AMD A10-9700 vs Intel Core i7-5650U Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD A10-9700 is the faster processor in every measured test, despite the Intel Core i7-5650U carrying a higher-tier brand name. Across five Cinebench workloads, the AMD part leads by margins ranging from 18% to 18.7%, while the Intel chip’s only advantage lies in its dramatically lower power draw and its legacy mobile pedigree. Both processors sit at the 28th percentile of all CPUs, meaning neither is a performance leader, but within this specific matchup, the desktop AMD part delivers consistently superior compute results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD A10-9700 wins all multi-core tests. It scores 302 vs 256 in Cinebench R15 (18% higher), 1261 vs 1067 in R20 (18.2% higher), and 3004 vs 2542 in R23 (18.2% higher).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-5650U win any benchmark in this comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 5 wins for the AMD A10-9700 and 0 wins for the Intel Core i7-5650U across all tested Cinebench workloads.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD A10-9700 has an average benchmark score of 1034, while the Intel Core i7-5650U scores 1027. This places them nearly identically, with a difference of just 7 points, but the AMD part edges ahead.

Q: What is the most significant single-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD A10-9700 scores 178 versus Intel’s 150, a delta of 18.7%. This is the largest percentage advantage AMD holds in any test.

Q: Are these processors comparable in market positioning?

A: Both are end-of-life products, but they target different segments. The AMD A10-9700 is a 65W desktop part on Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i7-5650U is a 15W mobile chip on BGA 1168.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-5650U had a launch MSRP of $426. The AMD A10-9700 has no listed launch MSRP in the data.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is generational and fundamental. The AMD A10-9700 uses the Excavator architecture, built on a 28nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 250 mm² containing 3,100 million transistors. It features 4 physical cores with 4 threads, a base clock of 3.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its cache hierarchy consists of 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache present.

The Intel Core i7-5650U, by contrast, employs the Broadwell architecture on a 14nm process at Intel, with a smaller die size of 133 mm² and 1,900 million transistors. It has only 2 physical cores but supports 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, running at a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Its cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

The process node difference is stark: 28nm for AMD versus 14nm for Intel, giving the latter a significant efficiency advantage per transistor. However, the AMD part compensates with a higher transistor count and a larger die, enabling 4 full cores rather than 2. The memory support also diverges, with AMD using DDR4 on a dual-channel bus delivering 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus capped at 29.9 GB/s. Both lack ECC support. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes.

Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD A10-9700 pairs with Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Core i7-5650U includes Intel HD 6000. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are officially end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-9700 dominates every head-to-head benchmark, and the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 302 against Intel’s 256, an 18% advantage. This pattern holds almost exactly across newer Cinebench versions: R20 multi-core shows 1261 vs 1067 (18.2% ahead), and R23 multi-core shows 3004 vs 2542 (18.2% ahead). The consistency suggests a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD leads 178 to 150, a 18.7% gap. R23 single-core shows 424 to 358, an 18.4% margin. Even though the Intel chip has a higher boost clock relative to its base (3.20 GHz vs 2.20 GHz), it cannot overcome the raw per-core throughput of the AMD Excavator design at 3.80 GHz boost.

The data shows no test where the Intel Core i7-5650U comes within a single-digit percentage of the AMD part. Every deltaPct is between 18% and 18.7%, indicating that the AMD A10-9700 is uniformly faster by roughly a fifth across all measured Cinebench scenarios. The Intel chip’s higher L3 cache (4 MB shared) and newer 14nm process do not translate into benchmark wins in this dataset.

It is worth remembering the Intel Core i7-5650U has additional Geekbench scores in its data (1854 multi-core, 960 single-core), but these are not part of the head-to-head comparison, which exclusively uses Cinebench tests. Within the standardized comparison, the verdict is unanimous: AMD wins all 5 tests.

Specification Differences

The core count is the most obvious differentiator: AMD has 4 cores and 4 threads, while Intel has 2 cores and 4 threads. This gives AMD a 2-core advantage in raw parallel capacity, though both support equal thread counts. Clock speeds favor AMD decisively, with a base of 3.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz and a boost of 3.80 GHz versus 3.20 GHz.

Thermals and power are where Intel fights back. The AMD A10-9700 has a TDP of 65W, while the Intel Core i7-5650U draws just 15W. This is a 50W difference that reflects the mobile versus desktop design philosophy. The process node reflects this as well: AMD uses 28nm, Intel uses 14nm. Transistor counts differ at 3,100 million for AMD versus 1,900 million for Intel, and die sizes are 250 mm² versus 133 mm².

Cache configurations are structurally different. AMD provides 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 with no L3, while Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory support diverges: AMD uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, Intel uses DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s. PCIe generations also differ, with AMD on Gen 3 (8 lanes) and Intel on Gen 2 (12 lanes).

The socket and market segment separate them entirely. AMD uses Socket AM4 and targets desktops; Intel uses BGA 1168 and targets mobile devices. Release dates differ by over two years, with AMD launching in July 2017 and Intel in February 2015. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $426, while AMD’s is not listed.

The Verdict

The data is one-sided. The AMD A10-9700 wins 100% of the head-to-head benchmarks, with margins between 18% and 18.7% across all Cinebench versions. For any user prioritizing raw compute performance in these workloads, the AMD A10-9700 is the clear choice. Its 4 full cores, higher clocks, and faster DDR4 memory combine to deliver a consistent 18%+ advantage.

The Intel Core i7-5650U offers only one compelling counterargument: power efficiency. At 15W TDP versus 65W, it consumes a fraction of the power, making it suitable for ultra-portable devices where battery life and thermals matter more than raw throughput. Its 14nm node and smaller die size (133 mm² vs 250 mm²) underscore this efficiency focus.

However, for a benchmark database perspective, performance is the primary metric, and the Intel chip loses every test. Its 2-core limitation, despite 4 threads, cannot match the AMD part’s physical core count and higher clock speeds. The Intel chip’s 4 MB L3 cache helps it in some workloads, but not in the Cinebench suite used here.

Neither processor exceeds the 28th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. But within this matchup, the AMD A10-9700 is the superior processor for compute tasks. The Intel Core i7-5650U should only be considered where its 15W TDP and mobile form factor are non-negotiable requirements.

Where Each One Wins

AMD A10-9700 wins in:

• All multi-core Cinebench workloads: R15 (302 vs 256), R20 (1261 vs 1067), R23 (3004 vs 2542). The 18.2% average margin makes it the clear choice for any parallel rendering or encoding task.
• All single-core Cinebench workloads: R20 (178 vs 150) and R23 (424 vs 358). The 18.4-18.7% margins show it also leads in lightly-threaded tasks.
• Memory bandwidth-sensitive tasks, thanks to DDR4 support with 38.4 GB/s versus DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s.
• Desktop systems where 65W TDP and Socket AM4 compatibility are acceptable.

Intel Core i7-5650U wins in:

• Power-constrained environments. At 15W TDP, it uses 50W less than the AMD part, making it viable for fanless or passively-cooled designs.
• Mobile form factors, given its BGA 1168 socket and 133 mm² die size, which enable compact laptops and ultrabooks.
• Systems requiring PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes, offering more lane count than AMD’s Gen 3 with 8 lanes, though at an older generation.
• Legacy software that benefits from 4 MB shared L3 cache, which the AMD part lacks entirely.

The verdict is straightforward: choose the AMD A10-9700 for performance, the Intel Core i7-5650U for efficiency. The benchmark data offers no third option.