AMD A10-5800B vs Intel Core i7-5550U Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-5550U and AMD A10-5800B are fundamentally different processors aimed at different physical realms, and the benchmark data confirms they should be judged on separate terms. The Core i7-5550U is a 15-watt mobile chip with a 2-core/4-thread configuration, while the A10-5800B is a 100-watt desktop part with 4 physical cores. The database shows the Intel part achieves a higher average benchmark score of 813 versus 794 for the AMD, a gap of roughly 2.4%, but this does not tell the whole story. The Core i7-5550U wins on efficiency and raw single-threaded performance in Cinebench, while the A10-5800B offers more physical cores and a much higher base clock. For users needing a low-power, compact mobile solution with strong per-core performance, the Core i7-5550U is the clear choice. For those with a desktop platform already on Socket FM2, the A10-5800B provides more cores and higher clocks, but its benchmark results place it in a similar overall performance tier. The data indicates the Intel part is the better all-around performer in the recorded Cinebench tests, but the AMD part has its own strengths in multi-threaded scenarios where its four physical cores can be leveraged. The verdict from the measurements: pick the Core i7-5550U for mobile efficiency and single-core tasks, pick the A10-5800B for desktop use where power draw is not a concern and where more physical cores matter.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectures, nodes, and foundries. The Intel Core i7-5550U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-U, using a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It contains 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. The AMD A10-5800B uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Trinity, built on a 32 nm process node by GlobalFoundries, with 1,303 million transistors on a much larger 246 mm² die. The node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 32 nm, which explains the massive disparity in power consumption and thermal output. The Intel chip has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD chip draws 100 watts.

Core and cache layouts differ significantly. The Core i7-5550U has 2 cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, and each core gets 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The A10-5800B has 4 physical cores and 4 threads (no SMT), with 192 KB of total L1 cache and a shared 4 MB L2 cache, but no L3 cache at all. This means the Intel part relies on a three-level cache hierarchy while the AMD part uses only two levels. The AMD chip compensates with higher raw clock speeds: a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost of 4.20 GHz, versus the Intel's 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. However, the Intel part's newer architecture and smaller node allow it to achieve competitive scores despite the lower clocks.

Memory support is identical in type and bus width: both support DDR3 in dual-channel mode with a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs slightly: the Intel part lists Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part lists Gen 2 without a lane count specified. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel HD 6000 on the Core i7-5550U versus Radeon HD 7660D on the A10-5800B. The Intel chip is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1168 socket, while the AMD chip is a desktop part on AMD Socket FM2. The Intel part was released on 2015-02-28, the AMD on 2012-10-01, making the AMD roughly two and a half years older. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $426; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-5550U wins in all recorded Cinebench benchmarks, which are the only shared test categories in the database. The Intel part scores 238 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 992 in R20 multicore, 139 in R20 singlecore, 2363 in R23 multicore, and 333 in R23 singlecore. The AMD A10-5800B has no Cinebench scores recorded; its only benchmarks are Geekbench multicore (1128) and Geekbench singlecore (459). This means the only direct comparison available is through the average benchmark score and overall percentile. The Intel part sits at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD sits at the 21st percentile, a negligible difference in overall standing.

The A10-5800B wins on paper in terms of core count and clock speed. It has 4 physical cores versus 2, a base clock of 3.80 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.00 GHz. In workloads that scale linearly with cores and raw clock frequency, such as heavily threaded rendering or compilation, the AMD part should theoretically pull ahead, but the database lacks direct Cinebench scores to confirm this. The Geekbench multicore score of 1128 for the AMD part, however, suggests it can handle multi-threaded tasks, but without a comparable Geekbench score for the Intel part, the cross-processor comparison is incomplete. The Intel part wins on efficiency: 15 watts versus 100 watts is a 6.7x difference in power draw, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals matter. The AMD part wins on desktop integration, offering a Socket FM2 platform with four cores and a Radeon HD 7660D iGPU, which could be useful for budget desktops without a discrete graphics card.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U has an average benchmark score of 813, while the AMD A10-5800B scores 794. The Intel part is 2.4% higher.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD A10-5800B has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do their power consumptions compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U has a TDP of 15 watts. The AMD A10-5800B has a TDP of 100 watts, which is 6.7 times higher.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD A10-5800B has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i7-5550U has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, and both have a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The AMD A10-5800B has 192 KB total L1, 4 MB shared L2, and no L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark results between these two processors, meaning the winsA and winsB fields are both zero. However, the available individual benchmark scores allow for a partial comparison. The Intel Core i7-5550U has five Cinebench scores: Cinebench R15 multicore at 238, R20 multicore at 992, R20 singlecore at 139, R23 multicore at 2363, and R23 singlecore at 333. The AMD A10-5800B has two Geekbench scores: multicore at 1128 and singlecore at 459. These are different test suites, so direct cross-suite comparisons are not possible.

The only common metric is the average benchmark score. The Intel part leads with 813 versus 794 for the AMD, a 19-point difference. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 at 813 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon X3440 at 815 (-0.2% delta), the Intel Core i5-L16G7 at 816 (-0.4% delta), and the AMD A10-6800K at 809 (0.5% delta). For the AMD part, the nearest rivals are the AMD A6-9400 at 794 (-0.1% delta), the AMD A10-7850K at 796 (-0.3% delta), the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G at 797 (-0.3% delta), and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 at 790 (0.5% delta). These rival comparisons show that the Intel part sits in a slightly higher performance band, with its closest rival being a Core 2 Extreme from an older generation, while the AMD part's closest rival is the A6-9400, a lower-tier part. The delta percentages are small, indicating both processors are in a tightly packed performance tier.

Looking at the Intel part's Cinebench scores in isolation, the single-core results (139 in R20, 333 in R23) indicate strong per-thread performance for a 2-core mobile chip, likely due to the Broadwell architecture and high boost clock relative to base. The multicore results (238 in R15, 992 in R20, 2363 in R23) show scaling from the 4 threads. The AMD part's Geekbench scores, with a singlecore of 459 and a multicore of 1128, show a multicore-to-singlecore ratio of roughly 2.5x, which is reasonable for a 4-core chip without SMT. Without a Geekbench score for the Intel part or a Cinebench score for the AMD part, the head-to-head analysis must rely on the average benchmark scores, where the Intel part has a slight edge. The overall percentiles (22nd for Intel, 21st for AMD) place both in the lower quartile of all CPUs, but the Intel part is marginally better positioned.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification field. The Intel Core i7-5550U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD A10-5800B has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2000.00 MHz versus 3800.00 MHz, and boost clocks are 3.00 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. The TDP difference is huge: 15 watts versus 100 watts. The Intel part uses Intel BGA 1168 socket, the AMD uses AMD Socket FM2. The Intel architecture is Broadwell on a 14 nm node, the AMD is Piledriver on a 32 nm node. Transistor counts are 1,900 million versus 1,303 million, and die sizes are 133 mm² versus 246 mm². Cache structures differ: the Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3; the AMD has 192 KB total L1, 4 MB shared L2, and no L3. Memory support is identical: DDR3, dual-channel, 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC. PCIe is Gen 2 for both, but the Intel specifies 12 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD does not list a lane count. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 6000 versus Radeon HD 7660D. The Intel part is a mobile segment product with a launch MSRP of $426, while the AMD is a desktop part with no recorded launch MSRP. The Intel part was released on 2015-02-28, the AMD on 2012-10-01. The Intel part number is SR26A, the AMD is AD580BWOA44HJ. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both are end-of-life production status.