AMD A10-7850K vs Intel Xeon X5482 Comparison

The Intel Xeon X5482 and AMD A10-7850K are both end-of-life processors from different eras and market segments, and the recorded benchmark data offers a clear look at how their design priorities translate into measurable performance. The Xeon X5482, a server and workstation part built on Intel’s Core 2 architecture with the Harpertown codename, delivers an average benchmark score of 805. The A10-7850K, a desktop part from AMD’s Steamroller architecture with the Kaveri codename, posts an average benchmark score of 796. These averages place them nearly on par overall, with the Xeon sitting at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs in the database and the A10 at the 21st percentile. However, the similarity in aggregate scores masks substantial differences in how each chip handles specific workloads, and the details of their respective benchmark suites reveal where each part holds a genuine advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon X5482 dominates in multi-threaded rendering workloads. The database includes results from the Cinebench series, and the Xeon posts scores of 235 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 983 in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 2341 in Cinebench R23 multicore. These are the only multicore results recorded for either processor in the Cinebench family, and they establish the Xeon as the clear choice for heavily threaded compute tasks. Its single-core Cinebench results are also present: 138 in R20 single-core and 330 in R23 single-core. Notably, the A10-7850K has no Cinebench entries in the database at all, so any comparison in rendering performance is entirely one-sided in favor of the Xeon.

The A10-7850K wins in the only benchmark category where both processors have directly comparable data, though the comparison is limited by the fact that the Xeon has no Geekbench results recorded. The A10 posts a Geekbench multicore score of 1139 and a Geekbench single-core score of 453. Since the Xeon has no Geekbench scores, the A10’s advantage in this area is defined by its own measured output rather than a direct head-to-head contest. The A10 also brings integrated Radeon R7 graphics to the table, a feature entirely absent from the Xeon, which has no integrated graphics of any kind. For a desktop user seeking a single-chip solution with graphical output, the A10 is the only option between the two.

The market segment split reinforces this division. The Xeon is classified as a server and workstation processor, while the A10 is a desktop part. The Xeon supports ECC memory, a feature that matters for data integrity in server environments, while the A10 does not. The A10 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Xeon’s multiplier is locked. These specification differences align with the benchmark results: the Xeon is built for sustained multi-core throughput in professional environments, and the A10 is built for flexible desktop use with graphics integration and overclocking headroom.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon X5482 has an average benchmark score of 805, while the AMD A10-7850K has an average score of 796. The difference is 9 points, roughly a 1.1% margin in favor of the Xeon.

Q: Do the two processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Xeon X5482 uses Intel Socket 771, while the A10-7850K uses AMD Socket FM2+. These sockets are not compatible with each other, and the processors cannot be interchanged on the same motherboard.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon X5482 supports ECC memory. The AMD A10-7850K does not support ECC memory.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD A10-7850K includes integrated graphics, specifically the Radeon R7. The Intel Xeon X5482 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon X5482 was released on November 10, 2007. The AMD A10-7850K was released on January 13, 2014, making the A10 the newer part by roughly six years.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD A10-7850K has a base clock of 3.70 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Xeon X5482’s base clock of 3.20 GHz. The A10 also has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Xeon has no boost clock listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

There are no direct head-to-head benchmark entries in the database for these two processors. The wins count is zero for both, meaning no single test was run on both chips and recorded as a paired comparison. Instead, the available data consists of separate benchmark suites for each processor, and the comparison must be drawn from those separate results.

The Xeon X5482’s Cinebench results are its primary evidence of performance. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 235. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 983, and in Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 2341. The progression from R15 to R23 shows the Xeon scaling with the increasing workload demands of newer versions of the test. Its single-core results in the same family are 138 in Cinebench R20 and 330 in Cinebench R23. These numbers, while modest by modern standards, are the only rendering scores recorded for either chip, and they give the Xeon a decisive win in this workload category by virtue of being the only participant.

The A10-7850K’s Geekbench results provide its measured performance profile. It scores 1139 in Geekbench multicore and 453 in Geekbench single-core. The single-core score is roughly 40% of the multicore score, which is a typical ratio for a four-core, four-thread processor without hyper-threading. The Xeon, also a four-core, four-thread part, has no Geekbench scores in the database, so no direct comparison can be made on this test. The A10’s average benchmark score of 796 places it within 9 points of the Xeon’s 805, and its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G at 797 with a delta of -0.1%, the AMD A6-9400 at 794 with a delta of 0.2%, the AMD A10-5800B at 794 with a delta of 0.3%, and the Intel Pentium Silver J5040 at 801 with a delta of -0.6%. These rivals are all within a narrow band around the A10’s score, indicating that the A10 sits in a crowded performance tier.

