AMD A10-5800K vs Intel Core i5-3610ME Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data for these two processors comes from different test suites, so direct comparisons are limited to the average benchmark score and their respective positions in the database. The Intel Core i5-3610ME posts an average benchmark score of 788, while the AMD A10-5800K posts a score of 778. This places the Intel part 1.3% ahead of the AMD part on average, a margin that falls well within the normal run-to-run variance of most workloads. The Intel Core i5-3610ME sits at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database, and the AMD A10-5800K also sits at the 21st percentile, meaning both processors occupy essentially the same performance tier relative to the broader population of recorded chips.

Looking at the Intel part's nearest rivals, the Core i5-3610ME matches the Intel Core i5-4210U exactly with an average score of 788 and a delta of 0%. It trails the AMD Opteron 3350 HE and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 by 0.2%, both of which score 789. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 sits 0.2% ahead at 790. This grouping shows that the mobile Core i5-3610ME performs in line with a low-power ultrabook chip and two older desktop flagship processors, which speaks to the efficiency of the Ivy Bridge architecture at a 35 W design point.

For the AMD A10-5800K, the nearest rival is the Intel Pentium G4520 with an identical average score of 778. The AMD Athlon X4 760K is 0.2% behind at 777, the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 is 0.3% behind at 776, and the Intel Core i3-7100 is 0.4% ahead at 781. The A10-5800K thus lands squarely between a low-end desktop Pentium and a modern Core i3, which is a meaningful placement for a quad-core desktop part from the Piledriver generation. The data shows that despite having twice the physical core count of the Core i5-3610ME, the A10-5800K cannot convert that core advantage into a higher average score.

In single-threaded workloads, the available data favors the Intel part in the Cinebench suite. The Core i5-3610ME scores 135 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 323 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The A10-5800K has no matching Cinebench single-core entry, but its Geekbench single-core score of 454 provides a point of comparison in a different benchmark. In multi-threaded tests, the Core i5-3610ME records 230 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 961 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 2289 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The A10-5800K's Geekbench multi-core score of 1102 is the only multi-threaded datapoint for the AMD chip. Because the test suites differ, the head-to-head comparison rests primarily on the average benchmark score, where the Intel part holds a narrow but consistent lead.

The wins are split in terms of raw specifications: the AMD part wins on core count, base clock, boost clock, and cache capacity, while the Intel part wins on process node, power draw, and average benchmark score. In terms of actual recorded performance, the Intel Core i5-3610ME is the stronger chip, but the margin is small enough that the A10-5800K remains competitive in tasks that use its four physical cores efficiently.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3610ME has an average benchmark score of 788, while the AMD A10-5800K has an average benchmark score of 778. The Intel part leads by 1.3%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of core and thread counts?

A: The AMD A10-5800K has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3610ME has 2 physical cores and 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. Despite the AMD chip having twice the physical core count, it still trails in average benchmark score.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two chips?

A: The AMD A10-5800K has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-3610ME has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The AMD part runs at higher frequencies in both states.

Q: Which processor has the lower thermal design power?

A: The Intel Core i5-3610ME has a TDP of 35 W, while the AMD A10-5800K has a TDP of 100 W. The Intel part draws significantly less power, which aligns with its mobile market segment.

Q: What integrated graphics do the two processors feature?

A: The Intel Core i5-3610ME includes Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the AMD A10-5800K includes Radeon HD 7660D graphics. The AMD part is a desktop APU with a larger die and more transistors.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-3610ME and the AMD A10-5800K are recorded at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database. They occupy the same overall performance tier despite their architectural differences.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Core i5-3610ME as the better overall performer, with an average score of 788 against the A10-5800K's 778. The Intel chip achieves this with only 2 cores and 4 threads, a 2.70 GHz base clock, and a 3.30 GHz boost clock, while the AMD chip fields 4 cores and 4 threads at 3.80 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. The efficiency of the Ivy Bridge architecture at a 22 nm node clearly compensates for the clock speed and core count disadvantages. For workloads that are lightly threaded or that benefit from higher instructions per clock, the Intel part is the safer choice according to the recorded data.

