Core i7-3687U vs A12-9720P
Core i7-3687U
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 i7-3687U is positioned at rank 654 and the A12-9720P is on rank 1016, so the Core i7-3687U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3687U
Performance Per Dollar A12-9720P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3687U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3687U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 i7-3687U and A12-9720P
Core i7-3687U
The Core i7-3687U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 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: 2,621 points. Launch price was $69.
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 i7-3687U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9720P offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9720P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-3687U versus 3.6 GHz on the A12-9720P — a 8.7% clock advantage for the A12-9720P (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-3687U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the A12-9720P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3687U scores 2,621 against the A12-9720P's 2,622 — a 0% lead for the A12-9720P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 640 vs 529, a 19% lead for the Core i7-3687U that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i7-3687U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.7 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 22 nm-21% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,621 | 2,622 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 640+21% | 529 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,240 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3687U uses the BGA1023 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 on the Core i7-3687U versus DDR4-1866 on the A12-9720P — the A12-9720P supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-3687U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-3687U) vs 8 (A12-9720P) — the Core i7-3687U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i7-3687U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR4-1866+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 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 i7-3687U) vs AMD-V (A12-9720P). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 4000 (Core i7-3687U) and Radeon R7 (A12-9720P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3687U targets Enthusiast, A12-9720P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3687U rivals Ryzen 7 3700U; A12-9720P rivals Core i5-7200U.
| Feature | Core i7-3687U | A12-9720P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4000 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Enthusiast | Laptop |
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