PRO A12-8870E vs Core i7-940
PRO A12-8870E
Core i7-940
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 PRO A12-8870E is positioned at rank 352 and the Core i7-940 is on rank 1071, so the PRO A12-8870E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar PRO A12-8870E
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-940
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | PRO A12-8870E | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Carrizo (2015−2018) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | PRO A12-8870E | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) |
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 PRO A12-8870E and Core i7-940
PRO A12-8870E
The PRO A12-8870E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Outubro 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. 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: 3,010 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i7-940
The Core i7-940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Novembro 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 3,029 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The PRO A12-8870E packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-940's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the PRO A12-8870E versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-940 — a 17.1% clock advantage for the PRO A12-8870E (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.93 GHz). The PRO A12-8870E uses the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-940 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the PRO A12-8870E scores 3,010 against the Core i7-940's 3,029 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-940.
| Feature | PRO A12-8870E | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+19% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 2.93 GHz+1% |
| L3 Cache | — | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Carrizo (2015−2018) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,010 | 3,029 |
Memory & Platform
The PRO A12-8870E uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-940 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | PRO A12-8870E | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 24 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 36 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (PRO A12-8870E) / VT-x (Core i7-940). Primary use case: Core i7-940 targets Desktop.
| Feature | PRO A12-8870E | Core i7-940 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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