AMD A12-9800E vs AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with margins ranging from decisive to overwhelming. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U scores 658 against the A12-9800E's 297, a 121.5% advantage. That is more than double the older chip's output, reflecting not just core count but how effectively those cores are utilized. The A12-9800E's 4 cores and 4 threads simply cannot match the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U's 4 cores and 8 threads in a heavily threaded workload.

Geekbench multicore confirms the trend. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U posts 2567 versus 1521 for the A12-9800E, a 68.8% lead. While not as extreme as the Cinebench gap, this still places the Ryzen part firmly in a different performance class for parallel tasks. The single-core story is closer but still favors the newer chip. In Geekbench single-core, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U scores 790, which is 25.2% ahead of the A12-9800E's 631. A quarter-percent advantage in lightly threaded performance is significant; it means everyday responsiveness, application launches, and legacy software all benefit from the Zen+ architecture.

Notably, the A12-9800E has no benchmark wins at all. The head-to-head data lists three tests, and the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U wins all three. There are no counterbalancing victories for the Bristol Ridge part. Even the aggregate benchmark scores tell a similar story: the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U averages 1041 across its benchmark suite, while the A12-9800E averages 1033. The difference is small in aggregate terms, but that is largely because the A12-9800E's additional Cinebench R20 and R23 results (1239 multicore, 174 single-core, 2950 multicore, 416 single-core) pull its average upward, while the Ryzen part's suite is dominated by its lower Cinebench R15 and Geekbench scores. The head-to-head deltas are the more reliable comparison, and they are one-sided.

Percentile rankings reinforce the divide. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U sits at the 29th percentile of all CPUs, while the A12-9800E is at the 28th. That one-percentile gap is narrow, but the Ryzen part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4160T (average score 1043, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i7-4558U (1038, +0.3%), and the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 (1045, -0.4%). The A12-9800E's rivals include the AMD A10-9700 (1034, -0.1%), the Intel Pentium G4560 (1031, +0.2%), and the AMD A10-7890K (1035, -0.2%). Both chips are clustered in a narrow band around 1030-1045 average score, but the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U achieves that standing with far less power and far more headroom in threaded workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U wins decisively. It scores 658 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 297 for the A12-9800E, a 121.5% lead. In Geekbench multicore, the Ryzen part scores 2567 against 1521, a 68.8% advantage.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is ahead by 25.2% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 790 versus 631. The A12-9800E also has Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core scores of 174 and 416, respectively, but these are not directly comparable to the Ryzen part's Cinebench R15 score.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U supports 8 threads, while the A12-9800E is limited to 4 threads. This difference explains much of the multi-core performance gap.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the A12-9800E has a TDP of 35 watts. The Ryzen part delivers substantially higher performance at less than half the power envelope.

Q: Are these processors from the same architecture generation?

A: No. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U uses the Zen+ architecture (codename Picasso) on a 12 nm process, while the A12-9800E uses the Excavator architecture (codename Bristol Ridge) on a 28 nm process. The Ryzen part is newer, with a 2019 release date versus 2017 for the A12-9800E.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U features Radeon Vega 10 graphics, while the A12-9800E features Radeon R7 graphics. The benchmark data does not include graphics-specific tests, but the Vega 10 iGPU is typically more capable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by more than just release date; they represent fundamentally different design philosophies from AMD. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The A12-9800E, by contrast, uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, on a 28 nm process, with 3,100 million transistors on a larger 250 mm² die. The smaller process node gives the Ryzen part a significant efficiency advantage, which is reflected in its 15 W TDP versus the A12-9800E's 35 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies differ markedly. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A12-9800E has a total of 320 KB of L1 cache, 2 MB of L2 cache, and no L3 cache at all. The absence of L3 cache on the A12-9800E is a critical architectural limitation; it means the processor relies entirely on L2 for cached data, which increases latency and reduces throughput in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen part's 4 MB of shared L3 helps compensate for slower main memory access and improves multi-threaded scaling.

Both processors support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses, and neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3, though the A12-9800E's implementation is limited to 8 lanes on the CPU only, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U's PCIe configuration is not specified in the data. The Ryzen part's integrated graphics is Radeon Vega 10, while the A12-9800E uses Radeon R7. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not officially supported.

