A4-9120 vs Core i3-380M
A4-9120
Core i3-380M
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 A4-9120 is positioned at rank 871 and the Core i3-380M is on rank 11, so the Core i3-380M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A4-9120
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-380M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A4-9120 | Core i3-380M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A4-9120 | Core i3-380M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 A4-9120 and Core i3-380M
A4-9120
The A4-9120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,222 points. Launch price was $50.
Core i3-380M
The Core i3-380M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 October 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 0.53 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,212 points. Launch price was $49.
Processing Power
The A4-9120 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-380M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the A4-9120 versus 0.53 GHz on the Core i3-380M — a 130% clock advantage for the A4-9120 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The A4-9120 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-380M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A4-9120 scores 1,222 against the Core i3-380M's 1,212 — a 0.8% lead for the A4-9120. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 450, a 25% lead for the Core i3-380M that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core i3-380M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+372% | 0.53 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.53 GHz+15% |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-13% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,222 | 1,212 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | 450+29% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,100 |
Memory & Platform
The A4-9120 uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-380M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A4-9120 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i3-380M — the A4-9120 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (A4-9120) vs 2 (Core i3-380M). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-9120) vs 16 (Core i3-380M) — the Core i3-380M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core i3-380M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A4-9120) vs VT-x (Core i3-380M). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R3 (A4-9120) and Intel HD Graphics (Gen 1) (Core i3-380M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-9120 targets Entry Laptop, Core i3-380M targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-9120 rivals Celeron N3350; Core i3-380M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core i3-380M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R3 | Intel HD Graphics (Gen 1) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Entry Laptop | Legacy Laptop |
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