Pentium Gold G5400 vs PRO A12-9800

Intel

Pentium Gold G5400

2 Cores4 Thrd54 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2018
VS
AMD

PRO A12-9800

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2016
Similar parts
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Pentium Gold G5400 vs PRO A12-9800 Performance Spectrum

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.

Pentium Gold G5400 vs PRO A12-9800 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Pentium Gold G5400 vs PRO A12-9800: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium Gold G5400

2018

Why buy it

  • Draws 54W instead of 65W, a 11W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 610, while PRO A12-9800 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (3,735 vs 3,751).

PRO A12-9800

2016

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Launch MSRP is still $110 MSRP, while Pentium Gold G5400 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
    • 20.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 54W.
    • No integrated graphics, while Pentium Gold G5400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

    Quick Answers

    So, is PRO A12-9800 better than Pentium Gold G5400?
    Yes. PRO A12-9800 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, PRO A12-9800 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, PRO A12-9800 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    PRO A12-9800 is the better buy right now. PRO A12-9800 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $110 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (34.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    PRO A12-9800 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Pentium Gold G5400 vs PRO A12-9800 Technical Specifications

    Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

    Intel

    Pentium Gold G5400

    The Pentium Gold G5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,735 points. Launch price was $64.

    AMD

    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.

    Processing Power

    The Pentium Gold G5400 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the PRO A12-9800 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the PRO A12-9800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Pentium Gold G5400 versus 4.2 GHz on the PRO A12-9800 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the PRO A12-9800 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Pentium Gold G5400 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the PRO A12-9800 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Gold G5400 scores 3,735 against the PRO A12-9800's 3,751 — a 0.4% lead for the PRO A12-9800.

    FeaturePentium Gold G5400PRO A12-9800
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 4
    4 / 4+100%
    Boost Clock
    3.7 GHz
    4.2 GHz+14%
    Base Clock
    3.7 GHz
    3.8 GHz+3%
    L3 Cache
    4 MB (total)
    L2 Cache
    256K (per core)
    2048 kB+700%
    Process
    14 nm-50%
    28 nm
    Architecture
    Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
    Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
    PassMark
    3,735
    3,751
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Pentium Gold G5400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the PRO A12-9800 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeaturePentium Gold G5400PRO A12-9800
    Socket
    LGA1151
    AM4
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 3.0
    PCIe 3.0
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR4-2400
    Max RAM Capacity
    64 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    Yes
    PCIe Lanes
    16
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: VT-x (Pentium Gold G5400) / not specified (PRO A12-9800). The Pentium Gold G5400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 610), while the PRO A12-9800 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium Gold G5400 targets Budget.

    FeaturePentium Gold G5400PRO A12-9800
    Integrated GPU
    Yes
    IGPU Model
    UHD Graphics 610
    Unlocked
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    VT-x
    Target Use
    Budget