AMD A6-5350M

The AMD A6-5350M is a mobile processor built on the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Richland, and fabricated on a 32 nm process. It is a dual-core, dual-thread part with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, and it integrates a Radeon HD 8450G graphics solution. The benchmark data places this chip in a highly specific performance tier, one that sits at the very low end of the modern CPU landscape.

Benchmark Performance

The AMD A6-5350M achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 443 and a single-core score of 315. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 379, which places it in the 4th percentile of all CPUs in the database. This is a stark indicator of its position: it outperforms roughly 96% of all tested processors, meaning it is firmly in entry-level territory. The deltaPct values against its nearest rivals are remarkably tight, showing a performance cluster where mere fractions of a percent separate competing parts.

The data shows the A6-5350M is essentially tied with the Intel Core i3-370M, which has an identical average score of 379 and a deltaPct of 0. This is a notable equivalence, as the i3-370M is a dual-core with Hyper-Threading, yet the A6-5350M matches it in aggregate performance. Against the AMD Athlon X2 450, the A6-5350M leads by a razor-thin 0.2%, translating to a one-point advantage in average score (379 vs 378). Similarly, it is 0.6% ahead of the Intel Celeron 1037U (score 377) and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i5-2537M (score 376). These deltas are so small that they fall within normal run-to-run benchmark variance, meaning the A6-5350M is functionally interchangeable with these four rivals in multi-threaded workloads.

The single-core score of 315 tells a slightly different story. While the average score of 379 is driven primarily by multi-core performance, the single-core result suggests the Piledriver architecture, despite its 3.50 GHz boost clock, does not translate raw frequency into class-leading per-thread efficiency. The near-zero deltas in the rival list indicate that none of these competitors offer a meaningful single-thread advantage either, reinforcing that this performance tier is defined by consistency rather than peaks.

Platform and Compatibility

The A6-5350M uses the AMD Socket FS1r2, a mobile-specific socket that was designed for the Richland and Trinity generation of accelerated processing units. This socket is not compatible with desktop platforms, so upgrades require a laptop motherboard with the same socket. The processor is based on the Piledriver architecture, which is a second-generation refinement of the Bulldozer design, and it is part of the A6 (Richland) generation family.

Memory support is limited to DDR3, with no ECC capability. The fact pack does not specify a memory bus width or memory bandwidth figure, indicating that these are not differentiating factors for this chip. The lack of PCIe information is also notable; the fact pack does not list a PCIe version or lane count, suggesting that expansion capabilities are not a primary consideration for this mobile part. The integrated graphics are the Radeon HD 8450G, which is a Fusion-based solution that shares memory with the CPU. The upgrade path is essentially non-existent in practical terms; a user with an A6-5350M laptop is limited to other FS1r2 processors, which would all be from the same era and similar performance class.

Power and Thermals

The A6-5350M has a thermal design power (TDP) of 35 watts. For a mobile processor, this is a moderate power draw, placing it above ultra-low-voltage parts but below high-performance quad-core mobile chips. The 35W TDP class implies that a standard laptop cooling solution—a heat pipe and a small fan—is sufficient to manage thermals under sustained load. The 32 nm process node is relatively old by current standards, but the dual-core design and modest clock speeds keep heat generation manageable.

The integrated Radeon HD 8450G GPU shares the same thermal envelope, meaning that gaming or graphics-intensive tasks will push the total package closer to its TDP limit. A capable air cooler within the laptop chassis is adequate, but users should not expect silent operation under heavy multi-threaded loads. The boost clock of 3.50 GHz is only sustainable if thermal headroom allows; under sustained all-core stress, the processor may settle closer to its base clock of 2.90 GHz. This is a typical behavior for mobile chips in this power class, where the cooling solution dictates sustained performance.

FAQ

Q: How does the A6-5350M compare to the Intel Core i3-370M?

A: The two processors have identical average benchmark scores of 379, with a deltaPct of 0, indicating they perform at the same level in aggregate multi-threaded workloads.

Q: What is the thermal design power of this processor?

A: The A6-5350M has a TDP of 35 watts, which is typical for a mobile dual-core chip of its generation.

Q: Does the A6-5350M support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor only supports standard DDR3 memory.

Q: What is the integrated graphics solution?

A: The A6-5350M includes the Radeon HD 8450G as its integrated graphics processor.

Q: What socket does this processor use?

A: It uses the AMD Socket FS1r2, which is a mobile-only socket.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

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

How It Compares

The Intel Core i3-370M is the direct benchmark twin of the A6-5350M, with both scoring exactly 379 on average. This is a striking result because the i3-370M has Hyper-Threading, offering four threads versus the A6-5350M's two, yet the AMD chip matches it in score. The implication is that the A6-5350M's higher clock speeds compensate for the lack of additional threads.

The AMD Athlon X2 450 trails by a mere 0.2%, with an average score of 378. This is a desktop part in the same performance bracket, showing that the A6-5350M's mobile design loses nothing to a similarly specified desktop dual-core. The one-point score difference is negligible.

The Intel Celeron 1037U is 0.6% behind, scoring 377. This is an ultra-low-voltage dual-core, and the data shows the A6-5350M holds a slight edge, but again the delta is within noise. The Celeron likely draws less power, but in raw performance, the A6-5350M is the faster part.

The Intel Core i5-2537M is 0.7% behind, with a score of 376. This is a low-voltage dual-core with Hyper-Threading, yet it still falls slightly short of the A6-5350M. This reinforces that the A6-5350M, despite its older architecture, competes effectively with low-voltage Intel parts from the same era.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Geekbench single-core score of 315 is significantly lower than the multi-core score of 443, but this is expected for a dual-core part. The single-core score represents the performance of one Piledriver core at its boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The multi-core score of 443 is not double the single-core score, which suggests some scaling inefficiency when both cores are active. A perfect 2x scaling would yield 630, but the actual result is 443, indicating a scaling efficiency of roughly 70%. This is common for mobile parts that may throttle when both cores are loaded.

The gap between single-core and multi-core scores implies that the A6-5350M is more capable in lightly-threaded tasks where the boost clock can be maintained. In applications that use only one or two threads—such as older games, basic office tasks, or web browsing—the chip can reach its full potential. However, in multi-threaded workloads that saturate both cores, the effective performance increase is modest, and the processor may drop to its base clock of 2.90 GHz to stay within the 35W TDP. For real-world use, this means the A6-5350M is adequate for everyday productivity but will struggle with heavily threaded applications like video encoding or modern games that use multiple cores.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark data suggests the A6-5350M is suited for basic computing tasks. Its multi-core score of 443 places it in the 4th percentile of all CPUs, which means it is only appropriate for lightweight workloads. For office productivity—word processing, spreadsheet management, and email—the dual-core design with a 3.50 GHz boost clock is sufficient to provide a responsive experience. The integrated Radeon HD 8450G can handle video playback and casual, older games, but modern 3D titles are not viable given the low percentile ranking.

For content creation, the A6-5350M is not recommended. The multi-core score of 443 is too low for video editing, 3D rendering, or large-scale photo manipulation, as these tasks benefit from higher multi-threaded performance. The lack of L3 cache and the Piledriver architecture's known weaknesses in instruction-level parallelism further limit its capabilities.

Gaming is a mixed scenario. The Radeon HD 8450G integrated graphics can run esports titles at low settings, but the CPU's single-core score of 315 is a bottleneck for modern game engines that often rely on single-thread performance for game logic. The A6-5350M is best suited for users who need a basic laptop for web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. It is not a processor for power users, and the data clearly shows it belongs in entry-level systems where cost is the primary driver and performance expectations are minimal.