AMD PRO A12-8870 vs AMD Ryzen 3 1200 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 and AMD PRO A12-8870 are both quad-core desktop processors on the AM4 socket, yet the benchmark data reveals two very different performance profiles. The Ryzen 3 1200 demonstrates a decisive lead in single-threaded work and older multi-threaded tests, while the PRO A12-8870 counters with a win in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core benchmark. This split suggests that the choice between them depends heavily on workload type and software generation.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 1200 claims victory in two of the three head-to-head comparisons, establishing its strength in single-core performance and legacy multi-threaded workloads. Its most dramatic win comes in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where it scores 834 against the PRO A12-8870’s 454, a commanding 83.7% advantage. This gap underscores a fundamental architectural superiority in per-thread execution. The Ryzen also dominates the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, posting 480 points versus 324 for the PRO A12-8870, a 48.1% lead. These results indicate that the Ryzen 3 1200 is the stronger choice for applications that rely on single-thread responsiveness or that were optimized for older Cinebench versions.

The AMD PRO A12-8870, conversely, wins the only head-to-head test where the two CPUs are not compared directly, which is the Cinebench R23 multi-core benchmark. Here, the PRO A12-8870 scores 3218, edging out the Ryzen 3 1200’s 3013, a 6.4% difference. This result is counterintuitive given the Ryzen’s dominance in the R15 multi-core test, but it highlights that the PRO A12-8870 scales better under the newer R23 workload. The PRO A12 also benefits from a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to the Ryzen’s 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. For users running modern multi-threaded applications that resemble Cinebench R23, the PRO A12-8870 offers a measurable, albeit modest, performance edge.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split recommendation. Choose the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 if your priority is single-threaded performance or compatibility with older software. The 83.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 48.1% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core are overwhelming advantages that will translate to snappier everyday use and better performance in legacy applications. The Ryzen also includes an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, and supports ECC memory, features absent from the PRO A12-8870.

Choose the AMD PRO A12-8870 if your workload is specifically modern and multi-threaded, as evidenced by its 6.4% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The PRO A12 also includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, which the Ryzen 3 1200 lacks entirely, making it a more complete package for systems without a discrete GPU. However, this win is narrow, and the PRO A12’s 28 nm process node versus the Ryzen’s 14 nm node suggests higher power draw per unit of work, though both CPUs share a 65 W TDP. For most users, the Ryzen 3 1200’s massive single-core advantage and legacy multi-core lead make it the more versatile processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive benchmark is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ryzen 3 1200 scores 834 versus the PRO A12-8870’s 454. The 83.7% delta is the largest of any comparison and reflects the Zen architecture’s superior instruction-level parallelism and branch prediction over the older Excavator design. In practical terms, this means the Ryzen 3 1200 will feel substantially faster in tasks like web browsing, office productivity, and any application that cannot fully utilize multiple cores.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 1200 again wins, scoring 480 against 324 for the PRO A12-8870, a 48.1% advantage. This older benchmark tends to favor the Ryzen’s higher IPC and larger 8 MB shared L3 cache, compared to the PRO A12’s 2 MB L2 cache and no L3 at all. The Ryzen’s 14 nm process also allows for more efficient power delivery to each core, which may contribute to its sustained multi-core performance.

The lone win for the PRO A12-8870 comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 3218 against the Ryzen 3 1200’s 3013, a 6.4% difference. This is a surprising result given the R15 outcome, but it suggests that the R23 workload is more sensitive to raw clock speed than to IPC. The PRO A12-8870’s 4.20 GHz boost clock is significantly higher than the Ryzen’s 3.40 GHz, and this appears to compensate for its architectural disadvantages in this specific test. The delta is small, however, and the PRO A12’s victory here does not offset its losses elsewhere.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 834 versus the AMD PRO A12-8870’s 454, an 83.7% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A12-8870 ever outperform the Ryzen 3 1200?

A: Yes, in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the PRO A12-8870 scores 3218 against the Ryzen 3 1200’s 3013, a 6.4% lead. This is the only head-to-head benchmark the PRO A12 wins.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Ryzen 3 1200 has an average benchmark score of 1116, while the PRO A12-8870 scores 1107. Both CPUs sit at the 31st percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 1200 has no integrated graphics. The AMD PRO A12-8870 includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 supports ECC memory. The AMD PRO A12-8870 does not list ECC support.

Q: Are both CPUs overclockable?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 1200 has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The PRO A12-8870 has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations of AMD design. The Ryzen 3 1200 is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge, and uses a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy is per-core: 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The Zen architecture is known for its high instructions-per-clock (IPC) and efficient multi-threading.

The AMD PRO A12-8870 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Carrizo, on a larger 28 nm process node. It contains 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. Its cache configuration is different: 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. Excavator is an older design, and its lower IPC is evident in the benchmark results, particularly the 83.7% single-core deficit. The PRO A12 compensates with higher clock speeds, but the architectural gap remains large.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications beyond their benchmarks. The Ryzen 3 1200 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, while the PRO A12-8870 runs at a higher 3.70 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. Both have a 65 W TDP and use the AM4 socket, but the Ryzen 3 1200 is from the 1000 series, while the PRO A12 is from the A12 (Carrizo) generation.

Memory support differs in bandwidth: the Ryzen 3 1200 offers 42.7 GB/s, while the PRO A12-8870 provides 38.4 GB/s, both dual-channel DDR4. ECC memory is supported on the Ryzen 3 1200 but not on the PRO A12. PCIe configuration also varies: the Ryzen 3 1200 lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the PRO A12-8870 lists Gen 3 without a lane count. The Ryzen 3 1200 has an unlocked multiplier, a launch MSRP of $109, and a release date of 2017-07-26, while the PRO A12-8870 has a locked multiplier and no listed release date or launch MSRP. The part numbers are YD1200BBM4KAEYD1200BBAEBOX for the Ryzen and AD887BAUM44AB for the PRO A12. The PRO A12 includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, which the Ryzen 3 1200 lacks.