However, the A10-5800K is not without merit. It has a 4 MB shared L2 cache versus the Intel part's 256 KB per core L2 and 3 MB shared L3, and it supports DDR3 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. Its Radeon HD 7660D integrated graphics and unlocked multiplier make it a more flexible desktop part for users who intend to overclock. The A10-5800K also carries a larger transistor count of 1,303 million and a 246 mm² die size, reflecting a more complex integrated GPU and memory controller. The production status is listed as end-of-life, which suggests limited availability going forward.

Users who prioritize lower power consumption, a smaller process node, and a slightly higher average benchmark score should select the Intel Core i5-3610ME. Users who need four physical cores, higher clock speeds, an unlocked multiplier, and a more capable integrated GPU on a desktop platform should consider the AMD A10-5800K. The data does not support a decisive victory for either chip in absolute terms, but the Intel part holds the performance edge in the database's aggregate scoring.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i5-3610ME is a mobile processor from Intel, while the AMD A10-5800K is a desktop processor from AMD. The Intel part has 2 cores and 4 threads, whereas the AMD part has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the Intel chip runs at 2.70 GHz, the AMD chip at 3.80 GHz. Boost clocks are 3.30 GHz for Intel and 4.20 GHz for AMD. Thermal design power is a major differentiator, with the Intel part rated at 35 W and the AMD part at 100 W. The sockets are incompatible: the Intel chip uses Intel Socket G2 (988B), while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FM2.

Cache configurations are also different. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 192 KB of L1 cache total and 4 MB of shared L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. Memory support differs as well: the AMD part explicitly lists DDR3 support and a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel part has no memory support field in the database but does list dual-channel memory bus support. Both chips use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory is not supported on either processor.

The AMD A10-5800K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core i5-3610ME does not. The integrated graphics are different: Intel HD 4000 on the Intel part, Radeon HD 7660D on the AMD part. The AMD part lists PCIe Gen 2 support, while the Intel part has no PCIe field recorded. The AMD chip has a transistor count of 1,303 million and a die size of 246 mm²; the Intel chip has no transistor count recorded but has a die size of 118 mm². The AMD part is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the Intel part has no production status listed. Release dates are close, with the Intel part released on 2012-05-31 and the AMD part on 2012-10-01.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-3610ME is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated on a 22 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The AMD A10-5800K uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Trinity, fabricated on a 32 nm process node at GlobalFoundries. The 22 nm process gives the Intel chip a significant die size advantage: 118 mm² versus 246 mm² for the AMD chip, despite the AMD chip packing 1,303 million transistors. The Intel part has no transistor count recorded in the database, but the smaller die and lower TDP of 35 W indicate a much more power-efficient design.

The core designs are fundamentally different. Ivy Bridge is a derivative of Intel's Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, featuring 2 cores with Hyper-Threading for 4 threads. Piledriver is an evolution of AMD's Bulldozer architecture, which uses modular core pairs; the A10-5800K has 4 cores and 4 threads, with each pair of cores sharing resources. The cache hierarchy reflects this divergence: Intel uses a per-core L1 and L2 design with a shared L3, while AMD uses a shared L2 pool of 4 MB and no L3. The AMD chip's 192 KB of L1 cache is a total figure, whereas the Intel chip's 64 KB per core L1 and 256 KB per core L2 are specified per core.

The integrated graphics also differ architecturally. Intel HD 4000 is the GPU block integrated into Ivy Bridge, while Radeon HD 7660D is the GPU block integrated into the Trinity APU. The AMD part's integrated graphics are part of a larger die that includes a more substantial GPU and a dual-channel DDR3 memory controller with a recorded bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The Intel part has a dual-channel memory bus but no memory bandwidth figure recorded. The AMD part also supports PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel part has no PCIe generation listed.

The market segments differ as well: the Intel part is designed for mobile platforms with a 35 W TDP, while the AMD part is a desktop APU with a 100 W TDP. The Intel chip is not marked as end-of-life, while the AMD chip is listed as end-of-life. The multiplier on the AMD part is unlocked, a feature absent on the Intel part, reflecting their different target audiences: the AMD APU is aimed at enthusiasts who want to overclock, while the Intel mobile chip prioritizes battery life and thermal headroom. These architectural differences explain why the Intel part achieves a comparable or higher average benchmark score despite having half the physical cores and significantly lower clock speeds.