A12-9720P vs Core i7-3687U
A12-9720P
Core i7-3687U
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 i7-3687U is on rank 654, so the Core i7-3687U 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 i7-3687U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-3687U
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 i7-3687U
The Core i7-3687U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,621 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The A12-9720P packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-3687U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9720P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-3687U — a 8.7% clock advantage for the A12-9720P (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The A12-9720P uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-3687U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9720P scores 2,622 against the Core i7-3687U's 2,621 — a 0% lead for the A12-9720P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 529 vs 640, a 19% lead for the Core i7-3687U that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+9% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+29% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 22 nm-21% |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,622 | 2,621 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 529 | 640+21% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,240 |
Memory & Platform
The A12-9720P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3687U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-1866 on the A12-9720P versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i7-3687U — the A12-9720P supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-3687U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9720P) vs 16 (Core i7-3687U) — the Core i7-3687U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP4 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866+33% | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| 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 i7-3687U). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 (A12-9720P) and HD Graphics 4000 (Core i7-3687U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9720P targets Laptop, Core i7-3687U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U; Core i7-3687U rivals Ryzen 7 3700U.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i7-3687U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Laptop | Enthusiast |
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