AMD PRO A12-9800E vs AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G and the AMD PRO A12-9800E are both older AMD processors that now occupy similar performance tiers, yet they achieve their results through radically different designs. One is a low-power mobile part built on a modern architecture, while the other is a higher-TDP desktop chip from a legacy line. Benchmark data shows the R1305G narrowly outperforming the PRO A12-9800E across every Cinebench test, despite the latter having twice the physical cores and significantly higher clock speeds.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen Embedded R1305G sweeps the head-to-head comparisons, winning all five Cinebench tests by margins that range from 0.9% to 1.3%. The smallest advantage comes in the Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore tests, where the R1305G scores 1121 and 2670 respectively, versus 1111 and 2646 for the PRO A12-9800E. Those 0.9% deltas are within run-to-run noise, making the multicore results effectively a tie between a 2-core/4-thread part and a 4-core/4-thread part.

Single-core performance tells a slightly more decisive story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the R1305G posts 158 against 156 for the PRO A12-9800E, a 1.3% edge. The R23 single-core test shows a 1.1% gap, with scores of 377 and 373. The Cinebench R15 multicore test splits the difference at 1.1%, favoring the R1305G with 269 points to 266. These margins are small, but they are consistent across every workload, indicating the Zen architecture’s instructions-per-clock advantage is compensating for the PRO A12-9800E’s higher 3.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost clocks.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the closeness of this matchup. The R1305G carries an average score of 919, while the PRO A12-9800E sits at 910. Both processors land at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance bracket. The R1305G’s nearest rival is the AMD PRO A10-9700E with an identical 919 average score and 0% delta, while the PRO A12-9800E’s closest competitor is the Intel Xeon W3540 at 913, a -0.3% difference. The R1305G also edges out the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U (917, +0.2%) and the Intel Pentium Gold G6405T (915, +0.5%), while the PRO A12-9800E trails the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and Intel Core i3-10110Y (both 908, +0.2%) from above.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G as the better performer, but the margins are so thin that real-world differences will be imperceptible. It wins every benchmark by roughly 1%, which is the kind of edge that appears in synthetic tests but rarely translates to noticeable application performance. For users who prioritize the lowest power draw, the R1305G is the clear choice, with a 10 W TDP versus 35 W for the PRO A12-9800E. That 25 W difference is substantial for embedded or compact systems where thermal management is a constraint.

The PRO A12-9800E does offer two additional physical cores, which can matter for workloads that scale with core count, but the benchmark results show no such advantage materializing in Cinebench. Its 3.10 GHz base clock is over double the R1305G's 1.50 GHz, yet the newer Zen architecture in the R1305G closes that gap entirely. Buyers choosing between these two should pick the R1305G for its efficiency and slightly higher scores, or the PRO A12-9800E if they have a Socket AM4 platform and need a drop-in desktop processor with lower idle power characteristics from a legacy architecture.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of AMD design. The Ryzen Embedded R1305G uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Banded Kestrel, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,500 million transistors into a 148 mm² die. The PRO A12-9800E uses the older Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, on a 28 nm process, also from GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors spread across a much larger 250 mm² die. The newer node gives the R1305G a significant efficiency advantage, which shows in the TDP figures.

Core configurations differ substantially. The R1305G has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the PRO A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning the latter lacks simultaneous multithreading. Cache layouts also diverge. The R1305G features 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The PRO A12-9800E has 320 KB of total L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The R1305G’s L3 cache is a key architectural advantage, providing a shared pool of fast memory that the Excavator design simply cannot access.

Both processors support DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, but only the R1305G lists a memory bandwidth figure of 38.4 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics differ, with the R1305G featuring Radeon Vega 3 and the PRO A12-9800E equipped with Radeon R7. The R1305G targets the mobile market and uses AMD Socket FP5, while the PRO A12-9800E is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4. The R1305G released in late February 2020, while the PRO A12-9800E launched in late July 2017, a gap of roughly two and a half years. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both remain in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite this 2-core advantage, the PRO A12-9800E loses every multicore benchmark to the R1305G.

Q: How much faster is the Ryzen Embedded R1305G in single-core tests?

A: The R1305G leads by 1.3% in Cinebench R20 single-core (158 vs 156) and 1.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (377 vs 373). These are the largest single-test margins in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The Ryzen Embedded R1305G has a 10 W TDP, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E has a 35 W TDP. This makes the R1305G significantly more power-efficient for compact or embedded systems.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G and the AMD PRO A12-9800E have ECC memory support listed as false in the specifications.

Q: Which processor has a larger die?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has a 250 mm² die, compared to 148 mm² for the Ryzen Embedded R1305G. The PRO A12-9800E also uses an older 28 nm process, versus 14 nm for the R1305G.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen Embedded R1305G has an average benchmark score of 919, while the PRO A12-9800E scores 910. Both sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen Embedded R1305G wins on every measured benchmark, but its most meaningful victories are in efficiency and platform flexibility. Its 10 W TDP makes it suitable for passively cooled or fanless designs, and its Socket FP5 form factor targets mobile and embedded applications. The R1305G’s 4 MB of shared L3 cache and support for 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a more modern memory hierarchy, which contributes to its benchmark edge despite lower clock speeds. Users building low-power systems or upgrading a compact embedded platform will find the R1305G delivers competitive performance at a fraction of the power draw.

The AMD PRO A12-9800E’s advantages are more situational. Its 4 physical cores provide a theoretical ceiling for multi-threaded workloads, even if Cinebench does not reflect that benefit. The 35 W TDP is higher, but for desktop systems with adequate cooling, that is rarely a limitation. The Socket AM4 interface is a widely used desktop standard, making the PRO A12-9800E a straightforward drop-in option for existing AM4 motherboards. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.10 GHz and 3.80 GHz) mean it will feel more responsive in lightly threaded tasks that are not cache-sensitive, even though the benchmarks show the R1305G edging ahead in single-core tests. For users who already own an AM4 board and want a low-cost 4-core desktop processor without changing platforms, the PRO A12-9800E remains a viable, if older, option.