A12-9720P vs Core i7-9700K
A12-9720P
Core i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A12-9720P | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+46%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The A12-9720P packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 30.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The A12-9720P uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9720P scores 2,622 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 138.4% lead for the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz+36% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.6 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | — | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,622 | 14,397+449% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 529 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A12-9720P uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-1866 memory speed. The Core i7-9700K 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 i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP4 | LGA1151 |
| 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
Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A12-9720P) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 (A12-9720P) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9720P targets Laptop, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Laptop | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The A12-9720P launched at $200 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($25 vs $200), the A12-9720P is $175 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9720P delivers 104.9 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the A12-9720P the 37.2% better value option.
| Feature | A12-9720P | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $200-48% | $385 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-88% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.9+46% | 72.0 |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2018 |
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