CPU
GPU
Core i3-5157U
A12-9720P
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 i3-5157U is positioned at rank 663 and the A12-9720P is on rank 1016, so the Core i3-5157U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-5157U
Performance Per Dollar A12-9720P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-5157U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-5157U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core i3-5157U and A12-9720P
Core i3-5157U
The Core i3-5157U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,593 points. Launch price was $315.
A12-9720P
The A12-9720P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,622 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Core i3-5157U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9720P offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9720P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-5157U versus 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P — a 36.1% clock advantage for the A12-9720P (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i3-5157U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the A12-9720P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-5157U scores 2,593 against the A12-9720P's 2,622 — a 1.1% lead for the A12-9720P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 793 vs 529, a 39.9% lead for the Core i3-5157U that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i3-5157U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+44% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.7 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,593 | 2,622+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 793+50% | 529 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-5157U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A12-9720P uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR3-1866 on the Core i3-5157U versus DDR4-1866 on the A12-9720P — the A12-9720P supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-5157U) vs 8 (A12-9720P) — the Core i3-5157U offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-5157U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR3-1866 | DDR4-1866+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12+50% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-5157U) vs AMD-V (A12-9720P). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Graphics 6100 (Core i3-5157U) and Radeon R7 (A12-9720P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5157U targets Premium Laptop, A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-5157U rivals A12-8800B; A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.
| Feature | Core i3-5157U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Graphics 6100 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Premium Laptop | Laptop |
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