Core i7-960 vs A12-9800E
Core i7-960
A12-9800E
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 i7-960 is positioned at rank 979 and the A12-9800E is on rank 1029, so the Core i7-960 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-960
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-960 | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-960 | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+36%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 i7-960 and A12-9800E
Core i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
A12-9800E
The A12-9800E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,416 points. Launch price was $105.
Processing Power
The Core i7-960 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the A12-9800E's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 versus 3.8 GHz on the A12-9800E — a 9.4% clock advantage for the A12-9800E (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-960 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the A12-9800E uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-960 scores 3,400 against the A12-9800E's 3,416 — a 0.5% lead for the A12-9800E. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960 vs 0 kB on the A12-9800E.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz | 3.8 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+3% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2048 kB+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,400 | 3,416 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 651 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-960 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A12-9800E uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-960) / AMD-V (A12-9800E). The A12-9800E includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800E targets Low Power. Direct competitor: A12-9800E rivals Pentium G4600T.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Low Power |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-960 launched at $309 MSRP, while the A12-9800E debuted at $426. At current prices ($110 vs $150), the Core i7-960 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-960 delivers 30.9 pts/$ vs 22.8 pts/$ for the A12-9800E — making the Core i7-960 the 30.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $309-27% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-27% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 30.9+36% | 22.8 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2017 |
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