A12-9800E vs Core i7-965
A12-9800E
Core i7-965
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 A12-9800E is positioned at rank 1029 and the Core i7-965 is on rank 1086, so the A12-9800E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800E
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-965
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A12-9800E | Core i7-965 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A12-9800E | Core i7-965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+276%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
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 A12-9800E and Core i7-965
A12-9800E
The A12-9800E 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,416 points. Launch price was $105.
Core i7-965
The Core i7-965 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Novembro 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,424 points. Launch price was $1,509.
Processing Power
The A12-9800E packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-965's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A12-9800E versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-965 — a 9.4% clock advantage for the A12-9800E (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The A12-9800E uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-965 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9800E scores 3,416 against the Core i7-965's 3,424 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-965. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A12-9800E vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-965.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Core i7-965 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+10% | 3.46 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,416 | 3,424 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 651 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A12-9800E uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-965 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Core i7-965 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A12-9800E) / not specified (Core i7-965). The A12-9800E includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-965 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800E targets Low Power. Direct competitor: A12-9800E rivals Pentium G4600T.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Core i7-965 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Low Power | — |
Value Analysis
The A12-9800E launched at $426 MSRP, while the Core i7-965 debuted at $1000. At current prices ($150 vs $40), the Core i7-965 is $110 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9800E delivers 22.8 pts/$ vs 85.6 pts/$ for the Core i7-965 — making the Core i7-965 the 115.9% better value option.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Core i7-965 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $426-57% | $1000 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $40-73% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.8 | 85.6+275% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2008 |
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