The Xeon’s nearest rivals tell a similar story. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U matches the Xeon’s average score of 805 exactly, with a delta of 0%. The AMD Athlon X4 850 scores 806, a delta of -0.1%, and the Intel Core i5-3320M scores 803, a delta of 0.3%. The Intel Core i7-870S scores 809, a delta of -0.4%. All four rivals are within a few points of the Xeon, reinforcing the notion that the Xeon’s aggregate performance is firmly in the middle of a dense field of older and lower-power parts. The fact that both processors land in the low 20s for percentile ranking across all CPUs in the database confirms that neither chip is competitive against modern hardware, but within their own historical context, they are closely matched.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Xeon X5482 has 4 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.20 GHz, and no boost clock. The A10-7850K also has 4 cores and 4 threads, but its base clock is 3.70 GHz and it has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The A10 runs at a higher clock speed at both the base and peak levels.

Thermal design power differs substantially. The Xeon has a TDP of 150 watts, while the A10 has a TDP of 95 watts. This makes the A10 the more power-efficient part on paper, with a 55-watt lower thermal envelope. The Xeon’s higher TDP aligns with its server and workstation positioning, where cooling is typically more robust and power draw is less constrained.

Memory support also diverges. The Xeon supports DDR2 and DDR3 memory, with the exact type depending on the motherboard. The A10 supports only DDR3. The Xeon supports ECC memory, while the A10 does not. The Xeon’s memory bus is dual-channel, while the A10’s memory bus is not specified in the database. The Xeon uses PCIe Gen 2, while the A10 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available on the CPU only.

The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the A10 includes Radeon R7 graphics. The Xeon’s market segment is server and workstation, while the A10 is a desktop part. The Xeon’s multiplier is locked, while the A10’s multiplier is unlocked. The Xeon was released on November 10, 2007, and the A10 was released on January 13, 2014. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $1279, while the A10 has no launch MSRP listed in the database. The Xeon’s part numbers are SLANZ and SLBBG, while the A10’s part numbers are AD785KXBI44JA and AD785KXBJABOX.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans more than six years of silicon evolution. The Xeon X5482 uses Intel’s Core 2 architecture with the codename Harpertown, built on a 45 nm process at Intel’s foundry. The A10-7850K uses AMD’s Steamroller architecture with the codename Kaveri, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The process node difference is significant: 45 nm versus 28 nm, with the smaller node allowing the A10 to pack more transistors into a similar physical footprint.

Transistor counts highlight the generational shift. The Xeon contains 820 million transistors spread across a die size of 2x 107 mm², for a total of 214 mm² of silicon. The A10 contains 2,411 million transistors on a single die of 245 mm². The A10 packs nearly three times as many transistors into a slightly larger die, a direct result of the more advanced 28 nm manufacturing process.

Cache layouts differ as well. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 6 MB of L2 cache per die, with no L3 cache listed. The A10 has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, also with no L3 cache listed. The Xeon’s per-die L2 arrangement reflects its dual-die design, where each die carries its own 6 MB L2 slice. The A10’s L1 cache is larger in total capacity, but its L2 cache is smaller than the Xeon’s combined L2 capacity.

The Xeon’s generation is listed as Xeon (Harpertown), while the A10’s generation is A10 (Kaveri). The Xeon’s architecture is Core 2, and the A10’s is Steamroller. The A10 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU only, while the Xeon supports PCIe Gen 2. The A10’s integrated Radeon R7 graphics are a defining architectural feature, as they place memory controller, CPU cores, and GPU on a single die. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, reflecting its role as a dedicated server processor where a discrete GPU or remote management solution handles display output. The A10’s unlocked multiplier is another architectural distinction, as it allows end users to adjust clock speeds freely, whereas the Xeon’s locked multiplier restricts such adjustments.

The combined data shows two processors that achieve similar average scores through entirely different means. The Xeon relies on a mature, high-TDP server design with large L2 caches and a high launch MSRP, while the A10 uses a newer, smaller process node, higher clock speeds, and integrated graphics to deliver comparable aggregate performance in a desktop-oriented package. The benchmark results, such as the Xeon’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2341 and the A10’s Geekbench multicore score of 1139, are not directly comparable across different test families, but they each demonstrate the strengths of their respective designs. The Xeon leads in rendering workloads where its multicore Cinebench scores stand alone, and the A10 leads in the Geekbench tests where its scores are the only recorded data. Neither processor has a head-to-head win in the database, leaving the overall comparison to rest on the separate benchmark suites and the specification differences that define each part’s intended use case.