultra-low-power class for mobile processors. This TDP figure is the thermal design point, meaning the cooling solution must dissipate at least 25 W of heat under sustained load. For a 4-core processor, this is remarkably efficient, achieved through the Jaguar architecture's focus on low-power operation.

The 25 W TDP has direct implications for cooling. A passive heatsink or a small, low-speed fan is sufficient for this processor. In practice, the A6-5200 would be found in thin-and-light laptops, mini-PCs, or fanless designs where thermal management is a priority over performance. The 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries enables this efficiency, though it is not as advanced as later nodes that would offer better performance-per-watt.

The lack of a boost clock also simplifies thermal behavior. Without frequency spikes, the processor generates a steady, predictable heat load. This predictability is an advantage for system integrators designing compact cooling solutions, as they do not need to account for transient thermal spikes. The 25 W TDP class is well-suited for passive cooling in many chassis, provided airflow is adequate for the rest of the system.

Memory support is DDR3 with a single-channel bus, providing 12.8 GB/s of bandwidth. This is a deliberate power-saving choice, as single-channel memory reduces the memory controller's power draw. However, it also bottlenecks the integrated Radeon HD 8400 graphics and any memory-intensive applications. The 25 W TDP budget must be shared between the CPU cores, the GPU, and the memory controller, so power allocation is a zero-sum game.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The A6-5200 has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning there is no hyper-threading or SMT. Each core handles exactly one thread. The base clock is 2000 MHz with no boost, so single-thread performance is strictly limited to what one Jaguar core can achieve at that frequency. Jaguar cores are known for modest IPC (instructions per clock), so single-thread performance will be low by modern standards.

For single-threaded workloads, the A6-5200 will feel sluggish. Tasks like web browsing with heavy JavaScript, spreadsheet calculations, or legacy single-threaded applications will not benefit from the quad-core design. The 2 MB shared L2 cache helps somewhat, but the lack of L3 cache means frequent trips to main memory, which is further constrained by the single-channel DDR3 interface at 12.8 GB/s.

Multi-threaded performance is comparatively better, as all 4 cores can work in parallel. Workloads that scale across cores, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or multitasking across multiple applications, will use the full 4-core capacity. However, the 2000 MHz clock cap means even perfectly parallel workloads will not reach performance levels of higher-clocked quad-cores or those with boost.

The split between single-thread and multi-thread behavior is stark. The A6-5200 is a processor that rewards parallelism and punishes sequential tasks. For real-world use, this means a user should prioritize applications that are multi-threaded or run multiple light tasks simultaneously. A single heavy single-threaded task will expose the processor's weaknesses, while a mix of light concurrent tasks will feel more responsive.

The integrated Radeon HD 8400 GPU also competes for memory bandwidth, further impacting both single- and multi-threaded performance in graphics-related tasks. The single-channel memory bus is a shared resource, so any GPU activity reduces available bandwidth for CPU cores, and vice versa.

Who Should Consider It

The data suggests the A6-5200 is suitable for specific, limited use cases. For basic office productivity, such as word processing, email, and spreadsheet work, the 4 cores can handle light multitasking. The 25 W TDP makes it ideal for fanless or ultra-portable designs where battery life and silent operation are prioritized over speed.

For gaming, the A6-5200 is not a viable option for modern titles. The Radeon HD 8400 integrated graphics, paired with single-channel DDR3 memory, will struggle with even light 3D workloads. Older or 2D games may run, but the 12.8 GB/s memory bandwidth is a severe constraint for the GPU. The lack of boost clock also means no headroom for GPU frequency scaling, as the GPU shares the same power budget.

Content creation is a mixed bag. Multi-threaded tasks like video transcoding or batch image processing will utilize all 4 cores, but the low clock speed will result in long render times. Single-threaded tasks like photo editing filters or audio processing will be slow. The A6-5200 is only appropriate for casual, non-professional creation work where time is not critical.

The processor is best suited for embedded or low-cost computing tasks. A web server, a network-attached storage device, or a lightweight home automation controller would benefit from the low power draw and adequate multi-threading. The end-of-life status means it is only available in used or refurbished markets, typically in older laptops or mini-PCs.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals field is empty, so no direct competitor comparisons are available from the dataset. This absence is notable, as it prevents a quantitative assessment against specific rival processors. However, based on the A6-5200's specifications, it can be positioned qualitatively.

Against Intel's Atom series from the same era, the A6-5200 offers more cores (4 vs typically 2-4) and a higher base clock. The Jaguar architecture generally provides better multi-threaded throughput than Atom's in-order cores. However, Intel's Silvermont-based atoms had comparable efficiency, and the A6-5200's single-thread performance would be similar or slightly lower.

Against AMD's own higher-end Kabini variants, the A6-5200 is the lower-clocked part. Its 2000 MHz base clock is the entry point for the A6 series, with other models offering higher frequencies. The 25 W TDP is consistent across the family, but higher-clocked variants would deliver better performance at the same power cost.

Against later-generation low-power processors, the A6-5200 is clearly outdated. The 28 nm process and Jaguar architecture are several generations behind modern designs. Even a modern dual-core with SMT and boost clocks would outperform the A6-5200 in both single-thread and multi-thread workloads, while consuming similar or less power.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does the AMD A6-5200 have?

A: The A6-5200 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading, meaning each core handles one thread.

Q: What is the maximum clock speed of the A6-5200?

A: The base clock is 2000 MHz, and there is no boost clock, so 2000 MHz is the maximum sustained frequency.

Q: Does the A6-5200 support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor supports DDR3 memory via a single-channel bus with 12.8 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What integrated graphics does the A6-5200 include?

A: It includes the Radeon HD 8400, which shares the system memory and is limited by the single-channel DDR3 bandwidth.

Q: Is the A6-5200 still in production?

A: No, the production status is end-of-life. It was released on May 22, 2013, and is no longer manufactured.

Q: What socket does the A6-5200 use?

A: It uses AMD Socket FT3, which is designed for low-power mobile and embedded applications.