A12-9700P vs Athlon II X4 645

AMD

A12-9700P

4 Cores4 Thrd2 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2016
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon II X4 645

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2010
Similar parts
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A12-9700P vs Athlon II X4 645 Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

A12-9700P vs Athlon II X4 645 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A12-9700P vs Athlon II X4 645: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A12-9700P

2016

Why buy it

  • +20.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • Draws 2W instead of 95W, a 93W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Athlon II X4 645 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 645.

Athlon II X4 645

2010

Why buy it

  • 100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike A12-9700P.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (399 vs 481).
  • Lower PassMark (2,375 vs 2,415).
  • Launch MSRP is still $126 MSRP, while A12-9700P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 4650% higher power demand at 95W vs 2W.
  • No integrated graphics, while A12-9700P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A12-9700P better than Athlon II X4 645?
Yes. A12-9700P is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.3% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, A12-9700P is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.3% more average FPS across 33 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A12-9700P is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
A12-9700P is still the much better call for a fresh build. A12-9700P comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $126 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.3% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 645 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (18.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A12-9700P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A12-9700P vs Athlon II X4 645 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

A12-9700P

The A12-9700P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,415 points. Launch price was $130.

AMD

Athlon II X4 645

The Athlon II X4 645 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,375 points. Launch price was $80.

Processing Power

Both the A12-9700P and Athlon II X4 645 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the A12-9700P versus 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X4 645 — a 9.2% clock advantage for the A12-9700P (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The A12-9700P uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon II X4 645 uses Propus (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9700P scores 2,415 against the Athlon II X4 645's 2,375 — a 1.7% lead for the A12-9700P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 481 vs 399, a 18.6% lead for the A12-9700P that directly translates to higher frame rates.

FeatureA12-9700PAthlon II X4 645
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
4 / 4
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz+10%
3.1 GHz
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.1 GHz+24%
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
2048 kB+300%
512 kB (per core)
Process
28 nm-38%
45 nm
Architecture
Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
Propus (2009−2011)
PassMark
2,415+2%
2,375
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,374
Geekbench 6 Single
481+21%
399
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,374
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A12-9700P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 645 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-1866 on the A12-9700P versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 645 — the A12-9700P supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9700P) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 645) — the Athlon II X4 645 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureA12-9700PAthlon II X4 645
Socket
FP4
AM3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-1866+40%
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
8
16+100%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V (A12-9700P) vs Yes (Athlon II X4 645). The A12-9700P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon II X4 645 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9700P targets Laptop, Athlon II X4 645 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: A12-9700P rivals Core i5-6200U.

FeatureA12-9700PAthlon II X4 645
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon R7
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Yes
Target Use
Laptop
Desktop