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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains only two shared benchmark tests between the Intel Core i5-4210U and the AMD A10-5800K: Geekbench multi-core and Geekbench single-core. In both tests, the Intel part wins decisively.

In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel Core i5-4210U scores 1395 against the AMD A10-5800K's 1102. That is a 26.6% advantage for Intel. This is notable because the AMD chip has four physical cores running at a much higher base clock, yet the Intel dual-core part with Hyper-Threading still comes out ahead. The multi-core result suggests that the Intel architecture's efficiency per thread more than compensates for the AMD part's two additional physical cores in this workload.

The gap widens considerably in Geekbench single-core. The Intel Core i5-4210U scores 745, while the AMD A10-5800K scores 454. The delta is 64.1% in favor of Intel. This is a massive single-thread performance gap, reflecting both the higher IPC of the Haswell design and the fact that the AMD Piledriver architecture relies heavily on high clocks to achieve competitive throughput. A 64.1% single-core lead is substantial enough to affect real-world responsiveness in lightly threaded applications.

The overall win tally is 2 for Intel and 0 for AMD. There are no benchmark categories in the database where the AMD A10-5800K outperforms the Intel Core i5-4210U. If the test suite were broader, the AMD part might find a niche, but based strictly on the recorded data, Intel holds every head-to-head victory.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and market positions. The Intel Core i5-4210U is a mobile-focused, low-power part built on the Haswell architecture, fabricated at 22 nm by Intel. It packs 1,400 million transistors on a die size of 118 mm². The AMD A10-5800K is a desktop processor built on the Piledriver architecture (codenamed Trinity), fabricated at 32 nm by GlobalFoundries, with 1,303 million transistors on a much larger die of 246 mm².

The core configuration differs sharply. The Intel part has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to double its logical thread count. The AMD part has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no SMT. The AMD chip's base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost of 4.20 GHz, whereas the Intel chip runs at 1.70 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. Despite the AMD chip's much higher clocks, the Intel part wins every shared benchmark, which points to a big IPC advantage for Haswell over Piledriver.

Cache hierarchies reflect different approaches. The Intel Core i5-4210U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD A10-5800K has 192 KB L1 total (as recorded) and 4 MB of shared L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The AMD part's cache is organized differently, with a larger shared L2 pool but no L3, while Intel uses a smaller but per-core L1/L2 structure plus a shared L3.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the AMD part explicitly lists a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The Intel part does not have memory bus or bandwidth figures recorded. Both lack ECC memory support.

Integrated graphics differ: the Intel Core i5-4210U carries Intel HD 4400, while the AMD A10-5800K carries Radeon HD 7660D. The AMD part also has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it is intended for overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 2, and the Intel part's PCIe details are not recorded.

The process technology gap is significant: 22 nm for Intel versus 32 nm for AMD. The Intel die is less than half the size of the AMD die (118 mm² vs 246 mm²), yet the Intel chip integrates more transistors (1,400 million vs 1,303 million). This density advantage is a direct result of the smaller node.

Market segments are also distinct: the Intel Core i5-4210U is a mobile processor (socket Intel BGA 1168), while the AMD A10-5800K is a desktop processor (socket AMD Socket FM2). The AMD part is marked end-of-life in the database, while the Intel part has no production status listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A10-5800K has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-4210U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4210U wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 745 versus 454 for the AMD A10-5800K, a 64.1% advantage.

Q: Is the AMD A10-5800K faster in multi-core tests?

A: No. Despite having 4 physical cores, the AMD A10-5800K scores 1102 in Geekbench multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-4210U scores 1395, a 26.6% lead for Intel.

Q: What are the power envelopes of these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-4210U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD A10-5800K has a TDP of 100 watts. The Intel part uses dramatically less power.

Q: Does the AMD A10-5800K support overclocking?

A: Yes, the AMD A10-5800K has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-4210U does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: How do these chips compare in overall benchmark standing?

A: Both sit at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core i5-4210U has an average benchmark score of 788, and the AMD A10-5800K has an average of 778.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core i5-4210U is the superior processor for anyone prioritizing CPU compute performance. It wins both shared benchmarks, with a 26.6% multi-core lead and a 64.1% single-core lead over the AMD A10-5800K. The Intel part achieves this while consuming a fraction of the power: 15 watts TDP versus 100 watts TDP. For any workload that relies on single-threaded speed, the Intel chip is the clear choice.

The AMD A10-5800K is not without merits in the database, but they are not found in the CPU benchmark results. It has 4 physical cores, a much higher clock speed (3.80 GHz base, 4.20 GHz boost), and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. It also lists a higher memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s) and a larger shared L2 cache (4 MB). However, none of those advantages translate into a benchmark win against the Intel part in the tests recorded here.

For a mobile or low-power system, the Intel Core i5-4210U is the only viable option, as it is designed for the mobile segment with a BGA socket and a 15-watt TDP. For a desktop builder who values overclocking and has no concern for power consumption, the AMD A10-5800K could be considered, but the benchmark data shows it will lose in raw CPU performance to the Intel chip.

The database puts both processors at the 21st percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are close: 788 for Intel versus 778 for AMD. This suggests that in a broader test suite, the overall performance gap might narrow, but the head-to-head data, which is the only direct comparison available, gives Intel a clean sweep.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4210U | AMD A10-5800K |

|----------------|---------------------|---------------|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.70 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 100 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket FM2 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Piledriver |

| Codename | Haswell | Trinity |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,303 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 246 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB (shared) |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | None listed |

| Memory Bus | Not listed | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | Radeon HD 7660D |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR1EF | AD580KWOA44HJAD580KWOHJBOX |

| Release Date | 2014-04-13 | 2012-10-01 |