Core i5-430M vs A4-9120
Core i5-430M
A4-9120
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 i5-430M is positioned at rank 12 and the A4-9120 is on rank 871, so the Core i5-430M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-430M
Performance Per Dollar A4-9120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-430M | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-430M | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-430M and A4-9120
Core i5-430M
The Core i5-430M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $79.
A4-9120
The A4-9120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,222 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i5-430M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A4-9120's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core i5-430M versus 2.5 GHz on the A4-9120 — a 1.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-430M (base: 2.26 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i5-430M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-9120 uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-430M scores 1,210 against the A4-9120's 1,222 — a 1% lead for the A4-9120. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 350, a 0% lead for the A4-9120 that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz+1% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz+3% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,210 | 1,222 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | 350 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 750 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-430M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-9120 uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i5-430M versus DDR4-2133 on the A4-9120 — the A4-9120 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-430M) vs 1 (A4-9120). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-430M) vs 8 (A4-9120) — the Core i5-430M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-430M) vs AMD-V (A4-9120). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Core i5-430M) and Radeon R3 (A4-9120) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-430M targets Performance Laptop, A4-9120 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-430M rivals AMD Turion II M620; A4-9120 rivals Celeron N3350.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | A4-9120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | Radeon R3 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | Entry Laptop |
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