The AMD A6 9500 is an entry-level processor from AMD that is compatible with AM4 motherboards and supports overclocking. Equipped with a Radeon R5, the dual-core processor has a modest profile and performance that is best suited for day-to-day tasks, without guaranteeing good performance in games and heavier functions. Next, we address the processor’s datasheet in detail, evaluating the positives and negatives of its specifications against the product’s market price, which was launched in 2017 and today is found for prices around $60.93.
AMD A6 9500 Technical Specifications
| AMD A6 9500 | |
|---|---|
| Speed | 3.5 to 3.8 GHz |
| Number of cores/threads | 2/2 |
| Cache memory | 1 MB on L2 |
| Integrated graphics | 6-core Radeon R5 up to 1029 MHz |
| TDP | 65 Watts |
| Architecture | 28nm Bristo Ridge |
| Memory | 2 channels of DDR4 up to 2400 MHz |
| PCI Support | PCIe 3.0 |
| Overclock | sim |
| Socket | AM4 |
| Price | $60.93 |
| Release date | July 2017 |
Specifications
The A6 9500 is an entry-level APU – nomenclature that AMD uses for its processors with integrated video – that is, more basic. The chip’s processor is made up of two cores that adopt the Bristol Ridge architecture, the predecessor to the Zen generations of the latest APUs and Ryzens.
According to AMD, the two processing cores can work at speeds of up to 3.8 GHz with turbo boost. Without the acceleration, the processor’s base performance is in the 3.5 GHz range. Intended for a less demanding market, and the result of a more rotated architecture, the A6 9500 lacks SMT support (AMD’s “hyperthreading”).
In addition to the CPU half, the product relies on the integrated GPU, which is responsible for graphics processing. Just like the other side of the APU, the graphics unit is entry-level and corresponds to a Radeon R5: consisting of six cores, the GPU has a maximum clock of 1,029 MHz and has a more modest gamer vocation.
AMD’s model also denotes the age of the design in technology support: the processor recognizes PCIe 3.0 and works with up to two channels of 2,400 MHz DDR4.
Performance
The A6 9500 is a processor with a more discreet profile. On YouTube, some channels offer material showing what the APU would look like in action-facing games with performance levels compatible with an entry-level processor: throughput below 60 FPS and general sacrifices in terms of resolution and graphics fidelity.
While professional comparisons are scarce, one relevant performance metric is the aggregate result from benchmark tools. Here ordinary users perform the measurements and submit their results, which end up available on the Internet.
An example of this is CPUBenchmark.net with data collected from exercises and tests performed with the PassMark suites. The average score of the A6 is 1,846 points, quite modest, which puts the product far behind current mid-range processors: the Ryzen 5 3600 is far from being a high-end processor and scores 17,835 points, for example.
Someone could argue, however, that it makes no sense to compare the A6 9500 with the Ryzen 5. A more balanced comparison, then, is with the Athlon 320GE: entry-level, but much newer, the dual-core is priced close to the A6 on the domestic market and has an average score of 4,237 points, according to CPUBenchmark.net.
Consumption
There is no precise official information regarding the processor’s power consumption. However, AMD releases TDP data that allows us to estimate the profile of the product in use. According to Advanced Micro Devices, the A6 9500 should reach a maximum TDP of 65 Watts when subjected to a high-demand workload.
Rather than a measure of direct electrical consumption, TDP is a value – measured in Watts – that determines the proportion of energy that the component dissipates as heat during use.
This range is common in the market and is frequented by mid-range processors from both AMD and Intel – the Ryzen 5 mentioned earlier is an example. As we have seen, however, the A6 ends up dissipating 65 Watts to achieve much lower performance, something that signals that Ryzen is much more efficient.
Motherboard
Although not part of AMD’s Zen lines of processors, the A6 is compatible with the AM4 platform. This means that the consumer has a wide variety of motherboards that can receive the unit: depending on the situation, it might even be interesting to invest in a slightly better board with an eye on a future upgrade to a higher-performing Ryzen.
However, it is worth noting that although the AM4 socket has been on the market for a few years, newer cards with this socket may not be compatible with the older AMD processor series for this format. When in doubt, it is important to consult the technical specifications and official documentation from each board manufacturer before purchasing.
Features
Simple, AMD’s processor has a differentiator that is not very common in low-cost CPUs: unlocked, the APU allows overclocking, a practice that can result in performance gains to improve the processor’s performance.
In addition to overclocking, the A6 has the virtue of offering an integrated graphics processor. This enables the consumer to invest in a PC without the need for a dedicated graphics card at first. It is an interesting contrast to the Ryzen line from the same AMD: processors from these series are usually sold without integrated cards, something that forces the consumer to buy a dedicated graphics card to use the PC.
Prices and competitors
In our searches, we were able to find the AMD A6 9500 starting at $60.93 on Amazon. This is a competitive price within the entry-level market and puts AMD’s processor as an option to Intel’s Celeron and Pentium lines of similar profile, as well as Core i3 models from older generations.
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