AMD A10-5800B vs Intel Core i5-4210U Comparison

The AMD A10-5800B and Intel Core i5-4210U occupy the same overall performance percentile (21st), but the data shows they achieve this via very different routes. In the only directly comparable benchmark suite, the Intel Core i5-4210U is decisively ahead, winning both head-to-head tests with substantial margins. The AMD chip counters with a higher core count and a much larger thermal envelope, but benchmark results indicate that the Intel part’s architectural efficiency more than compensates for its lower physical core count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison consists of two Geekbench tests, and the Intel Core i5-4210U wins both. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel part scores 1395 against the AMD A10-5800B’s 1128, a delta of -19.1% from the AMD chip’s perspective. This is a significant gap, especially considering the AMD processor has 4 physical cores versus the Intel’s 2 cores with 4 threads. The Intel part’s 1395 multi-core score is not just a marginal victory; it places the i5-4210U roughly 24% higher than the A10-5800B’s result, demonstrating that its Haswell architecture extracts far more work per clock from each thread.

The single-core test shows an even larger disparity. The Intel Core i5-4210U scores 745, while the AMD A10-5800B manages only 459, yielding a delta of -38.4% for the AMD chip. This means the Intel part is approximately 62% faster in single-threaded performance. The gap is so large that no amount of multi-threading can compensate in workloads that rely on a single thread. The AMD A10-5800B’s 3.80 GHz base clock and 4.20 GHz boost clock are numerically higher than the Intel’s 1700.00 MHz base and 2.70 GHz boost, yet the Intel part still dominates, pointing to a substantial IPC (instructions per clock) advantage for the Haswell architecture.

Looking at the broader benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-4210U also shows strength across other test suites not shared by the AMD chip. In Cinebench R23, the Intel part scores 1962 multi-core and 277 single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 824 multi-core and 116 single-core, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 197. These results are all from the Intel part alone, but they paint a consistent picture of a processor that is competitive in its class. The AMD A10-5800B has no Cinebench results in the data, so the Geekbench scores are the only direct points of comparison.

The average benchmark scores are close — the AMD A10-5800B averages 794, and the Intel Core i5-4210U averages 788 — but this is misleading. The AMD chip’s average is pulled up by its two Geekbench scores, while the Intel part’s average includes several lower Cinebench scores that are not directly comparable. In the only apples-to-apples tests available, the Intel part wins by a landslide. The deltaPct values in the nearestRivals lists confirm the tight grouping: the AMD A10-5800B sits within 0.5% of rivals like the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770, while the Intel i5-4210U is within 0.2% of the same chip, indicating both are in a similar performance tier overall.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4210U is the faster processor in every head-to-head benchmark recorded. For users prioritizing raw performance in Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel part is the clear choice. It wins the multi-core test by 19.1% and the single-core test by 38.4%. The Intel part’s 2 cores and 4 threads are sufficient to outpace the AMD A10-5800B’s 4 physical cores, which reflects the efficiency of the Haswell microarchitecture.

However, the choice is not purely about speed. The AMD A10-5800B is a desktop part with a 100 TDP, while the Intel Core i5-4210U is a mobile part with a 15 TDP. This is a massive difference. The Intel chip is designed for laptops and ultrabooks, where power consumption directly impacts battery life and thermal management. The AMD chip, with its 100 TDP, is meant for desktop systems with active cooling and a power supply that can handle the load. If the use case is a desktop build where power draw is not a concern, the AMD part’s higher core count might seem appealing, but the benchmark data shows it still loses to the Intel part in performance.

For a mobile user, the Intel Core i5-4210U is the only viable option, given its 15 TDP and mobile market segment. For a desktop user, the AMD A10-5800B is the appropriate form factor, but it is slower. The verdict, strictly from the data, is that the Intel Core i5-4210U offers superior performance per watt and superior absolute performance in the tested benchmarks. The AMD A10-5800B only wins on core count and TDP, but not on any performance metric.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-4210U wins in every benchmark category where both chips have results. In Geekbench multi-core, it is 19.1% faster. In Geekbench single-core, it is 38.4% faster. This means the Intel part is better for any workload that benefits from either high single-threaded performance — such as web browsing, office applications, or legacy software — or from multi-threaded performance, such as video encoding or 3D rendering, despite having fewer physical cores.

