Core i3-3217U vs A4-9120
Core i3-3217U
A4-9120
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 Core i3-3217U is positioned at rank 684 and the A4-9120 is on rank 871, so the Core i3-3217U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3217U
Performance Per Dollar A4-9120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3217U | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3217U | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core i3-3217U and A4-9120
Core i3-3217U
The Core i3-3217U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,226 points. Launch price was $225.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3217U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A4-9120's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Core i3-3217U versus 2.5 GHz on the A4-9120 — a 32.6% clock advantage for the A4-9120 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i3-3217U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the A4-9120 uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3217U scores 1,226 against the A4-9120's 1,222 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-3217U.
| Feature | Core i3-3217U | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.5 GHz+39% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.2 GHz+22% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm-21% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,226 | 1,222 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 350 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3217U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A4-9120 uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1600 on the Core i3-3217U versus DDR4-2133 on the A4-9120 — the Core i3-3217U supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3217U supports up to 32 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-3217U) vs 1 (A4-9120). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-3217U) vs 8 (A4-9120) — the Core i3-3217U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-3217U | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+39900% | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | 8 GB+26214300% |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i3-3217U) vs AMD-V (A4-9120). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3217U) and Radeon R3 (A4-9120) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-9120 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3217U rivals AMD A6-4455M; A4-9120 rivals Celeron N3350.
| Feature | Core i3-3217U | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | Radeon R3 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Entry Laptop |
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