Core i3-8145U vs PRO A12-8870
Core i3-8145U
PRO A12-8870
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 i3-8145U is positioned at rank 587 and the PRO A12-8870 is on rank 277, so the PRO A12-8870 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8145U
Performance Per Dollar PRO A12-8870
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8145U | PRO A12-8870 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Carrizo (2015−2018) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8145U | PRO A12-8870 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-8145U and PRO A12-8870
Core i3-8145U
The Core i3-8145U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,781 points. Launch price was $281.
PRO A12-8870
The PRO A12-8870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Outubro 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. 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: 3,805 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8145U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the PRO A12-8870 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the PRO A12-8870 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-8145U versus 4.2 GHz on the PRO A12-8870 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the PRO A12-8870 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i3-8145U uses the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the PRO A12-8870 uses Carrizo (2015−2018) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8145U scores 3,781 against the PRO A12-8870's 3,805 — a 0.6% lead for the PRO A12-8870.
| Feature | Core i3-8145U | PRO A12-8870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.7 GHz+76% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2048 kB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) | Carrizo (2015−2018) |
| PassMark | 3,781 | 3,805 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8145U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the PRO A12-8870 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-8145U | PRO A12-8870 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8145U) / not specified (PRO A12-8870). The Core i3-8145U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the PRO A12-8870 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8145U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-8145U | PRO A12-8870 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 620 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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