A12-9700P vs Xeon E3-1220L v2

A12-9700P vs Xeon E3-1220L v2 Performance Spectrum

A12-9700P

4 / 4

2,415

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E3-1220L v2

2 / 4

2,397

0.0%

Processor N50

Pentium Dual Core T2370

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 Xeon E3-1220L v2 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 Xeon E3-1220L v2: 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

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 2W instead of 17W, a 15W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Xeon E3-1220L v2 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon E3-1220L v2

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than A12-9700P across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,397 vs 2,415).
❌750% higher power demand at 17W 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 Xeon E3-1220L v2?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while A12-9700P is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A12-9700P is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.2% more average FPS across 46 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 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A12-9700P still makes the most sense overall. A12-9700P comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.2% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A12-9700P vs Xeon E3-1220L v2 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Xeon E3-1220L v2

The Xeon E3-1220L v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,397 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The A12-9700P packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9700P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the A12-9700P versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v2 — a 2.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L v2 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The A12-9700P uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9700P scores 2,415 against the Xeon E3-1220L v2's 2,397 — a 0.7% lead for the A12-9700P.

Feature	A12-9700P	Xeon E3-1220L v2
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+9%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	—	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2048 kB+700%	256 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm	22 nm-21%
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,415	2,397
Geekbench 6 Single	481	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A12-9700P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A12-9700P	Xeon E3-1220L v2
Socket	FP4	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-1866	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A12-9700P) / not specified (Xeon E3-1220L v2). The A12-9700P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9700P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A12-9700P rivals Core i5-6200U.