A12-9800 vs Core i5-2310

A12-9800 vs Core i5-2310 Performance Spectrum

A12-9800

4 / 4

3,695

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-2310

4 / 4

3,664

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.

A12-9800 vs Core i5-2310 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 Core i5-2310: 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

✅Better for gaming: +8.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

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

Core i5-2310

2011

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than A12-9800 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,664 vs 3,695).
❌Launch MSRP is still $177 MSRP, while A12-9800 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is A12-9800 better than Core i5-2310?

Yes. A12-9800 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 8.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% 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, A12-9800 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 8.5% 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, A12-9800 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% 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 $177 MSRP, and it still gives you a 8.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-2310 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (20.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1155.

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 2011) 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 Core i5-2310 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.

Core i5-2310

The Core i5-2310 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,664 points. Launch price was $150.

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Processing Power

Both the A12-9800 and Core i5-2310 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the A12-9800 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-2310 — a 27% clock advantage for the A12-9800 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The A12-9800 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-2310 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9800 scores 3,695 against the Core i5-2310's 3,664 — a 0.8% lead for the A12-9800. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 635 vs 565, a 11.7% lead for the A12-9800 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A12-9800 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2310.

Feature	A12-9800	Core i5-2310
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+31%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+31%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2048 kB+700%	256 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm-13%	32 nm
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	3,695	3,664
Geekbench 6 Single	635+12%	565
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,740

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Memory & Platform

The A12-9800 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-2310 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the A12-9800 versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-2310 — the A12-9800 supports 80% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A12-9800 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9800) vs 16 (Core i5-2310) — the Core i5-2310 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800) and H61,P67,Z68,Z77 (Core i5-2310).

Feature	A12-9800	Core i5-2310
Socket	AM4	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+80%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: AMD-V (A12-9800) vs Yes (Core i5-2310). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 (A12-9800) and Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2310) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A12-9800 rivals Pentium G4600.