A12-9800E vs Xeon E5-4603

A12-9800E vs Xeon E5-4603 Performance Spectrum

A12-9800E

4 / 4

3,416

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E5-4603

4 / 8

3,391

0.0%

Pentium Dual Core T2410

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.

A12-9800E vs Xeon E5-4603 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.

A12-9800E vs Xeon E5-4603: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A12-9800E

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Xeon E5-4603 needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E5-4603.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-4603 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-4603, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.0 vs 16.8 PassMark/$ ($426 MSRP vs $202 MSRP).

Xeon E5-4603

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.
✅Costs $224 less on MSRP ($202 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).
✅Delivers 109.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 16.8 vs 8.0 PassMark/$ ($202 MSRP vs $426 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,391 vs 3,416).
❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A12-9800E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A12-9800E.

Quick Answers

So, is A12-9800E better than Xeon E5-4603?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-4603 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while A12-9800E is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A12-9800E is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

A12-9800E is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-4603 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. A12-9800E comes in 110.9% more expensive on MSRP at $426 MSRP versus $202 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-4603 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 5.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-4603 is also 109.3% better value on MSRP (16.8 vs 8.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

A12-9800E makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A12-9800E vs Xeon E5-4603 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Xeon E5-4603

The Xeon E5-4603 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,391 points. Launch price was $712.

⚡

Processing Power

The A12-9800E packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E5-4603's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A12-9800E versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4603 — a 62.1% clock advantage for the A12-9800E (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2 GHz). The A12-9800E uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon E5-4603 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9800E scores 3,416 against the Xeon E5-4603's 3,391 — a 0.7% lead for the A12-9800E. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A12-9800E vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4603.

Feature	A12-9800E	Xeon E5-4603
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+90%	2 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+55%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	10240 kB (total)
L2 Cache	2048 kB+700%	256 kB (per core)
Process	28 nm-13%	32 nm
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Sandy Bridge-EP (2012)
PassMark	3,416	3,391
Geekbench 6 Single	651	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A12-9800E uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-4603 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A12-9800E	Xeon E5-4603
Socket	AM4	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A12-9800E) / not specified (Xeon E5-4603). The A12-9800E includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Xeon E5-4603 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800E targets Low Power. Direct competitor: A12-9800E rivals Pentium G4600T.

Feature	A12-9800E	Xeon E5-4603
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Radeon R7	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	—
Target Use	Low Power	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A12-9800E was priced at $426, while the Xeon E5-4603 came in at $202. On launch pricing ($426 vs $202), Xeon E5-4603 was $224 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9800E delivers 8.0 pts/$ vs 16.8 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-4603 — making the Xeon E5-4603 the 70.7% better value option.

Feature	A12-9800E	Xeon E5-4603
MSRP	$426	$202-53%
Performance per Dollar	8.0	16.8+110%
Release Date	2017	2012

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