Athlon X4 880K vs A12-9800
Athlon X4 880K
A12-9800
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 Athlon X4 880K is positioned at rank 511 and the A12-9800 is on rank 345, so the A12-9800 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 880K
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 880K | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 880K | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Athlon X4 880K and A12-9800
Athlon X4 880K
The Athlon X4 880K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,649 points. Launch price was $149.
A12-9800
The A12-9800 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 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,695 points. Launch price was $139.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 880K and A12-9800 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 880K versus 4.2 GHz on the A12-9800 — identical boost frequencies (base: 4 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Athlon X4 880K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the A12-9800 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 880K scores 3,649 against the A12-9800's 3,695 — a 1.3% lead for the A12-9800.
| Feature | Athlon X4 880K | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+5% | 3.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+100% | 2048 kB |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,649 | 3,695+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 635 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 880K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A12-9800 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the Athlon X4 880K versus DDR4-2400 on the A12-9800 — the A12-9800 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 880K) vs 8 (A12-9800) — the Athlon X4 880K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2+ (Athlon X4 880K) and A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800).
| Feature | Athlon X4 880K | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 880K) / AMD-V (A12-9800). The A12-9800 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 880K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A12-9800 rivals Pentium G4600.
| Feature | Athlon X4 880K | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon X4 880K and A12-9800
