A4-4020 vs Core i3-4012Y
A4-4020
Core i3-4012Y
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 A4-4020 is positioned at rank 768 and the Core i3-4012Y is on rank 526, so the Core i3-4012Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A4-4020
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4012Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A4-4020 | Core i3-4012Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A4-4020 | Core i3-4012Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 A4-4020 and Core i3-4012Y
A4-4020
The A4-4020 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,269 points. Launch price was $50.
Core i3-4012Y
The Core i3-4012Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,278 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The A4-4020 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-4012Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the A4-4020 versus 1.5 GHz on the Core i3-4012Y — a 77.6% clock advantage for the A4-4020 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The A4-4020 uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-4012Y uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A4-4020 scores 1,269 against the Core i3-4012Y's 1,278 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-4012Y. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 341 vs 485, a 34.9% lead for the Core i3-4012Y that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | A4-4020 | Core i3-4012Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+127% | 1.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+113% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (total)+100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Richland (2013−2014) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,269 | 1,278 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 341 | 485+42% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 988 |
Memory & Platform
The A4-4020 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4012Y uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A4-4020) vs 12 (Core i3-4012Y) — the A4-4020 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A58,A68H,A75,A78,A88X (A4-4020) and HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i3-4012Y).
| Feature | A4-4020 | Core i3-4012Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A4-4020) vs VT-x / EPT (Core i3-4012Y). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 7480D (A4-4020) and Intel HD Graphics 4200 (Core i3-4012Y) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4020 targets Budget Desktop, Core i3-4012Y targets Low Power. Direct competitor: A4-4020 rivals Pentium G3220.
| Feature | A4-4020 | Core i3-4012Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 7480D | Intel HD Graphics 4200 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x / EPT |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Low Power |
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