AMD A10-6800K vs Intel Core i7-5550U Comparison

# Intel Core i7-5550U vs AMD A10-6800K

The AMD A10-6800K and Intel Core i7-5550U land in the same performance tier, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. The A10-6800K is a desktop part with four physical cores and high clock speeds, while the i7-5550U is a mobile processor with two cores and four threads designed for low power consumption. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—813 for the Intel and 809 for the AMD—a delta of just 0.5%. However, the benchmark data available for each CPU covers entirely different test suites, making direct comparisons limited. The i7-5550U’s scores come exclusively from Cinebench tests, while the A10-6800K’s scores come from Geekbench tests. Both CPUs sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers in the current landscape. The choice between them should be dictated by platform: the i7-5550U belongs in a thin-and-light laptop, while the A10-6800K belongs in a budget desktop build.

The Verdict

The i7-5550U is the pick for users who need a capable mobile processor with integrated graphics and modest power draw. Its 15-watt TDP makes it suitable for ultraportable laptops, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2363 shows it can handle everyday productivity tasks. The A10-6800K is the pick for desktop users who want four physical cores and a high base clock of 4.10 GHz, paired with a 100-watt TDP and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 1140 and single-core score of 478 reflect a processor that prioritizes raw clock speed over efficiency. Neither CPU is a winner outright—they are separated by only 0.5% in average benchmark score, with the i7-5550U slightly ahead at 813 versus 809. The Intel part edges out the AMD part in the average score comparison, but the AMD part counters with more cores and a higher clock speed. Users should pick based on form factor: mobile users get the i7-5550U, desktop builders get the A10-6800K. The data shows no scenario where one decisively outperforms the other in overlapping workloads, because no shared benchmark results exist between the two.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-5550U wins in efficiency and single-threaded performance relative to its power envelope. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 333, while modest in absolute terms, comes from a 15-watt processor with a 2.00 GHz base clock and 3.00 GHz boost clock. The 14 nm process node and 1,900 million transistors in a 133 mm² die allow Intel to deliver competitive performance at a fraction of the power draw. The A10-6800K wins in raw core count and clock speed. Four physical cores at 4.10 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost give it a significant clock advantage over the i7-5550U’s 2.00 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The A10-6800K also offers an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking beyond its stock settings—something the i7-5550U cannot do. In multi-threaded workloads that scale across four cores, the A10-6800K’s Geekbench multi-core score of 1140 suggests it can handle parallel tasks, though the i7-5550U’s four threads (from two cores with Hyper-Threading) allow it to compete in lighter multi-threaded scenarios. The i7-5550U’s Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 992 and R15 multi-core score of 238 indicate it can sustain decent multi-threaded output despite its low TDP. The A10-6800K’s integrated Radeon HD 8670D graphics are paired with a 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is higher than the i7-5550U’s 29.9 GB/s—a potential advantage for graphics-heavy tasks on the AMD side.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different architectural eras and design philosophies. The i7-5550U uses Intel’s Broadwell architecture (codenamed Broadwell-U), built on a 14 nm process node by Intel’s own foundry. It packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die. The A10-6800K uses AMD’s Piledriver architecture (codenamed Richland), built on a 32 nm process node by GlobalFoundries. It contains 1,303 million transistors on a larger 246 mm² die. The process node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 32 nm, which explains the i7-5550U’s much lower 15-watt TDP compared to the A10-6800K’s 100-watt TDP. Cache configurations also differ significantly. The i7-5550U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A10-6800K has 192 KB of L1 cache total and 4 MB of L2 cache total, with no L3 cache at all. This means the Intel part relies on a three-level cache hierarchy, while the AMD part uses a simpler two-level design. The i7-5550U supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the A10-6800K also supports DDR3 in dual-channel mode but with a higher 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Neither CPU supports ECC memory. The i7-5550U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket (mobile), while the A10-6800K uses the AMD Socket FM2 (desktop). PCIe support also differs: the i7-5550U provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the A10-6800K provides Gen 2 without a specified lane count. The i7-5550U integrates Intel HD 6000 graphics, while the A10-6800K integrates Radeon HD 8670D graphics. The Intel part was released on February 28, 2015, with a launch MSRP of $426, while the AMD part was released on May 31, 2013, with a launch MSRP of $142. Both are end-of-life products.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-5550U has an average benchmark score of 813, which is 0.5% higher than the AMD A10-6800K’s average score of 809.

Q: How do the core counts and clock speeds compare?

A: The A10-6800K has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 4.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i7-5550U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and boost clock of 3.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The i7-5550U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the A10-6800K has a TDP of 100 watts. The i7-5550U also uses a 14 nm process node, compared to the A10-6800K’s 32 nm node.

Q: Can the A10-6800K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the A10-6800K has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-5550U’s multiplier is locked.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures?

A: The A10-6800K has 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the i7-5550U has 29.9 GB/s. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory.

Q: Which CPU has a larger cache?

A: The i7-5550U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The A10-6800K has 192 KB L1 total and 4 MB L2 total, with no L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No direct head-to-head benchmark results exist between the i7-5550U and A10-6800K in the data. The i7-5550U was tested with Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, while the A10-6800K was tested with Geekbench multi-core and single-core. This prevents an apples-to-apples comparison. However, the average benchmark scores provide a cross-reference: the i7-5550U scores 813, and the A10-6800K scores 809, a delta of 0.5% in favor of the Intel part. The nearest rivals for the i7-5550U include the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 (matching 813, 0% delta), the Intel Xeon X3440 (815, -0.2%), and the Intel Core i5-L16G7 (816, -0.4%). The A10-6800K’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-870S (matching 809, 0% delta), the AMD Athlon X4 850 (806, 0.4%), and the Intel Xeon X5482 (805, 0.4%). These rival comparisons show both CPUs sitting in a tight cluster of older or low-end processors. The i7-5550U’s best benchmark result is its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2363, while its single-core score in the same test is 333. The A10-6800K’s Geekbench multi-core score of 1140 is more than double its single-core score of 478, indicating strong multi-thread scaling across its four cores. The i7-5550U’s Cinebench R20 scores—992 multi-core and 139 single-core—show a similar pattern of multi-core dominance, though the absolute numbers are not directly comparable to Geekbench. The i7-5550U’s Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 238 is its lowest multi-core result, reflecting the older test’s different workload. Both CPUs share the 22nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, reinforcing their similar overall standing.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The i7-5550U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the A10-6800K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.00 GHz versus 4.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz—the AMD part runs at roughly double the clock speed. TDP is the most dramatic divergence: 15 watts for the Intel part versus 100 watts for the AMD part. The i7-5550U uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, while the A10-6800K uses AMD Socket FM2. Architecture names differ: Broadwell versus Piledriver, with codenames Broadwell-U and Richland, respectively. The process node is 14 nm for Intel and 32 nm for AMD. Transistor counts are 1,900 million versus 1,303 million, and die sizes are 133 mm² versus 246 mm². Cache layouts are entirely different: the i7-5550U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3; the A10-6800K has 192 KB L1 total and 4 MB L2 total, with no L3. Memory bandwidth favors the AMD part at 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 2 for both, but Intel specifies 12 lanes (CPU only) while AMD does not list a lane count. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 6000 versus Radeon HD 8670D. Market segments are Mobile and Desktop, respectively. Release dates are February 28, 2015, and May 31, 2013. The i7-5550U has a locked multiplier, while the A10-6800K’s multiplier is unlocked. Part numbers are SR26A for Intel and AD680KWOHLBOXAD680KWOA44HL for AMD. Both CPUs lack ECC memory support and are end-of-life products.