AMD A10-9700E vs AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U Comparison

The AMD A10-9700E and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U are both 4-core AMD processors, but they represent vastly different eras and design philosophies. The A10-9700E is a 28nm desktop part from the Bristol Ridge generation, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is a 12nm mobile part from the Picasso generation. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap, with the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U winning the only shared benchmark by a wide margin. However, the two chips serve different market segments, and the data reveals distinct strengths and trade-offs for each.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the clear performance winner in the head-to-head data. In the only shared benchmark, Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U scores 624 compared to the A10-9700E's 278, a delta of -55.4% from the perspective of the A10-9700E. This means the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is over twice as fast in this multi-threaded rendering test. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U also benefits from having 8 threads versus the A10-9700E's 4 threads, which directly contributes to its superior multi-core performance. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the A10-9700E scores 1160, but the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U does not have a corresponding score in the data; the only shared test is the R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen wins decisively.

The A10-9700E does not win any of the shared benchmarks. However, it does have its own benchmark results that show its capabilities. In Cinebench R23, the A10-9700E scores 2762 in multi-core and 390 in single-core. While these are standalone numbers without a direct comparison, they indicate the A10-9700E's performance level. The A10-9700E also has a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz compared to the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U's 2.10 GHz, which could give it an advantage in lightly-threaded tasks that rely on sustained clock speeds, though the Ryzen's higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz (versus 3.50 GHz) partially offsets this. The A10-9700E is a desktop part with a 35W TDP, whereas the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is a mobile part with a 15W TDP, so the A10-9700E may be more suited for always-plugged-in desktop workloads where power draw is less of a concern.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The A10-9700E uses the Excavator architecture on the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28nm process node at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U, in contrast, uses the Zen+ architecture on the Picasso codename, built on a 12nm process node, also at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die. The smaller process node and higher transistor count allow the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U to deliver significantly more performance while consuming less power (15W vs 35W TDP).

Cache configurations also differ markedly. The A10-9700E has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a per-core cache layout: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a total of 384 KB L1, 2 MB L2, and 4 MB L3, giving it a substantial cache hierarchy advantage. The presence of L3 cache in the Ryzen part is particularly important for modern workloads that benefit from shared data access across cores.

The integrated graphics also differ: the A10-9700E features Radeon R7 graphics, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U features Radeon Vega 8. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U also has a different memory bus and PCIe configuration. Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, but the A10-9700E's PCIe is listed as "Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only)" while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is simply "Gen 3". The A10-9700E is a desktop part on the AMD Socket AM4, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is a mobile part on the AMD Socket FP5.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is significantly faster. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 624 against the A10-9700E's 278, a delta of -55.4% from the A10-9700E's perspective.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U supports 8 threads, while the A10-9700E supports only 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The A10-9700E has a TDP of 35W, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a TDP of 15W. This makes the Ryzen part more power-efficient for mobile use.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is built on a 12nm process node, while the A10-9700E is built on a 28nm process node. The 12nm node is more advanced and allows higher transistor density.

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses, and both have the same memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a more substantial cache hierarchy, including 4 MB of shared L3 cache, which the A10-9700E lacks entirely. The Ryzen part also has a different L1 and L2 configuration per core.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two processors are as follows:

• Threads: The A10-9700E has 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has 8 threads.
• Base Clock: The A10-9700E has a base clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz.
• Boost Clock: The A10-9700E has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.
• TDP: The A10-9700E has a TDP of 35W, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a TDP of 15W.
• Socket: The A10-9700E uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U uses AMD Socket FP5.
• Architecture: The A10-9700E uses Excavator, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U uses Zen+.
• Process Node: The A10-9700E is on 28nm, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is on 12nm.
• Transistors: The A10-9700E has 3,100 million transistors, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has 4,940 million.
• Die Size: The A10-9700E has a 250 mm² die, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a 210 mm² die.
• Cache: The A10-9700E has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 with no L3. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3.
• Integrated Graphics: The A10-9700E has Radeon R7, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has Radeon Vega 8.
• Market Segment: The A10-9700E is a Desktop part, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is a Mobile part.
• Release Date: The A10-9700E was released on 2017-07-26, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U was released on 2019-04-07.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the data is Cinebench R15 multi-core. Here, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U delivers a score of 624, while the A10-9700E manages just 278. This represents a -55.4% delta for the A10-9700E, meaning the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is roughly 2.24 times faster in this workload. This massive gap is driven by the Ryzen's superior architecture (Zen+ vs Excavator), its additional threads (8 vs 4), and its more advanced 12nm process node.

Looking at other benchmarks where only one chip has data, the A10-9700E shows scores in Cinebench R20 (1160 multi-core, 163 single-core) and Cinebench R23 (2762 multi-core, 390 single-core). The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U, meanwhile, has Geekbench scores of 2202 multi-core and 819 single-core. These cannot be directly compared across different test suites, but they paint a picture of the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U being a more modern part with higher single-thread capabilities, as evidenced by its Geekbench single-core score of 819 against the A10-9700E's Cinebench R20 single-core of 163, though the different test methodologies prevent a direct apples-to-apples comparison.

The average benchmark scores from the nearest rivals data further contextualize the two chips. The A10-9700E has an average benchmark score of 951, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has an average of 947. They are nearly identical in overall average, with the A10-9700E being 0.4% ahead of the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U according to the deltaPct values. This is a curious result given the huge disparity in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test. The explanation lies in the fact that the average scores are computed across different benchmark suites, and the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U's scores in other tests (like Geekbench) may not be as dominant. The A10-9700E's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-5500U (avg score 953, delta -0.2%) and the Intel Xeon W3570 (avg score 955, delta -0.4%). The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T (avg score 946, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Xeon X5560 (avg score 946, delta 0.1%). Both chips sit at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are both entry-level performers in the current market.

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the faster processor for multi-threaded workloads. The A10-9700E's higher base clock and desktop form factor may make it a reasonable choice in its niche, but the architectural advantages of the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U are overwhelming in the shared benchmark. The Ryzen's 12nm process, larger transistor count, and L3 cache all contribute to its superiority. For any workload that leverages multiple threads, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the clear choice based on the data.