The AMD A10-5800B has no benchmark wins. Its only advantages are structural. It has 4 cores versus 2, a higher base clock (3.80 GHz vs 1700.00 MHz), a higher boost clock (4.20 GHz vs 2.70 GHz), and a larger L2 cache (4 MB shared vs 256 KB per core). It also supports dual-channel memory with a specified bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel part’s memory bus and bandwidth are not listed. These specifications suggest the AMD chip could be competitive in certain memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks, but no benchmark data confirms this. The Intel part has a 3 MB shared L3 cache, while the AMD chip has no L3 cache, which likely contributes to the Intel part’s single-core advantage.

In practical terms, the Intel Core i5-4210U is the winner for any user who runs the benchmarks displayed. The AMD A10-5800B is a desktop part with a higher TDP and more cores, but it cannot translate those specs into a performance win. The only scenario where the AMD chip wins is one where the user specifically needs a desktop socket (AMD Socket FM2) or requires the integrated Radeon HD 7660D graphics, which may be more capable than the Intel HD 4400, though no graphics benchmarks are provided.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher Geekbench multi-core score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4210U scores 1395, which is 19.1% higher than the AMD A10-5800B’s 1128.

Q: Is the AMD A10-5800B ever faster in any benchmark?

A: No. In the head-to-head data, the Intel Core i5-4210U wins both Geekbench tests, with the AMD chip losing by 19.1% in multi-core and 38.4% in single-core.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The AMD A10-5800B has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-4210U has 2 cores and 4 threads, using hyper-threading to reach the same thread count.

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

A: The AMD A10-5800B has a TDP of 100, while the Intel Core i5-4210U has a TDP of 15. This makes the Intel part significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD A10-5800B boosts to 4.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-4210U boosts to 2.70 GHz. Despite this, the Intel part is faster in single-core benchmarks.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory. The AMD A10-5800B uses dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-4210U’s memory bus and bandwidth are not listed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD A10-5800B uses the Piledriver architecture, based on the Trinity codename, built on a 32 nm process node at GlobalFoundries. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a 192 KB L1 cache and a 4 MB shared L2 cache. Notably, it has no L3 cache. The transistor count is 1,303 million on a die size of 246 mm². This is a large, power-hungry desktop chip designed for maximum throughput on a budget.

The Intel Core i5-4210U uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process node at Intel. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a 64 KB L1 cache per core, a 256 KB L2 cache per core, and a 3 MB shared L3 cache. The transistor count is 1,400 million on a much smaller die size of 118 mm². The smaller process node and die size, combined with the L3 cache, give the Intel part a significant efficiency advantage. The Haswell architecture is designed for mobile devices, emphasizing low power consumption without sacrificing too much performance.

The AMD chip’s lack of an L3 cache is a major architectural difference. The Intel part’s 3 MB L3 cache helps it retain frequently accessed data closer to the cores, which likely explains its massive single-core lead. The AMD chip relies on its larger L2 cache and higher clock speeds to compensate, but the data shows this is insufficient. The foundry choice also matters: GlobalFoundries’ 32 nm process is older than Intel’s 22 nm process, which contributes to the AMD chip’s higher TDP and larger die size.

Specification Differences

The most striking difference is TDP: the AMD A10-5800B is rated at 100, while the Intel Core i5-4210U is rated at 15. This reflects their different market segments — Desktop versus Mobile. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket FM2, while the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1168, meaning they are not interchangeable in any system.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The AMD A10-5800B has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-4210U has a base clock of 1700.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. Despite the AMD chip’s higher clocks, it loses in benchmarks.

Cache configurations differ. The AMD chip has 192 KB L1 and 4 MB shared L2, with no L3. The Intel chip has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. The Intel chip’s per-core L2 and L3 cache are likely key to its performance.

Integrated graphics differ: the AMD A10-5800B features Radeon HD 7660D, while the Intel Core i5-4210U features Intel HD 4400. Memory support is identical (DDR3), but the AMD chip specifies dual-channel with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip’s memory bus and bandwidth are not provided. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel chip’s PCIe version is not listed. Both have locked multipliers and no ECC memory support. The release dates differ, with the AMD chip launching in 2012 and the Intel chip in 2014. The AMD chip is marked as end-of-life, while the Intel chip’s production status is not specified.