CPU
GPU
Core i7-2620M
A12-9700P
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 i7-2620M is positioned at rank 1162 and the A12-9700P is on rank 553, so the A12-9700P offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2620M
Performance Per Dollar A12-9700P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2620M | A12-9700P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2620M | A12-9700P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ 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 i7-2620M and A12-9700P
Core i7-2620M
The Core i7-2620M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,424 points. Launch price was $346.
A12-9700P
The A12-9700P 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,415 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2620M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9700P offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9700P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-2620M versus 3.4 GHz on the A12-9700P — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i7-2620M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A12-9700P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2620M scores 2,424 against the A12-9700P's 2,415 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-2620M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 509 vs 481, a 5.7% lead for the Core i7-2620M that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i7-2620M | A12-9700P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+8% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2048 kB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,424 | 2,415 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 509+6% | 481 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,222 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2620M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A12-9700P uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i7-2620M versus DDR4-1866 on the A12-9700P — the A12-9700P supports 28.6% 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: 16 (Core i7-2620M) vs 8 (A12-9700P) — the Core i7-2620M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i7-2620M | A12-9700P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-1866+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-2620M) vs AMD-V (A12-9700P). Both include integrated graphics — HD 3000 (Core i7-2620M) and Radeon R7 (A12-9700P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2620M targets Budget, A12-9700P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2620M rivals Core i5-2410M; A12-9700P rivals Core i5-6200U.
| Feature | Core i7-2620M | A12-9700P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD 3000 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Laptop |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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