AMD PRO A12-8870

The AMD PRO A12-8870 is a desktop processor with four cores and four threads, based on the Excavator architecture with the Carrizo codename and manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. Its base clock is 3.70 GHz, its boost clock is 4.20 GHz, and its TDP is 65 W. The die contains 3,100 million transistors and measures 250 mm². The cache configuration is 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache listed. Its average benchmark score is 1107, which places it at the 31st percentile among all CPUs.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The listed Cinebench results create a clear picture of how this processor handles serial and parallel work. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 454 and the multi-core score is 3218. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 190 and the multi-core score is 1351. The Cinebench R15 result covers multi-core only, with a score of 324. The single-core scores are modest, and the 31st percentile ranking confirms that the part sits in the lower portion of the database distribution. The multi-core scores show what happens when all four cores are engaged. Because the part has four cores and four threads, there is no additional logical-thread layer beyond the physical cores. This means the maximum number of concurrently executing threads is four, and serial tasks are tied to the R23 single-core score of 454.

The difference between the R20 single-core score of 190 and the R20 multi-core score of 1351 is substantial. The same relationship appears in R23, where the single-core score of 454 grows to a multi-core score of 3218. Workloads that are heavily serial will therefore be constrained by the per-core results, while workloads that can spread across cores will move toward the multi-core results. The R15 multi-core score of 324 provides an older baseline in the same multi-core direction. The absence of an L3 cache is also listed, leaving the cache hierarchy at 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2. These specifications describe a processor that depends on threading to express its full benchmark potential.

Who Should Consider It

For gaming, the single-thread scores are the relevant constraint. The R20 single-core score of 190 and the R23 single-core score of 454 mean games that lean on one thread will not have a strong per-thread foundation. The integrated graphics are Radeon R7, but the fact pack contains no graphics benchmarks, so any gaming judgement must rest on the CPU scores. The PCIe Gen 3 interface is available for expansion, but the CPU-side single-thread numbers remain the limiting factor in single-thread-sensitive workloads.

For creation workloads, the multi-core scores provide the reference. The R23 multi-core score of 3218, the R20 multi-core score of 1351, and the R15 multi-core score of 324 all show the output of engaging all four cores. A four-core, four-thread part can spread parallel work across all cores, but it cannot add threads beyond the four. The R23 multi-core result of 3218 is the highest multi-core number in the listed set, and it represents the realistic ceiling for threaded creation tasks on this processor.

For office productivity, the platform characteristics form a usable baseline. The DDR4 dual-channel memory path has a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and the integrated Radeon R7 GPU provides display output without requiring a separate graphics card. The four cores can handle multi-threaded office tasks, while the single-core scores of 190 and 454 indicate the per-thread performance available for bursty work. The 65 W TDP is a listed platform characteristic that matters for systems with limited cooling or power delivery.

How It Compares

AMD Ryzen 3 2200U: The Ryzen 3 2200U has an average score of 1107, identical to the PRO A12-8870's 1107. The delta is 0%, so the aggregate benchmark data places the two parts at the same performance level.

Intel Core i3-8145U: The Core i3-8145U also averages 1107. Its delta is 0%, making it another exact tie in aggregate score. Despite coming from a different manufacturer, the benchmark average is indistinguishable from the PRO A12-8870.

AMD Opteron 4280: The Opteron 4280 matches the same pattern, with an average score of 1107 and a delta of 0%. Although the Opteron name points to a different product family, the average benchmark result is identical.

AMD Opteron 3280: The Opteron 3280 is the only rival not at 1107. It records an average score of 1106, and the listed delta is 0.1%. This is the smallest nonzero separation in the rival set, putting the PRO A12-8870 narrowly ahead in average terms.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does the AMD PRO A12-8870 have?

A: It has four cores and four threads.

Q: What socket does it use?

A: It uses AMD Socket AM4.

Q: What memory does it support?

A: It supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does it have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the integrated graphics are Radeon R7.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is not unlocked.

Q: What is the production status?

A: The production status is listed as Active.

Benchmark Performance

The listed Cinebench results are straightforward: R15 multi-core 324, R20 multi-core 1351, R20 single-core 190, R23 multi-core 3218, and R23 single-core 454. The R20 single-core score of 190 is the lowest score in the set, while the R23 multi-core score of 3218 is the highest. This internal spread shows a processor that scales meaningfully with additional cores. The overall average score of 1107 is the basis for rival positioning. At the 31st percentile, the part ranks below the majority of CPUs in the database.

In the nearest-rival set, three entries share the exact average score of 1107 with a 0% delta: the Ryzen 3 2200U, the Core i3-8145U, and the Opteron 4280. The Opteron 3280 has an average score of 1106 and a delta of 0.1%. The benchmark performance is therefore tightly grouped around the 1107 average. The Cinebench scores add detail that the aggregate average does not show: the single-thread results are small, the multi-thread results are larger, and the four-core, four-thread design is the boundary for both.

Platform and Compatibility

The socket is AMD Socket AM4. The memory controller supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, and the listed peak bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 3. The integrated graphics are Radeon R7. The TDP is 65 W, and the production status is Active. The part number is AD887BAUM44AB. The base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz are the listed frequency states, and the multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not an option. For upgrade-path planning, the fact pack provides the AM4 socket, DDR4 dual-channel memory support, and PCIe Gen 3 as the platform-level compatibility anchors.