AMD A10-7870K vs Intel Core i5-5257U Comparison

The benchmark data presents a clear split: the AMD A10-7870K dominates Cinebench workloads, while the Intel Core i5-5257U excels in Geekbench tests. Despite the AMD winning five of seven head-to-head comparisons, the overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Intel at 976 and the AMD at 975. This near-parity in aggregate, combined with the dramatic swings in individual tests, points to two fundamentally different processing philosophies rather than a clear overall victor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-7870K’s performance in Cinebench is consistent and decisive. Across all four Cinebench tests, the AMD chip wins by a remarkably stable margin of roughly 19%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 299 against Intel’s 242, a delta of -19.1%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1249 vs. 1010) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (2975 vs. 2406). The single-core Cinebench results tell the same story: the AMD leads with a score of 176 in R20 single-core versus Intel’s 142, and 420 versus 339 in R23 single-core. The deltas for all single-core tests are -19.3%, indicating that the AMD’s advantage is not merely a matter of having more cores but also applies to per-thread rendering performance.

The Intel Core i5-5257U, however, turns the tables completely in Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel scores 1773, a full 44.7% ahead of the AMD’s 1225. The single-core result is even more lopsided: Intel’s 922 is 92.9% higher than AMD’s 478. This is not a small edge; it is a near-doubling of the score. This suggests that in workloads that depend on the specific instruction sets and memory patterns exercised by Geekbench, the Intel architecture is overwhelmingly more efficient per clock.

Interpreting these numbers requires looking beyond simple win counts. The AMD’s five wins are all clustered in one benchmark family, while Intel’s two wins are in another. The average benchmark score for each CPU is essentially identical (976 vs. 975, a 0.1% difference). The data shows that the AMD’s Cinebench lead is broad but moderate in magnitude, whereas Intel’s Geekbench lead is narrower in scope but massive in scale. A user’s experience will depend almost entirely on which benchmark suite better reflects their actual applications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on radically different designs. The Intel Core i5-5257U uses a 14 nm process from Intel’s own foundry, with a die size of 133 mm² and 1,900 million transistors. It has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

The AMD A10-7870K is a 28 nm chip fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with a substantially larger die at 245 mm² and 2,411 million transistors. It offers 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a much higher base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its cache is organized differently: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all.

The process node difference (14 nm vs. 28 nm) explains the Intel’s smaller die and lower transistor count despite being a more recent design. The AMD’s higher clock speeds are a direct attempt to compensate for the older, less efficient process. The integrated graphics also differ, with Intel pairing the CPU with Iris 6100 graphics, while AMD includes a Radeon R7. The AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Intel is limited to Gen 2 with 12 lanes. Memory bandwidth favors the AMD at 34.1 GB/s versus Intel’s 29.9 GB/s, though both use dual-channel DDR3.

The TDP figures are starkly different: the Intel is rated at 28 W, while the AMD is rated at 95 W. This is not a minor detail; it reflects the mobile versus desktop target markets. The Intel is a mobile part on an Intel BGA 1168 socket, while the AMD is a desktop part on an AMD Socket FM2+. The Intel is also locked (multiplier not unlocked), whereas the AMD has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i5-5257U scores 922, which is 92.9% higher than the AMD A10-7870K’s score of 478 in the same test.

Q: How many Cinebench R23 multi-core points does the AMD A10-7870K score?

A: The AMD scores 2975 points, which is 19.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-5257U’s score of 2406.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark score between the two CPUs?

A: The difference is minimal. The Intel has an average benchmark score of 976, while the AMD has 975, a delta of 0.1%.

Q: What are the core counts and clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Intel has 2 cores and 4 threads with a base of 2.70 GHz and boost of 3.10 GHz. The AMD has 4 cores and 4 threads with a base of 3.90 GHz and boost of 4.10 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-5257U has 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD A10-7870K has no L3 cache at all, relying instead on 4 MB of L2 cache.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i5-5257U and the AMD A10-7870K are listed as end-of-life products.

Specification Differences

The following table lists the key areas where the two processors differ, based solely on the provided data.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-5257U | AMD A10-7870K |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.10 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 245 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 256 KB |

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

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multipier Unlocked | No | Yes |

The Verdict

The data does not support a single winner. Instead, it shows two processors that are polar opposites in their strengths. The AMD A10-7870K is the definitive choice for rendering workloads that are similar to Cinebench. Its 19% lead across all Cinebench tests is consistent and significant. If a user’s primary tasks are video rendering, 3D modeling, or other multi-threaded CPU rendering, the AMD’s four physical cores and higher clock speeds provide a clear advantage.

The Intel Core i5-5257U is the choice for workloads that resemble Geekbench. Its 92.9% lead in Geekbench single-core and 44.7% lead in Geekbench multi-core are massive. This suggests superior per-clock instruction throughput and memory latency handling. The Intel is also the only logical option for mobile or low-power systems, given its 28 W TDP compared to the AMD’s 95 W.

The near-identical average benchmark scores (976 vs. 975) confirm that neither is a universal upgrade over the other. The user should select the processor that matches their specific application profile. For a desktop system where rendering is the bottleneck, the AMD A10-7870K is the data-backed pick. For a mobile or power-constrained system, or for workloads that favor the Intel’s architecture, the Core i5-5257U is the clear winner.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-7870K wins in all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests. This makes it the stronger performer for applications that use rendering engines similar to Cinebench. The consistent 19.1% to 19.3% delta suggests a uniform advantage in this type of sustained compute workload. This is likely due to its combination of four physical cores and higher clock speeds (3.90 GHz base, 4.10 GHz boost), which directly translates to more raw compute throughput in a heavily threaded render. It also offers a higher memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, which may aid in data-intensive rendering tasks.

The Intel Core i5-5257U wins in both Geekbench multi-core and single-core tests. The 44.7% and 92.9% leads respectively are enormous and indicate a fundamental architectural efficiency. This processor is the winner for tasks that rely on the specific instruction sets and memory access patterns measured by Geekbench. These tests often reflect general desktop responsiveness, web browsing, and office productivity better than a render test. The Intel’s 14 nm process and lower TDP (28 W) make it the only viable choice for a thin-and-light laptop. Its 3 MB of L3 cache also provides a shared pool for data, which the AMD lacks entirely, potentially benefiting workloads that require fast data sharing between threads. The data shows that in Geekbench-style applications, the Intel is not just slightly better; it is in a different class.