AMD A10-5800K vs Intel Core i7-3537U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear sweep for the Intel Core i7-3537U in the only two direct comparisons available. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel part scores 1269 against the AMD A10-5800K's 1102, a 13.2% advantage that flips the expected outcome for a chip with half the physical core count. The Intel chip's four threads, running at a much lower base clock, still manage to outpace the AMD desktop processor in a workload that should theoretically favor more cores.

The gap widens dramatically in single-core performance. The Intel Core i7-3537U posts 658 points, while the AMD A10-5800K manages only 454. That is a 31% deficit for the AMD part, and it reflects a fundamental architectural gulf between the two designs. The Intel chip's Ivy Bridge cores, despite their modest 2.00 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost, are simply far more efficient per clock than AMD's Piledriver cores running at 3.80 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. The AMD chip needs a 1.8 GHz clock advantage just to come within 13% in multi-threaded work, and it still loses by nearly a third in single-threaded tasks.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The AMD A10-5800K averages 778 points across its recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Core i7-3537U averages 766. That 1.5% difference is within noise, and both parts sit at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Pentium G4520 at 778 (0% delta), the AMD Athlon X4 760K at 777 (0.2% slower), and the Intel Core i3-7100 at 781 (0.4% faster). For the Intel mobile chip, the nearest neighbors are the AMD A8-6600K at 764 (0.3% slower), the Intel Core i3-3240 at 761 (0.7% slower), and the Intel Core i5-680 at 772 (0.8% faster). Both chips occupy the same performance tier in aggregate, but their strengths are distributed very differently.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A10-5800K uses the Piledriver architecture on a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,303 million transistors into a 246 mm² die, with four physical cores and four threads. Cache configuration includes 192 KB of L1 and 4 MB of shared L2, with no L3 cache at all. The chip runs on the AMD Socket FM2 platform with a 100 W TDP, making it a true desktop part with substantial power headroom.

The Intel Core i7-3537U is built on Ivy Bridge at 22 nm, Intel's own foundry process. It has a much smaller 118 mm² die, two physical cores with Hyper-Threading for four threads, and a more generous cache hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The TDP is just 17 W, a massive difference from the AMD part's 100 W. This is a mobile chip designed for thin-and-light laptops, and it shows in every design decision.

Memory support is identical in type: both use dual-channel DDR3. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database. Neither part supports ECC memory. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel chip's PCIe generation is not recorded.

Integrated graphics differ significantly. The AMD A10-5800K carries a Radeon HD 7660D, while the Intel Core i7-3537U has Intel HD 4000. Both are integrated solutions, but the AMD part's GPU is generally considered the stronger of the two for gaming in the database's context, though no direct GPU benchmarks are recorded here.

The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, making it a candidate for overclocking on the FM2 platform. The Intel chip is locked, which is typical for mobile parts. The AMD processor was released in October 2012 and is marked end-of-life, while the Intel chip launched in January 2013 with no production status recorded. The AMD part targets desktops, the Intel part targets mobile systems.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-3537U wins Geekbench single-core with 658 points against the AMD A10-5800K's 454, a 31% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD chip's four physical cores beat the Intel chip's two cores in multi-threaded work?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-3537U scores 1269 in Geekbench multicore versus 1102 for the AMD A10-5800K, a 13.2% lead despite having half the physical cores.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The AMD A10-5800K has a 100 W TDP, while the Intel Core i7-3537U uses only 17 W. That is an 83 W difference in thermal design power.

Q: Which chip has more cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-3537U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache plus per-core L1 and L2. The AMD A10-5800K has no L3 cache, only 192 KB L1 and 4 MB shared L2.

Q: Are these chips in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 21st percentile of all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are 778 for the AMD chip and 766 for the Intel chip.

Q: Can the AMD chip be overclocked?

A: Yes, the AMD A10-5800K has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i7-3537U is locked.

The Verdict

The data makes one thing clear: the Intel Core i7-3537U is the faster chip in every recorded benchmark, despite being a low-power mobile part. A 31% single-core lead and a 13.2% multi-core lead are decisive margins. The Intel chip achieves this while consuming 83 W less power, a remarkable efficiency gap.

However, the two chips are not direct competitors in any practical sense. The AMD A10-5800K is a desktop processor for socket FM2, designed for budget builds where its unlocked multiplier and Radeon HD 7660D integrated graphics offer a different value proposition. The Intel Core i7-3537U is a soldered mobile chip for ultrabooks and thin laptops, where its 17 W TDP and strong per-core performance are critical.

For raw CPU performance, the Intel part is the clear winner. For a desktop system where power consumption is less of a concern and overclocking is desired, the AMD chip has its place. The choice depends entirely on the platform and use case, not on benchmark superiority.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A10-5800K | Intel Core i7-3537U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 100 W | 17 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FM2 | Intel BGA 1023 |

| Architecture | Piledriver | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | 118 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | None | 4 MB (shared) |

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

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon HD 7660D | Intel HD 4000 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2012-10-01 | 2013-01-07 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

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

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3537U wins every recorded CPU benchmark. Its strengths are in single-threaded responsiveness, where the 31% lead over the AMD chip translates to snappier application launches and better performance in lightly-threaded software. The 13.2% multi-core lead also means it handles multi-threaded productivity tasks better, all while drawing a fraction of the power. For mobile users who need long battery life and strong CPU performance in a thin chassis, the Intel chip is the obvious pick.

The AMD A10-5800K wins in platform flexibility. Its unlocked multiplier invites overclocking on FM2 motherboards, something the locked Intel mobile chip cannot offer. The 100 W TDP gives it thermal headroom for sustained desktop workloads, and the Radeon HD 7660D integrated graphics are a different class of iGPU compared to Intel HD 4000, though no direct GPU benchmarks are recorded. The AMD chip also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, which may benefit memory-sensitive tasks.

For a desktop build where power draw is not a limiting factor and the user wants to experiment with overclocking, the AMD A10-5800K provides a viable platform. For any scenario where CPU performance per watt matters, or where single-threaded speed is the priority, the Intel Core i7-3537U is the superior choice. The data does not support any other conclusion.