AMD PRO A12-8870 vs AMD PRO A12-9800 Comparison

The AMD PRO A12-8870 and AMD PRO A12-9800 are near-identical 4-core desktop parts, separated by a single base-clock step and a different generation label, yet the benchmark data shows the 8870 holding a slim but consistent edge in every recorded test. With both chips landing at the 31st percentile among all CPUs and average benchmark scores of 1107 and 1104 respectively, the performance gap is almost imperceptible in real-world terms, but the 8870 wins all five head-to-head comparisons. The 9800 carries a release date of October 2016, while the 8870 has no listed release date, and the 9800 specifies its PCIe as "Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only)" while the 8870 simply lists "Gen 3." For anyone choosing between these two, the data points to the 8870 as the marginally faster option, though the differences are so small they would likely only matter in synthetic benchmark scoring rather than daily use.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A12-8870 wins every single head-to-head test against the AMD PRO A12-9800. That is five wins out of five, with the 8870 taking Cinebench R15 multi-core 324 to 323, R20 multi-core 1351 to 1347, R20 single-core 190 to 190 (a tie decided in favor of the 8870 with a 0% delta), R23 multi-core 3218 to 3208, and R23 single-core 454 to 453. The largest margin is a 0.3% lead in three separate multi-core tests, while the single-core R23 gap is 0.2%. This is not a case of one chip being meaningfully faster; it is a case of one chip being consistently, if barely, ahead.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the 8870 averages 1107, while the 9800 averages 1104, a difference of 0.3%. Both sit at the 31st percentile of all CPUs, meaning neither is a performance standout. The 8870's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 4280 at an identical 1107 score and the Intel Core i5-4570T at 1108, while the 9800's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 and Intel Pentium Gold G6605, both at 1103. The data suggests that if you are optimizing purely for benchmark scores, the 8870 is the pick. However, the 9800 has one advantage the 8870 lacks: a known release date of 2016-10-02, which could matter for platform maturity or driver support. For pure performance, choose the 8870; for a chip with a documented launch timeline, the 9800 is the only one with that information.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental architecture: Excavator, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The core counts are identical at 4 cores and 4 threads, and both have 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache present. The codenames differ, however: the 8870 is listed as "Carrizo" while the 9800 is "Bristol Ridge." This is the primary architectural distinction, though the underlying Excavator design is the same. The generation field reflects this split, with the 8870 labeled "A12 (Carrizo)" and the 9800 "A12 (Bristol Ridge)."

The 9800's release date of 2016-10-02 suggests it came to market as a Bristol Ridge part, while the 8870 has no release date, making its Carrizo lineage harder to pin down chronologically. The PCIe configuration also differs: the 8870 lists "Gen 3" without lane details, while the 9800 specifies "Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only)." This could indicate a difference in how the PCIe controller is wired, though the data does not reveal performance implications. Both use DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics are identical on paper: Radeon R7. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option from the factory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the 8870 scoring 324 against the 9800's 323, a 0.3% advantage. This is the smallest multi-core gap possible with integer scores, yet it counts as a win. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the 8870 scores 1351 versus 1347, again a 0.3% delta. The 8870's 4-point lead in R20 is slightly larger in absolute terms than the 1-point lead in R15, but the percentage stays the same. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 8870 reaches 3218 while the 9800 manages 3208, a 10-point gap that still translates to 0.3%. This consistency across three generations of Cinebench suggests the 8870's advantage is structural, not a single-test anomaly.

Single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both chips score exactly 190, a complete tie with 0% delta; the database still awards the win to the 8870, but this is effectively parity. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 8870 edges ahead 454 to 453, a 0.2% lead. The single-core scores are remarkably close, which makes sense given both chips share a 4.20 GHz boost clock. The 8870's higher base clock of 3.70 GHz compared to the 9800's 3.80 GHz does not translate into a single-core disadvantage; in fact, the 8870 wins or ties in every test. This suggests the Carrizo variant may have slightly better IPC or thermal behavior, though the data cannot confirm the cause.

Specification Differences

The only specification fields where these two chips differ are the base clock, the generation/codename, the PCIe description, and the release date. The 8870 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz, while the 9800 runs at 3.80 GHz, a 0.10 GHz difference in favor of the 9800. Both share a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, so the 9800's higher base clock should give it an advantage in sustained workloads, yet the benchmark data shows the opposite. The generation field lists "A12 (Carrizo)" for the 8870 and "A12 (Bristol Ridge)" for the 9800, and the codenames follow the same pattern. The PCIe spec is "Gen 3" for the 8870 versus "Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only)" for the 9800, which is a more detailed specification on the 9800's side. The release date is only present for the 9800 (2016-10-02), while the 8870 has none listed.

All other specifications are identical: 4 cores, 4 threads, 65 W TDP, AMD Socket AM4, 28 nm process, 3,100 million transistors, 250 mm² die size, 320 KB L1, 2 MB L2, no L3, DDR4 dual-channel memory with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC support, Radeon R7 integrated graphics, Desktop market segment, Active production status, and locked multiplier. The part numbers differ (AD887BAUM44AB for the 8870, AD980BAUM44AB for the 9800), but that is expected for different SKUs.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 runs at 3.70 GHz. Both share the same 4.20 GHz boost clock.

Q: Do these CPUs have the same amount of cache?

A: Yes, both have 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache present on either chip.

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870 wins all five head-to-head benchmark tests, with margins of 0.3% in three multi-core tests, 0.2% in one single-core test, and a 0% tie in another single-core test.

Q: Are these chips on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with identical transistor counts of 3,100 million and die sizes of 250 mm².

Q: Is there any memory support difference between the two?

A: No, both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the release date of the AMD PRO A12-9800?

A: The 9800 has a release date of 2016-10-02. The 8870 has no release date listed in the data.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A12-8870 wins in every measurable benchmark category. It takes the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with 324 points, the R20 multi-core test with 1351 points, the R20 single-core test with 190 points (tied but awarded the win), the R23 multi-core test with 3218 points, and the R23 single-core test with 454 points. Its average benchmark score of 1107 is 3 points higher than the 9800's 1104. If the goal is to maximize Cinebench scores, the 8870 is the clear choice, even if the margins are razor-thin.

The AMD PRO A12-9800 wins only in the specification sheet, not in performance. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz is 0.10 GHz higher than the 8870's 3.70 GHz, and it has a documented release date of 2016-10-02, which the 8870 lacks. The 9800's PCIe description is also more detailed, specifying "Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only)" versus the 8870's plain "Gen 3." For a user who values a known launch date or a more explicit PCIe lane specification, the 9800 has that data on its side. But in terms of actual benchmark results, the 8870 is the superior part, winning all five head-to-head tests and posting a higher average score. The data does not support any scenario where the 9800 outperforms the 8870 in rendering or single-threaded workloads.