CPU Comparison

The AMD A12-9800E and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B occupy the same performance percentile (28th) and produce nearly identical average benchmark scores, yet they achieve that parity through fundamentally different designs. The A12-9800E is a 4-core, 4-thread Bristol Ridge desktop part with a 35W TDP, while the V1202B is a 2-core, 4-thread Zen embedded chip with a 15W TDP. In the head-to-head benchmarks, the Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins all five tests, but the margins are consistently slim, ranging from -1% to -1.2%. This makes the matchup a study in architectural efficiency versus raw core count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen Embedded V1202B takes a clean sweep in the five head-to-head comparisons, though no single victory is decisive. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the V1202B scores 300 against the A12-9800E’s 297, a -1% delta. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the V1202B posts 1253 versus 1239 (-1.1%), and in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it leads 176 to 174 (-1.1%). The largest relative gap appears in Cinebench R23, where the V1202B wins multi-core 2985 to 2950 and single-core 421 to 416, both at -1.2% deltas.

These margins are within the noise of typical run-to-run variation, but the consistency of the V1202B’s victory across every workload is notable. The A12-9800E’s best showing is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the 3-point deficit (297 vs 300) is the closest of the five. However, the A12-9800E does have one benchmark absent from the head-to-head list: Geekbench multi-core (1521) and single-core (631) scores exist for the A12-9800E but are not provided for the V1202B, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Context from the nearest rivals reinforces how tightly grouped these chips are. The A12-9800E’s average benchmark score is 1033, sitting between the AMD A10-9700 (1034, -0.1%) and the Intel Pentium G4560 (1031, 0.2%). The V1202B averages 1027, matching the Intel Core i7-5650U (1027, 0%) and edging the Intel Core i3-4340 (1026, 0.1%). Both processors land in the 28th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are neither outliers nor leaders in their class.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide explains how a 2-core part can match a 4-core part. The A12-9800E uses the Excavator architecture on a 28nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 250 mm² and 3,100 million transistors. Its four physical cores run at a base clock of 3.10 GHz and boost to 3.80 GHz. Cache configuration includes 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache present. The memory subsystem is dual-channel DDR4, and the CPU provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes. Integrated graphics come from the Radeon R7 family.

The V1202B, by contrast, employs the Zen architecture on a 14nm process, also from GlobalFoundries. Its die is smaller at 210 mm² but packs more transistors: 4,950 million. The 2-core, 4-thread configuration relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach four threads, a feature the A12-9800E lacks. Base clock is 2.30 GHz with a boost of 3.20 GHz, both lower than the A12-9800E’s frequencies. Zen’s cache hierarchy is different: 128 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 2 MB of shared L3. This L3 cache is a critical advantage, as it is absent on the Bristol Ridge part. The V1202B also uses the AMD Socket FP5, while the A12-9800E sits on AMD Socket AM4. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 3.

The transistor count difference is stark: 4,950 million versus 3,100 million, despite the smaller die. That density comes from the 14nm process versus 28nm. The TDP gap is equally significant: the V1202B draws 15W, less than half the A12-9800E’s 35W. Both support DDR4 dual-channel memory and neither supports ECC. The V1202B’s PCIe lane count is not specified in the data, whereas the A12-9800E offers Gen 3, 8 lanes from the CPU. The release dates differ by roughly seven months, with the A12-9800E launching in July 2017 and the V1202B in February 2018.

The Verdict

The data points to the Ryzen Embedded V1202B as the superior performer in every measured benchmark, but the magnitude of that superiority is small. A -1% to -1.2% delta across Cinebench tests means the V1202B is functionally equivalent to the A12-9800E in raw throughput, while doing it with half the TDP and a newer architecture. For workloads that favor single-threaded performance, the V1202B’s 421 Cinebench R23 single-core score versus 416 shows the Zen core’s efficiency advantage despite a 0.6 GHz lower boost clock.

The A12-9800E’s case rests on its four physical cores and higher clocks. In a scenario where multithreading is not available and the workload is purely parallel across four threads, the A12-9800E could theoretically hold its own, but the benchmark results do not support that hypothesis, the V1202B wins multi-core tests too. The A12-9800E does offer Geekbench scores (1521 multi-core, 631 single-core) that the V1202B lacks in this dataset, which may be relevant for specific software suites. But based strictly on the head-to-head results, the V1202B is the pick for anyone prioritizing efficiency without sacrificing performance.

The nearest rival data reinforces that both chips are mid-pack performers. The A12-9800E sits within 0.3% of the AMD A8-7680 and AMD A10-7890K, while the V1202B matches the Intel Core i7-5650U exactly. Neither chip is a standout in its respective peer group; both hover around the 28th percentile. The decision ultimately hinges on platform requirements: the AM4 socket of the A12-9800E versus the FP5 socket of the V1202B, and the 35W versus 15W TDP envelope.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, including Cinebench R15 multi-core (300 vs 297), R20 multi-core (1253 vs 1239), R20 single-core (176 vs 174), R23 multi-core (2985 vs 2950), and R23 single-core (421 vs 416).

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has a TDP of 35W, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B has a TDP of 15W. The V1202B consumes less than half the power of the A12-9800E.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same cache configuration?

A: No. The A12-9800E has 320 KB of L1, 2 MB of L2, and no L3 cache. The V1202B has 128 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 2 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: How do the core counts and threads compare?

A: The A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads. The V1202B has 2 cores and 4 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to reach the same thread count.

Q: Which CPU has a higher clock speed?

A: The A12-9800E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The V1202B has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The A12-9800E has an average benchmark score of 1033, while the V1202B has an average benchmark score of 1027. Both sit in the 28th percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins in every measured head-to-head benchmark, making it the clear choice for pure performance parity with lower power draw. Its wins are narrow, never exceeding 1.2%, but they are uniform across multi-core and single-core workloads. The V1202B also wins on architectural modernity: a 14nm process node versus 28nm, 4,950 million transistors versus 3,100 million, and the inclusion of 2 MB of shared L3 cache. For embedded or compact desktop applications where thermal and power budgets are tight, the 15W TDP is a decisive advantage over the 35W A12-9800E.

The A12-9800E wins on core count and clock speed. It offers four physical cores at up to 3.80 GHz boost, whereas the V1202B has two physical cores at up to 3.20 GHz. The A12-9800E also has a larger L2 cache (2 MB total versus 512 KB per core) and a larger die (250 mm² versus 210 mm²). For software that does not efficiently use simultaneous multithreading, the A12-9800E’s four discrete cores could be preferable, though the benchmark data does not reveal such a scenario. The A12-9800E also has Geekbench scores (1521 multi-core, 631 single-core) that provide additional data points for applications that rely on that metric.

In terms of ecosystem, the A12-9800E uses the AMD Socket AM4, which is a mainstream desktop platform. The V1202B uses the AMD Socket FP5, which is typical of embedded designs. The A12-9800E’s PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes is specified, while the V1202B’s PCIe configuration is not listed. The A12-9800E’s Radeon R7 integrated graphics are paired against the V1202B’s Radeon Vega 3, but no graphics benchmarks are available in the data. For users who already have an AM4 motherboard, the A12-9800E offers a drop-in path; for new embedded designs, the V1202B delivers the same performance at lower power.