AMD PRO A12-9800

The AMD PRO A12-9800 is a desktop processor from AMD built on the Excavator architecture with the Bristol Ridge codename. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.80 GHz, a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and a 65 W TDP. The processor includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics and uses Socket AM4. Its average benchmark score is 1104, putting it in the 31st percentile of all CPUs, with the four nearest rivals separated by only 0.1% to 0.2%.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The PRO A12-9800 uses a 4-core, 4-thread design, so the thread count matches the core count exactly. There are no additional logical threads to call on when a workload becomes heavily parallel. The base clock is 3.80 GHz, and the boost clock is 4.20 GHz. That boost figure is the most important single-thread reference point in the data: lightly threaded workloads have access to the higher clock rate when conditions allow.

The Cinebench results make the split visible. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score is 190, while the multi-core score is 1347. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 453, while the multi-core score is 3208. The multi-core results are larger than the single-core results, as expected from a processor with four cores, but the relationship between them is not a simple core-count multiple. The combination of the 320 KB L1 cache, the 2 MB L2 cache, the absence of an L3 cache, and the dual-channel memory path all influence how well the four cores work together.

For real workloads, this means single-thread-bound tasks lean on the 4.20 GHz boost clock and the memory latency of the small cache hierarchy. Multi-threaded tasks lean on the aggregate capacity of all four Excavator cores. Because there is no L3 cache and no extra threading, the processor has a limited reservoir of cached data and thread-level parallelism. The 4-thread ceiling is the defining constraint for software that tries to scale beyond four logical threads.

Power and Thermals

The TDP of this processor is 65 W. That places it in a moderate desktop thermal class. A 65 W part does not sit in the high-power segment, and the cooling implication is a conventional desktop cooling solution rather than an extreme cooling setup.

The manufacturing context reinforces this. The processor is built by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. Those figures are relatively large in absolute transistor and die terms for a 65 W package. The 65 W TDP covers the full processor package, which also includes the integrated Radeon R7 graphics. The integrated GPU is part of the same chip, so the thermal envelope has to accommodate both the CPU cores and the graphics block.

The power and thermal profile is therefore modest in overall wattage. The main question for a builder is not whether the cooling solution can handle a large thermal load, but whether the rest of the platform can make good use of the 65 W budget. The data do not specify a cooler model or size; they only define the TDP class. For that class, the implied cooling tier is one designed for mainstream desktop parts.

Benchmark Performance

The available Cinebench scores are:

| Test | Score |

|---|---|

| Cinebench R15 multicore | 323 |

| Cinebench R20 multicore | 1347 |

| Cinebench R20 single-core | 190 |

| Cinebench R23 multicore | 3208 |

| Cinebench R23 single-core | 453 |

The average benchmark score is 1104, which places the PRO A12-9800 in the 31st percentile of all CPUs in the database. That is a lower-third placement overall. The nearest rivals are extremely close. The Intel Xeon E5630, Intel Core i5-3550S, and Intel Pentium Gold G6605 each have an average score of 1103. The Intel Core i3-1115GRE has an average score of 1102. The deltaPct values are 0.1 for the first three rivals and 0.2 for the i3-1115GRE, all measured against the PRO A12-9800's average.

The Cinebench R23 scores are the most recent data in the set: 453 single-core and 3208 multi-core. The Cinebench R20 scores are 190 single-core and 1347 multi-core. The Cinebench R15 multicore score is 323. These results produce a tightly grouped rival field. With a spread of only 0.1% to 0.2% between the PRO A12-9800 and its nearest competitors, the differences are effectively marginal. The processor leads the pack, but the advantage is small.

Who Should Consider It

The 4-core, 4-thread layout makes this processor suitable for workloads that do not demand high core counts. The base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz give it a clear clock-rate profile for everyday responsive work. The Cinebench single-core scores of 190 in R20 and 453 in R23 are the relevant metrics for lightly threaded tasks.

For gaming, the integrated Radeon R7 provides built-in graphics output. The single-core scores are the more relevant CPU-side limit for game logic that uses only one or two threads. The 31st percentile overall average suggests that this is not a high-end gaming part, but the integrated graphics mean a discrete GPU is not strictly required for basic display output.

For creation workloads, the multi-core scores matter more. The Cinebench R20 multicore score of 1347 and the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 3208 define the ceiling for all-core rendering or encoding tasks. With 4 threads and no L3 cache, heavily parallel creation software will not find a large thread aggregate to exploit.

For office-style use, the 65 W TDP and integrated graphics are practical advantages. The four cores at a 3.80 GHz base provide enough parallelism for routine desktop applications, and the lack of ECC memory support tells the reader that this is not designed for workstation memory environments. Users needing ECC memory should not choose this part.

How It Compares

The Intel Xeon E5630 has an average score of 1103. The PRO A12-9800 is 0.1% ahead. With that margin, the two processors are effectively tied in aggregate benchmark performance.

The Intel Core i5-3550S also averages 1103. The deltaPct is again 0.1, placing the PRO A12-9800 narrowly above it. In practical terms, the two sit in the same performance tier.

The Intel Pentium Gold G6605 matches the same 1103 average score. The PRO A12-9800 is 0.1% ahead, producing the same near-tie result.

The Intel Core i3-1115GRE has the lowest average of the four nearest rivals at 1102. The PRO A12-9800 is 0.2% ahead, which is the largest gap in the nearest-rival group. Even so, 0.2% is a small separation.

Platform and Compatibility

The PRO A12-9800 is built for AMD Socket AM4. It supports DDR4 memory through a dual-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory support is false, so the platform is limited to non-ECC memory configurations. The processor provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), which defines the direct I/O budget available to the CPU.

The cache hierarchy consists of 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache; there is no L3 cache. The architecture is Excavator, with the Bristol Ridge codename and the A12 (Bristol Ridge) generation. GlobalFoundries produces the chip on a 28 nm process with 3,100 million transistors and a 250 mm² die. The market segment is Desktop.

The release date is 2016-10-02, and the production status is Active. The multiplier is not unlocked, so overclocking through an unlocked ratio is not an option. The part number is AD980BAUM44AB.

The Socket AM4 interface anchors platform compatibility. Because the CPU provides 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, expansion options are tied to that lane budget. The integrated Radeon R7 GPU handles graphics output, so a discrete GPU is not required for basic display. The combination of Socket AM4, DDR4 memory support, and non-ECC memory capability defines the platform boundary for this processor.