A12-9720P vs Core i3-7102E
A12-9720P
Core i3-7102E
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The A12-9720P is positioned at rank 1016 and the Core i3-7102E is on rank 974, so the Core i3-7102E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A12-9720P
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7102E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+223%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of A12-9720P and Core i3-7102E
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.
Core i3-7102E
The Core i3-7102E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,599 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The A12-9720P packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-7102E offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9720P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-7102E — a 52.6% clock advantage for the A12-9720P. The A12-9720P uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-7102E uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9720P scores 2,622 against the Core i3-7102E's 2,599 — a 0.9% lead for the A12-9720P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 529 vs 1,962, a 115.1% lead for the Core i3-7102E that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+71% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,622 | 2,599 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 659 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 529 | 1,962+271% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
Both support up to DDR4-1866 memory speed. The Core i3-7102E supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9720P) vs 16 (Core i3-7102E) — the Core i3-7102E offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP4 | — |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 64 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V (A12-9720P) vs Yes (Core i3-7102E). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 (A12-9720P) and Intel HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7102E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | Intel HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Yes |
| Target Use | Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The A12-9720P launched at $200 MSRP, while the Core i3-7102E debuted at $225. At current prices ($25 vs $80), the A12-9720P is $55 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9720P delivers 104.9 pts/$ vs 32.5 pts/$ for the Core i3-7102E — making the A12-9720P the 105.4% better value option.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $200-11% | $225 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-69% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.9+223% | 32.5 |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2017 |
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