A12-9720P vs Athlon X4 970

CPU

GPU

A12-9720P

4 Cores4 Thrd2 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2016

Similar parts

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Athlon X4 970

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 4 GHz2017

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A12-9720P vs Athlon X4 970 Performance Spectrum

A12-9720P

4 / 4

2,622

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon X4 970

4 / 4

2,644

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

A12-9720P vs Athlon X4 970 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.

A12-9720P vs Athlon X4 970: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A12-9720P

2016

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 65W, a 63W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Athlon X4 970 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,622 vs 2,644).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 31.1 PassMark/$ ($200 MSRP vs $85 MSRP).

Athlon X4 970

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $115 less on MSRP ($85 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅Delivers 137.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 31.1 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($85 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌3150% higher power demand at 65W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A12-9720P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 970 better than A12-9720P?

Yes. Athlon X4 970 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% 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, Athlon X4 970 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X4 970 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?

Athlon X4 970 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 970 comes in $115 cheaper on MSRP at $85 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 137.3% better value on MSRP (31.1 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon X4 970 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2016) 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.

A12-9720P vs Athlon X4 970 Technical Specifications

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

A12-9720P

The A12-9720P 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,622 points. Launch price was $130.

Athlon X4 970

The Athlon X4 970 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 2,644 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the A12-9720P and Athlon X4 970 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P versus 4 GHz on the Athlon X4 970 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 970 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). Both are built on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture using a 28 nm process. In PassMark, the A12-9720P scores 2,622 against the Athlon X4 970's 2,644 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon X4 970.

Feature	A12-9720P	Athlon X4 970
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	3.8 GHz+41%
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	2 MB+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm	28 nm
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	2,622	2,644
Geekbench 6 Single	529	—

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Memory & Platform

The A12-9720P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 970 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-1866 on the A12-9720P versus DDR4-2400 on the Athlon X4 970 — the Athlon X4 970 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 970 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 8 PCIe lanes.

Feature	A12-9720P	Athlon X4 970
Socket	FP4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-1866	DDR4-2400+29%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	64 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	8

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A12-9720P) / not specified (Athlon X4 970). The A12-9720P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 970 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.

Feature	A12-9720P	Athlon X4 970
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon R7	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Laptop	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A12-9720P was priced at $200, while the Athlon X4 970 came in at $85. On launch pricing ($200 vs $85), Athlon X4 970 was $115 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9720P delivers 13.1 pts/$ vs 31.1 pts/$ for the Athlon X4 970 — making the Athlon X4 970 the 81.4% better value option.

Feature	A12-9720P	Athlon X4 970
MSRP	$200	$85-57%
Performance per Dollar	13.1	31.1+137%
Release Date	2016	2017

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