A12-9800 vs Athlon X4 880K

A12-9800 vs Athlon X4 880K Performance Spectrum

A12-9800

4 / 4

3,695

+1.3%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon X4 880K

4 / 4

3,649

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

A12-9800 vs Athlon X4 880K 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.

A12-9800 vs Athlon X4 880K: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A12-9800

2017

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Athlon X4 880K needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon X4 880K.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Athlon X4 880K

2015

Why buy it

✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,649 vs 3,695).
❌Launch MSRP is still $95 MSRP, while A12-9800 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A12-9800 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A12-9800.

Quick Answers

So, is A12-9800 better than Athlon X4 880K?

Yes. A12-9800 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A12-9800 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

A12-9800 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A12-9800 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $95 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon X4 880K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (38.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on FM2+.

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

A12-9800 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A12-9800 vs Athlon X4 880K Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A12-9800

The A12-9800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,695 points. Launch price was $139.

Athlon X4 880K

The Athlon X4 880K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,649 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the A12-9800 and Athlon X4 880K share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the A12-9800 versus 4.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 880K — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.8 GHz vs 4 GHz). The A12-9800 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon X4 880K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9800 scores 3,695 against the Athlon X4 880K's 3,649 — a 1.3% lead for the A12-9800.

Feature	A12-9800	Athlon X4 880K
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz	4 GHz+5%
L3 Cache	0 kB	—
L2 Cache	2048 kB	4 MB+100%
Process	28 nm	28 nm
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Godaveri (2014−2016)
PassMark	3,695+1%	3,649
Geekbench 6 Single	635	—

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Memory & Platform

The A12-9800 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 880K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the A12-9800 versus DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 880K — the A12-9800 supports 12.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9800) vs 16 (Athlon X4 880K) — the Athlon X4 880K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800) and AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 880K).

Feature	A12-9800	Athlon X4 880K
Socket	AM4	FM2+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+13%	DDR3-2133
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A12-9800) / not specified (Athlon X4 880K). The A12-9800 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 880K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A12-9800 rivals Pentium G4600.