Core i5-3437U vs A8-3820
Core i5-3437U
A8-3820
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 i5-3437U is positioned at rank 164 and the A8-3820 is on rank 1032, so the Core i5-3437U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3437U
Performance Per Dollar A8-3820
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3437U | A8-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3437U | A8-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i5-3437U and A8-3820
Core i5-3437U
The Core i5-3437U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 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. Passmark benchmark score: 2,166 points. Launch price was $69.
A8-3820
The A8-3820 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,178 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3437U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-3820 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3820 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-3437U versus 2.8 GHz on the A8-3820 — a 3.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-3437U (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-3437U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the A8-3820 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3437U scores 2,166 against the A8-3820's 2,178 — a 0.6% lead for the A8-3820. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 440 vs 354, a 21.7% lead for the Core i5-3437U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3437U vs 0 kB on the A8-3820.
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | A8-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+4% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.5 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,166 | 2,178 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 440+24% | 354 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,080 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3437U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-3820 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-3437U) vs 20 (A8-3820) — the A8-3820 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3437U) and A55,A75 (A8-3820).
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | A8-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 20+25% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3437U) vs AMD-V (A8-3820). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3437U) and Radeon HD 6550D (A8-3820) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3437U targets Business Ultrabook, A8-3820 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-3437U rivals AMD A8-4555M; A8-3820 rivals Core i3-2120.
| Feature | Core i5-3437U | A8-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | Radeon HD 6550D |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Business Ultrabook | Budget Desktop |
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