Core i7-9700K vs PRO A12-9800

CPU

GPU

Core i7-9700K

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2018

Popular choices:

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PRO A12-9800

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2016

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-9700K

8 / 8

14,397

+283.8%

3,751

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +209.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 9.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 34.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $110 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while PRO A12-9800 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
250% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$110 MSRP
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

PRO A12-9800

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $275 less on MSRP ($110 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,751 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($110 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

PRO A12-9800

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +209.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 9.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 37.4 vs 34.1 PassMark/$ ($385 MSRP vs $110 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while PRO A12-9800 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Costs $275 less on MSRP ($110 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
250% HIGHER MSRP
$385 MSRPvs$110 MSRP
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-9700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,751 vs 14,397).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.1 vs 37.4 PassMark/$ ($110 MSRP vs $385 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-9700K better than PRO A12-9800?

Yes. Core i7-9700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 209.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 283.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-9700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 209.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-9700K is the better fit. You are getting 283.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-9700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-9700K is 250.0% more expensive on MSRP at $385 MSRP versus $110 MSRP, and it gives you a 209.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 9.7% better value on MSRP (37.4 vs 34.1 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, PRO A12-9800 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-9700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-9700K Benchmark Check

PRO A12-9800 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	308 FPS	94 FPS
medium	278 FPS	94 FPS
high	231 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	94 FPS
medium	221 FPS	94 FPS
high	178 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	65 FPS
medium	140 FPS	58 FPS
high	108 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open PRO A12-9800

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	360 FPS	94 FPS
medium	321 FPS	94 FPS
high	291 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	94 FPS
medium	282 FPS	94 FPS
high	258 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	94 FPS
medium	221 FPS	94 FPS
high	208 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	94 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open PRO A12-9800

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	360 FPS	94 FPS
medium	360 FPS	94 FPS
high	360 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	94 FPS
medium	360 FPS	94 FPS
high	360 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	94 FPS
medium	360 FPS	94 FPS
high	360 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	94 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open PRO A12-9800

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	PRO A12-9800
1080p
low	360 FPS	94 FPS
medium	360 FPS	94 FPS
high	360 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	94 FPS
medium	360 FPS	94 FPS
high	360 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	94 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	94 FPS
medium	360 FPS	94 FPS
high	360 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	94 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open PRO A12-9800

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and PRO A12-9800

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

PRO A12-9800

The PRO A12-9800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,751 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the PRO A12-9800 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.2 GHz on the PRO A12-9800 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the PRO A12-9800 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the PRO A12-9800's 3,751 — a 117.3% lead for the Core i7-9700K.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	PRO A12-9800
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+100%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+17%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.8 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	2048 kB+700%
Process	14 nm-50%	28 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	14,397+284%	3,751

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the PRO A12-9800 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	PRO A12-9800
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) / not specified (PRO A12-9800). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the PRO A12-9800 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	PRO A12-9800
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the PRO A12-9800 debuted at $110. On MSRP ($385 vs $110), the PRO A12-9800 is $275 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 34.1 pts/$ for the PRO A12-9800 — making the Core i7-9700K the 9.2% better value option.