A4-9120 vs Core i5-12400F
A4-9120
Core i5-12400F
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. The A4-9120 is positioned at rank #871 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A4-9120
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A4-9120 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A4-9120 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 i5-12400F
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 i5-12400F
The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.
Processing Power
The A4-9120 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the A4-9120 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 55.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The A4-9120 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the A4-9120 scores 1,222 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 176.4% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 1,700, a 131.7% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz+76% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | — | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% |
| Process | 28 nm | Intel 7 nm-75% |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 1,222 | 19,532+1498% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,380 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | 1,700+386% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 657 |
Memory & Platform
The A4-9120 uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A4-9120 versus DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400F supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A4-9120) vs 2 (Core i5-12400F). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-9120) vs 20 (Core i5-12400F) — the Core i5-12400F offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 20+150% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V (A4-9120) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). The A4-9120 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3), while the Core i5-12400F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-9120 targets Entry Laptop, Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: A4-9120 rivals Celeron N3350; Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core i5-12400F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R3 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Entry Laptop | Gaming Performance/Value |
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