A12-9720P vs Core i5-4258U

A12-9720P vs Core i5-4258U Performance Spectrum

A12-9720P

4 / 4

2,622

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-4258U

2 / 4

2,610

0.0%

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 Core i5-4258U 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 Core i5-4258U: 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 512W, a 510W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Core i5-4258U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $200 MSRP, while Core i5-4258U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i5-4258U

2013

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,610 vs 2,622).
❌25500% higher power demand at 512W vs 2W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A12-9720P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A12-9720P better than Core i5-4258U?

Yes. A12-9720P is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% 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, A12-9720P is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.5% 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, A12-9720P is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

A12-9720P is the better buy right now. A12-9720P comes in at an unclear MSRP at $200 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (13.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

A12-9720P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2013) 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.

A12-9720P vs Core i5-4258U 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.

Core i5-4258U

The Core i5-4258U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,610 points. Launch price was $342.

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Processing Power

The A12-9720P packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-4258U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9720P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P versus 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-4258U — a 21.5% clock advantage for the A12-9720P (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The A12-9720P uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-4258U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9720P scores 2,622 against the Core i5-4258U's 2,610 — a 0.5% lead for the A12-9720P.

Feature	A12-9720P	Core i5-4258U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+24%	2.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+13%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB	256K (per core)+12700%
Process	28 nm	22 nm-21%
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	2,622	2,610
Geekbench 6 Single	529	—

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Memory & Platform

The A12-9720P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-4258U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A12-9720P	Core i5-4258U
Socket	FP4	FCBGA1168
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	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A12-9720P) / not specified (Core i5-4258U). The A12-9720P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i5-4258U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.