CPU
GPU
Core i5-4288U
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 i5-4288U is positioned at rank 1135 and the A12-9720P is on rank 1016, so the A12-9720P offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4288U
Performance Per Dollar A12-9720P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4288U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($342) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4288U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1249%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($342) | ✅ 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 i5-4288U and A12-9720P
Core i5-4288U
The Core i5-4288U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,659 points. Launch price was $342.
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 i5-4288U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9720P offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9720P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-4288U versus 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P — a 14.9% clock advantage for the A12-9720P (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-4288U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the A12-9720P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4288U scores 2,659 against the A12-9720P's 2,622 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i5-4288U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 880 vs 529, a 49.8% lead for the Core i5-4288U that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i5-4288U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.7 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 22 nm-21% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,659+1% | 2,622 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 880+66% | 529 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,800 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4288U 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 DDR3L 1600 MHz on the Core i5-4288U versus DDR4-1866 on the A12-9720P — the Core i5-4288U supports 199.9% 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 i5-4288U) vs 8 (A12-9720P) — the Core i5-4288U offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-4288U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L 1600 MHz | 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: true (Core i5-4288U) vs AMD-V (A12-9720P). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Iris Graphics 5100 (Core i5-4288U) and Radeon R7 (A12-9720P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4288U targets Mobile, A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.
| Feature | Core i5-4288U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel Iris Graphics 5100 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mobile | Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-4288U launched at $342 MSRP, while the A12-9720P debuted at $200.
| Feature | Core i5-4288U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $342 | $200-42% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $25 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2016 |
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