4.6 on WEI doesn't surprise me on the AMD "APU's"
When AMD designed the APU (CPU + GPU = APU) their goal was "discrete class graphics" on a low power single chip design. The reviews generally confirm that they hit the target in terms of graphics performance ... but the CPU portion was so weak that the CPU limited available GPU performance, at least on the lower tier of this series.
Unfortunately time has made AMD's decision to include great graphics but underperforming CPU look even worse now that the 3rd generation i-series of Core Processors from Intel are out. And with Ivy Bridge, the current Intel series, there is no graphics edge. Ivy Bridge beats AMD easily category by category, in graphics, CPU, and power usage. Unfortunately Intel still carries the "Intel" premium in terms of pricing.
I even have some intentionally "crippled" (by Intel) Celeron and Pentium class designs based on the last generation Sandy Bridge Core series that outperform AMD up to and including the A6 on WEI tests.
Is the AMD a good buy if you take price into account?
Yes. I just (December 31) ordered a Win 8 Lenovo Ideapad s405 thin form factor (.83") 14" laptop, effectively an "Ultrabook" form factor but without the Intel name (since "Ultrabook" is an Intel brand name). Yes, it comes with a standard hard drive (one of the "modern" single platter 500gb's), and about a half pound weight penalty (it is 3.9 pounds with battery in it) - but for $359 on an end of the year special from New Egg, it makes me defer the purchase of a $1200 MacBook Air 13.3" until they at least come with an IPS screen - my pet wish-list item, for better viewing angles.
So if you think a 2.7 ghz, quad core CPU guarantees high performance in this modern era - forget it, as the WEI score points out. BUT the GPU is FINE and the total package? Very usable.
BTW I don't believe Win 8 has "lower" scores than Win 7 for the same hardware. I have installed Win 8 on several old machines and the scores remained unchanged, except for a couple of Atom N2600 machines where the CPU score remained unchanged, but the graphics score dropped (either due to unfinished Win 8 drivers or due to Win 7 anomalies in scoring the Atom). What did change was the range of scores on Win 8 - they used to top out at 7.9 on Win 7, but in recognition of better hardware, Win 8 tops out at 9.9.
