CPU Comparison

The AMD PRO A10-9700 and the AMD A10-9700 are, on paper, almost identical twins. Both are 4-core, 4-thread Excavator parts built on the 28 nm process for Socket AM4, with the same 3.50 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost clocks. The benchmark data, however, reveals a consistent, if narrow, performance gap across every single test, with the PRO variant taking all five head-to-head wins. The differences are small in percentage terms, but their consistency across every Cinebench iteration suggests a deliberate, if modest, segmentation between the two.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are a clean sweep for the AMD PRO A10-9700, though the margins are tight. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the PRO scores 306 against the standard A10-9700's 302, a 1.3% advantage. This pattern holds in the newer Cinebench R20 multi-core test, where the PRO posts 1275 versus 1261, a 1.1% lead. The single-core tests tell a similar story: the PRO edges ahead with 179 in R20 single-core against 178, and 428 in R23 single-core against 424, representing 0.6% and 0.9% deltas respectively.

The largest relative gap appears in the oldest test, Cinebench R15, where the PRO leads by 1.3%. The smallest gap is in R20 single-core, where only a single point separates the two. While a 1.3% difference is well within typical run-to-run variance for most benchmarking, the fact that the PRO wins all five tests, including both single-core and multi-core workloads, indicates this is not random noise. The PRO's multi-core wins are slightly larger in absolute terms, 4 to 14 points depending on the test, which hints at a possible difference in power delivery or sustained boost behavior, even though the listed clocks are identical.

Looking at the broader context, both CPUs sit in the 28th-29th percentile of all CPUs. The PRO's average benchmark score of 1045 places it exactly level with the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 and Intel Core i5-6350HQ (both at 0% delta), and just ahead of the AMD PRO A10-8770 and AMD Athlon X4 950. The non-PRO A10-9700, with an average score of 1034, sits near the AMD A10-7890K (1035) and Intel Pentium G4560 (1031). The PRO's 1.1% average score advantage over its sibling is roughly the same as the delta between the A10-9700 and the Pentium G4560 (0.3%), making the PRO a slightly stronger performer within the same performance tier. The data suggests the PRO is not just a rebadge; it is a marginally better binned part that consistently delivers a few extra points.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700 wins all multi-core tests. It scores 306 vs 302 in Cinebench R15, 1275 vs 1261 in R20, and 3037 vs 3004 in R23, representing deltas of 1.3%, 1.1%, and 1.1% respectively.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the standard AMD A10-9700 comes out ahead?

A: No. Across the five head-to-head benchmarks, spanning Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single and multi-core modes, the standard A10-9700 records zero wins. The PRO variant dominates every test.

Q: How do these chips compare to Intel Pentium processors?

A: The PRO A10-9700 has an average benchmark score of 1045, exactly matching the Intel Pentium Gold G5620. The standard A10-9700 scores 1034, which places it 0.3% behind the Intel Pentium G4560 (1031), meaning the A10-9700 is actually slightly ahead of that Pentium model.

Q: What is the difference in their overall benchmark percentiles?

A: The PRO A10-9700 sits in the 29th percentile of all CPUs, while the standard A10-9700 sits in the 28th. This one-percentile difference reflects the PRO's slightly higher average score of 1045 versus 1034.

Q: Do the two processors have different production statuses?

A: Yes. The PRO A10-9700 is listed as "Active" production, while the standard A10-9700 is listed as "End-of-life." Both share the same release date of 2017-07-26.

Q: Are the clock speeds and core counts identical?

A: Yes. Both have 4 cores, 4 threads, a 3.50 GHz base clock, and a 3.80 GHz boost clock. They also share the same 65 W TDP and the same 2 MB L2 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The PRO A10-9700 wins in every measurable performance category. In multi-threaded workloads, represented by the R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the PRO holds a consistent 1.1% to 1.3% lead. For single-threaded tasks, the PRO's advantage narrows to 0.6% to 0.9%, but it still wins. The PRO's average benchmark score of 1045 is 11 points higher than the standard part's 1034, which translates into a higher percentile ranking (29th vs 28th). Practically, this means the PRO is the better choice for anyone running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, whether they are single-threaded or multi-threaded. The standard A10-9700's only "win" is in availability context: it is end-of-life, whereas the PRO remains active, but that is a supply consideration, not a performance one.

There is no workload category where the standard A10-9700 demonstrates an advantage based on the provided benchmark data. Its scores are consistently lower, albeit by a small margin. For users who are sensitive to the absolute highest frame rates or shortest render times, the PRO is the clear pick. For users who only care about whether a chip is "fast enough," the 1% difference will likely be imperceptible in real-world use, but the data does not support any scenario where the non-PRO part is faster.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets are nearly identical, with only two notable divergences. The first is the part number: the PRO is AD970BAGM44AB, while the standard is AD9700AGM44AB. The second is the production status, the PRO is "Active" and the standard is "End-of-life." All other listed specifications are the same:

• Cores/Threads: 4 / 4 for both
• Base/Boost Clock: 3.50 GHz / 3.80 GHz for both
• TDP: 65 W for both
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 for both
• Cache: 320 KB L1, 2 MB L2, no L3 for both
• Memory: DDR4, dual-channel, 38.4 GB/s for both
• PCIe: Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only) for both
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon R7 for both
• Process/Foundry: 28 nm, GlobalFoundries, 3,100 million transistors, 250 mm² die for both
• Release Date: 2017-07-26 for both

There is no difference in memory support, ECC capability (both lack it), or multiplier unlock status (both are locked). The only functional difference implied by the data is the performance delta, which must stem from something not captured in the spec sheet, likely a difference in binning or firmware, since the silicon is otherwise identical.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same "Excavator" architecture, codenamed "Bristol Ridge," and share the same generation designation of "A10 (Bristol Ridge)." There is no architectural difference between the two. The process node is 28 nm for both, fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with the same transistor count of 3,100 million and the same die size of 250 mm². The memory controller, PCIe implementation, and integrated Radeon R7 graphics are all identical. The cache hierarchy is the same: 320 KB L1, 2 MB L2, and no L3 cache. Neither supports ECC memory, and both use a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The sole distinction is the PRO badge, which in this case appears to correspond to a slightly higher-performing sample of the same silicon. The "PRO" branding does not introduce any new architectural features, extra cache, or higher clock speeds; it simply denotes a part that benchmarked slightly faster across all tests.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: the AMD PRO A10-9700 is the superior processor in every benchmark measured. It wins all five Cinebench tests, holds a higher average score (1045 vs 1034), and ranks in a higher percentile (29th vs 28th). The performance advantage ranges from 0.6% in single-core R20 to 1.3% in multi-core R15, and it is consistent across every workload tested. For users who need the absolute maximum performance from this silicon, the PRO is the unequivocal choice.

However, the margins are so thin, never exceeding 1.3%, that the decision may come down to availability rather than performance. The PRO is still in active production, whereas the standard A10-9700 is end-of-life. This gives the PRO a practical advantage for new system builds, as it is more likely to be found on retail shelves. The standard A10-9700, while slightly slower, is not a bad processor; it sits within 0.3% of the Intel Pentium G4560 and just 0.1% behind the AMD A10-7890K. But the PRO commands a lead over both, matching the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 and edging out the AMD Athlon X4 950 by 0.2%. For anyone choosing between these two specific AM4 parts, the benchmark data is unambiguous: the PRO A10-9700 is the faster chip, and its active production status makes it the more sensible buy. The standard A10-9700 only makes sense if it is available at a significantly lower cost, though pricing data is not provided here to support that comparison.