The transistor count difference is striking: 4,940 million versus 3,100 million. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U crams roughly 60% more transistors into a smaller die, which explains how it achieves higher performance at lower power. The Excavator architecture is a mature design, but it lacks the simultaneous multithreading (SMT) that Zen+ provides. That is why the Ryzen part handles 8 threads while the A12-9800E is limited to 4.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U | AMD A12-9800E |

|---|---|---|

| Series | 3000 series | Not specified |

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Zen+ | Excavator |

| Codename | Picasso | Bristol Ridge |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | 3,100 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 250 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 320 KB (total) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 2 MB (total) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | None |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 10 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2019-04-07 | 2017-07-26 |

| Part Number | YM370BC4T4MFG | AD9800AHM44AB |

The specification table highlights several key differentiators beyond raw performance. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a lower base clock (2.30 GHz versus 3.10 GHz) but a higher boost clock (4.00 GHz versus 3.80 GHz). This means the A12-9800E starts from a higher baseline but cannot reach the same peak frequency. In practice, the Ryzen part's higher boost clock, combined with its architectural advantages, yields better single-threaded performance despite the lower base frequency.

The socket difference matters for platform compatibility. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U uses AMD Socket FP5, which is a mobile socket, while the A12-9800E uses AMD Socket AM4, a desktop socket. This reflects their market segments: the Ryzen part is designed for laptops and compact mobile devices, while the A12-9800E is a desktop part. The 15 W TDP of the Ryzen part makes it suitable for thin-and-light systems, whereas the 35 W TDP of the A12-9800E requires more substantial cooling.

The cache configuration is perhaps the most consequential difference for real-world performance. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U's per-core L1 and L2 caches (96 KB and 512 KB, respectively) scale with the number of cores, while the A12-9800E's caches are fixed global amounts (320 KB L1, 2 MB L2). For a 4-core processor, the A12-9800E effectively provides 80 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, which is roughly half the L1 and equal L2 per core compared to the Ryzen part. The Ryzen part's 4 MB L3 cache is an additional advantage that the A12-9800E lacks entirely.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the superior processor in every measurable way. It wins all three head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas ranging from 25.2% to 121.5%. It achieves these wins while consuming less than half the power (15 W TDP versus 35 W TDP). It has a more modern architecture (Zen+ versus Excavator), a smaller process node (12 nm versus 28 nm), more transistors (4,940 million versus 3,100 million), a larger cache hierarchy (including 4 MB L3 versus none), and double the thread count (8 versus 4).

The A12-9800E's only advantages are its higher base clock (3.10 GHz versus 2.30 GHz) and its desktop socket (AM4 versus FP5), which may appeal to users building a budget desktop system with existing AM4 components. However, the benchmark data shows that the higher base clock does not translate into performance superiority. The A12-9800E's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium G4560 and AMD A10-9700, which are all clustered around the same average score (1031-1036). The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U's nearest rivals are similarly positioned (1038-1045), but its head-to-head performance against the A12-9800E is decisively better.

For anyone choosing between these two processors, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the obvious pick. It is faster, more efficient, more modern, and better equipped for both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The A12-9800E is an older, less capable design that cannot compete on any benchmark where both are measured.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U wins in:

• Multi-core performance: 121.5% ahead in Cinebench R15 multicore (658 versus 297) and 68.8% ahead in Geekbench multicore (2567 versus 1521).
• Single-core performance: 25.2% ahead in Geekbench single-core (790 versus 631).
• Threaded workloads: 8 threads versus 4 threads, enabling better parallel scaling in rendering, compilation, and productivity applications.
• Power efficiency: 15 W TDP versus 35 W TDP, making it suitable for fanless or low-power mobile designs.
• Cache capacity: 4 MB L3 cache plus per-core L1/L2 caches provides a substantial advantage in memory-bound tasks.
• Modern platform: 12 nm process, Zen+ architecture, and Radeon Vega 10 graphics.

AMD A12-9800E wins in:

• Base clock frequency: 3.10 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, which may provide a slight edge in extremely short, latency-sensitive operations that do not benefit from boost behavior or cache.
• Desktop platform compatibility: Socket AM4 allows installation in a wide range of existing desktop motherboards, whereas the FP5 socket is limited to mobile systems.
• Die size: The larger 250 mm² die may offer better thermal spreading characteristics in a desktop chassis with adequate airflow, though this is not reflected in benchmark scores.
• Release date: None; the Ryzen part is newer (2019 versus 2017) and benefits from architectural improvements.

The A12-9800E's wins are contextual rather than performance-based. There is no benchmark in the data where it beats the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U. Its higher base clock is a nominal specification advantage, but it does not translate into a single benchmark victory. The desktop socket is a platform consideration, not a performance metric. In any application where CPU performance matters, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the better choice.