A12-9720P vs Core i5-10400F
A12-9720P
Core i5-10400F
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. The A12-9720P is positioned at rank #1016 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A12-9720P
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-10400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+22%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
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 i5-10400F
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 i5-10400F
The Core i5-10400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,029 points. Launch price was $155.
Processing Power
The A12-9720P packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-10400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-10400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-10400F — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-10400F (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The A12-9720P uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-10400F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9720P scores 2,622 against the Core i5-10400F's 13,029 — a 133% lead for the Core i5-10400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 529 vs 1,454, a 93.3% lead for the Core i5-10400F that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.3 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | — | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 2,622 | 13,029+397% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,191 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 529 | 1,454+175% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,783 |
Memory & Platform
The A12-9720P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-10400F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-1866 memory speed. The Core i5-10400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9720P) vs 16 (Core i5-10400F) — the Core i5-10400F offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP4 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 128 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A12-9720P) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10400F). The A12-9720P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i5-10400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9720P targets Laptop, Core i5-10400F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U; Core i5-10400F rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Laptop | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The A12-9720P launched at $200 MSRP, while the Core i5-10400F debuted at $160. At current prices ($25 vs $102), the A12-9720P is $77 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9720P delivers 104.9 pts/$ vs 127.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-10400F — making the Core i5-10400F the 19.7% better value option.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $200 | $160-20% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-75% | $102 |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.9 | 127.7+22% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2020 |
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