Core i3-7102E vs A12-9720P
Core i3-7102E
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 i3-7102E is positioned at rank 974 and the A12-9720P is on rank 1016, so the Core i3-7102E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7102E
Performance Per Dollar A12-9720P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7102E | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7102E | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+223%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($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 i3-7102E and A12-9720P
Core i3-7102E
The Core i3-7102E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,599 points. Launch price was $225.
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 i3-7102E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9720P offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9720P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-7102E versus 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P — a 52.6% clock advantage for the A12-9720P. The Core i3-7102E uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the A12-9720P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7102E scores 2,599 against the A12-9720P's 2,622 — a 0.9% lead for the A12-9720P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,962 vs 529, a 115.1% lead for the Core i3-7102E that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i3-7102E | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,599 | 2,622 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 659 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,962+271% | 529 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,898 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Core i3-7102E supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-7102E) vs 8 (A12-9720P) — the Core i3-7102E offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-7102E | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+300% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i3-7102E) vs AMD-V (A12-9720P). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 630 (Core i3-7102E) and Radeon R7 (A12-9720P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.
| Feature | Core i3-7102E | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 630 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-7102E launched at $225 MSRP, while the A12-9720P debuted at $200. At current prices ($80 vs $25), the A12-9720P is $55 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-7102E delivers 32.5 pts/$ vs 104.9 pts/$ for the A12-9720P — making the A12-9720P the 105.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-7102E | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $225 | $200-11% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80 | $25-69% |
| Performance per Dollar | 32.5 | 104.9+223% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2016 |
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