AMD A6-6420K socket: Socket FM2

What the A6-6420K is

The A6-6420K is the unlocked Richland dual core on Socket FM2 for budget tuning rigs. It runs 2 cores and 2 threads at 4.0 GHz base with turbo to 4.2 GHz. One megabyte of L2 cache covers games. Power is 65 W on 32 nm from March 2014. The K suffix opens the multiplier.

The 4.0 GHz base leads all stock Richland dual cores before tuning. Manual lifts on FM2 boards with tower cooling add headroom where silicon allows. Power rises with voltage, so board VRMs decide results. The 65 W stock envelope keeps tuning accessible.

Radeon HD 8470D with 192 cores at 800 MHz covers displays until a discrete card arrives. DDR3-1866 over two channels feeds cores and graphics. Buyers pick the 6420K where unlocked tuning must stay on FM2 without Kaveri prices.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 6420K fits Socket FM2 on A75 through A85X boards with tuning BIOS options. A85X boards with solid VRMs suit overclocking. Most Socket FM2+ boards boot it after a BIOS check. DDR3-1866 DIMMs match the stock turbo.

Dual channel fast DDR3 helps HD 8470D minimums. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers AMD pairing. FM1 boards never accept Richland.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

DDR3-1866 over two channels suits tuning rigs with SSDs. Fast pairs lift graphics before a card arrives. DDR3-1600 works where modules exist.

PCIe 2.0 from the APU feeds one mainstream card at full width. A Radeon card of the era matches unlocked clocks at 1080p. Chipset lanes handle storage.

Cooling uses the 48 by 96 mm FM2 mount with tower coolers for lifts past 4.2 GHz. No deltas ship in tray packs. Monitor VRM heat during stress runs.

Upgrade paths

On the same socket, the AMD A4-7300 at 3.8 GHz locked below saves cost, while FM2+ Kaveri K parts cover newer tuning builds. All share FM2 boards where listed.

FM2+ replaced the platform with Steamroller. The 6420K remains the unlocked Richland dual lead.