A12-9800E vs Xeon E5-4603
A12-9800E
Xeon E5-4603
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 Xeon E5-4603 is on rank 670, so the Xeon E5-4603 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 Xeon E5-4603
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A12-9800E | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A12-9800E | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+86%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 Xeon E5-4603
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 | ❌ | — |
| 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
The A12-9800E launched at $426 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-4603 debuted at $202. At current prices ($150 vs $80), the Xeon E5-4603 is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A12-9800E delivers 22.8 pts/$ vs 42.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-4603 — making the Xeon E5-4603 the 60.2% better value option.
| Feature | A12-9800E | Xeon E5-4603 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $426 | $202-53% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $80-47% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.8 | 42.4+86% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2012 |
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