Core i3-7100H vs A12-9800E
Core i3-7100H
A12-9800E
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 i3-7100H is positioned at rank 522 and the A12-9800E is on rank 1029, so the Core i3-7100H offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7100H
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7100H | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7100H | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 i3-7100H and A12-9800E
Core i3-7100H
The Core i3-7100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,450 points. Launch price was $393.
A12-9800E
The A12-9800E 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,416 points. Launch price was $105.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7100H packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9800E offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9800E has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Core i3-7100H versus 3.8 GHz on the A12-9800E — a 30.3% clock advantage for the A12-9800E (base: 3 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i3-7100H uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the A12-9800E uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7100H scores 3,450 against the A12-9800E's 3,416 — a 1% lead for the Core i3-7100H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,011 vs 651, a 43.3% lead for the Core i3-7100H that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-7100H vs 0 kB on the A12-9800E.
| Feature | Core i3-7100H | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz+36% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.1 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2048 kB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake-H (2017) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,450 | 3,416 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,011+55% | 651 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7100H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A12-9800E uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-7100H) vs 8 (A12-9800E) — the Core i3-7100H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM175,QM175,CM238 (Core i3-7100H) and A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800E).
| Feature | Core i3-7100H | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7100H) vs AMD-V (A12-9800E). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7100H) and Radeon R7 (A12-9800E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7100H targets Performance Laptop, A12-9800E targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Core i3-7100H rivals Ryzen 3 2300U; A12-9800E rivals Pentium G4600T.
| Feature | Core i3-7100H | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | Low Power |
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