CPU Comparison

The AMD A12-9800E and Intel Core i3-4340 are two desktop processors from different eras and architectures, yet they land in a remarkably similar performance bracket. The data shows the Intel Core i3-4340 holds a narrow but consistent lead across every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, while the AMD A12-9800E counters with a lower 35W TDP and a more modern platform. Both processors sit at the 28th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are within a few points of each other, 1033 for the AMD and 1026 for the Intel, making this a contest decided by margins of roughly 1% rather than by any decisive generational leap.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-4340 wins outright in raw compute performance, taking all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons. Its victories are narrow but uniform: a 1% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (300 vs 297), a 1% edge in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1252 vs 1239), a 1.1% advantage in Cinebench R20 single-core (176 vs 174), a 1.1% margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core (2983 vs 2950), and a 1.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (421 vs 416). These are not dramatic wins, but they are consistent across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, suggesting the Intel part has a slight architectural efficiency edge that shows up regardless of the test.

The AMD A12-9800E, however, wins in the platform and efficiency arena. Its 35W TDP is dramatically lower than the Intel part's 54W TDP, making it the clear choice for compact or thermally constrained builds. It supports DDR4 memory and uses the AMD Socket AM4, a platform with broader modern compatibility, whereas the Intel chip is tied to DDR3 and Intel Socket 1150. The AMD part also carries a Radeon R7 integrated GPU, which is a more capable graphics solution than the Intel HD 4600, giving it a practical advantage in systems that will run without a discrete graphics card. For users prioritizing low power draw and integrated graphics performance, the A12-9800E is the stronger pick despite losing every CPU benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD A12-9800E is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, using a 28nm process node at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4 physical cores with 4 threads, running at a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The chip contains 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, with 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache; it has no L3 cache at all. The memory controller supports DDR4 in dual-channel mode, and the CPU provides 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

The Intel Core i3-4340 is a Haswell-generation part, built on a 22nm process at Intel. It uses only 2 physical cores but leverages Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads, running at a fixed 3.60 GHz base clock with no boost capability. The die is smaller at 177 mm² and holds 1,400 million transistors. Its cache hierarchy is different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode and offers PCIe Gen 3 connectivity. The Intel chip's larger L3 cache and higher clock speed help it overcome the AMD part's two extra physical cores in multi-threaded tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-4340 has only 2 physical cores, though both support 4 threads total.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4340 support boost clocks?

A: No, the Intel part runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed, whereas the AMD A12-9800E boosts from 3.10 GHz to 3.80 GHz.

Q: Which chip is more power-efficient?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has a 35W TDP compared to the Intel Core i3-4340's 54W TDP, making the AMD part significantly more power-efficient on paper.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The AMD A12-9800E supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i3-4340 supports DDR3 memory; both use dual-channel configurations.

Q: Which processor has a better integrated GPU?

A: The AMD A12-9800E includes a Radeon R7 iGPU, while the Intel Core i3-4340 has Intel HD 4600; the Radeon R7 is generally considered the more capable integrated graphics solution.

Q: How close are these chips in overall performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-4340 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are tight, between 1% and 1.2% depending on the test, and both have an identical 28th percentile ranking.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A12-9800E | Intel Core i3-4340 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | None |

| TDP | 35W | 54W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Haswell |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Intel HD 4600 |

| Release Date | 2017-07-26 | 2013-08-31 |

| Part Number | AD9800AHM44AB | SR1NL |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the consistency of Intel's victory. Across five separate Cinebench tests spanning multiple versions and workload types, the Core i3-4340 never loses and never wins by more than 1.2%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 300 against 297 for the AMD part, a 1% difference. That same 1% margin repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with scores of 1252 and 1239 respectively.

Single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel part scores 176 versus 174, a 1.1% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 421 against 416, a 1.2% margin, the largest gap in the entire comparison. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows 2983 for Intel and 2950 for AMD, another 1.1% difference. These results are notable because the AMD chip has twice the physical cores; the fact that Intel's dual-core with Hyper-Threading still edges ahead in multi-threaded tests indicates that its higher clock speed and larger L3 cache compensate for the core deficit. The benchmarks also reveal that neither chip scales particularly well with newer Cinebench versions, the AMD part's R23 multi-core score of 2950 is barely higher than its R15 score of 297, adjusted for the different scales, and the Intel part behaves similarly.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, both CPUs are clustered with a tight group of rivals. The AMD A12-9800E's nearest competitors include the AMD A10-9700 (avg score 1034, delta -0.1%), the Intel Pentium G4560 (avg score 1031, delta 0.2%), the AMD A10-7890K (avg score 1035, delta -0.2%), and the AMD A8-7680 (avg score 1036, delta -0.3%). The Intel Core i3-4340's closest rivals are the Intel Processor N150 (avg score 1025, delta 0.1%), Intel Core i7-5650U (avg score 1027, delta -0.1%), AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B (avg score 1027, delta -0.1%), and AMD Phenom II X6 1075T (avg score 1024, delta 0.2%). These figures show that neither chip stands out dramatically from its peers; both are mid-pack performers whose average scores differ by less than 1% from their nearest alternatives.

The bottom line is that the Intel Core i3-4340 is the faster CPU in every measured workload, but by such a slim margin that it will rarely be noticeable in real-world use. The AMD A12-9800E compensates with a lower TDP, newer memory support, and a stronger integrated GPU, making it the more balanced choice for a low-power media or office system. The Intel chip, meanwhile, offers marginally better compute performance in a package that is now several years older and tied to the DDR3 platform. For pure processing power, the data favors Intel; for platform longevity and efficiency, AMD's offering has clear advantages.