AMD A10-9700E vs Intel Core i5-4330M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a remarkably consistent pattern: the AMD A10-9700E edges out the Intel Core i5-4330M in every single tested workload, but by margins so narrow that they hover near the noise floor of the Cinebench suite. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the A10-9700E scores 278 against 274 for the Intel part, a 1.5% advantage. That is the biggest delta of the entire comparison, and it is still a slim lead.

The other multicore tests tell the same story with slightly smaller spreads. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the AMD chip posts 1160 while the Intel chip records 1145, a 1.3% edge. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 2762 versus 2727, again a 1.3% difference. The single-core results follow suit: R20 single-core gives the A10-9700E a 163 to 161 win (1.2%), and R23 single-core lands at 390 versus 385 (1.3%). Across all five head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD A10-9700E wins every round, yet the aggregate picture is one of near parity rather than dominance.

What makes these numbers more interesting is the architectural context. The A10-9700E achieves its wins with four physical cores and four threads, while the Core i5-4330M uses two physical cores with Hyper-Threading to reach four threads. The AMD part also runs a lower boost clock, 3.50 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, yet still manages to lead in every test. That suggests the Excavator architecture’s per-clock efficiency, or perhaps its memory subsystem, compensates for the clock deficit. The deltas are small, but they are consistent, which points to a genuine, if modest, performance advantage rather than measurement noise.

Looking at the broader database context, both CPUs sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are firmly in the entry-level tier. The average benchmark score for the A10-9700E is 951, while the Core i5-4330M averages 938. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the Intel Core i7-5500U at 953 (a 0.2% gap) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U at 947 (0.4% behind the A10). The Intel part’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-8145U at 941 (0.4% ahead) and the AMD Athlon X4 860K at 943 (0.5% ahead). These surrounding scores reinforce the idea that both chips occupy the same performance stratum, where a few points of benchmark score separate one product from the next.

The Verdict

The data does not support a strong recommendation for one chip over the other based on raw compute alone. The AMD A10-9700E wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, but by margins between 1.2% and 1.5%. Any user migrating from the Intel chip to the AMD chip would see no perceptible difference in everyday tasks, and even in heavily threaded workloads, the gap would be invisible outside of synthetic runs.

However, the choice becomes clearer when considering the platform and usage context. The A10-9700E is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4 with DDR4 memory support, while the Core i5-4330M is a mobile part on Intel Socket G3 with DDR3 memory. The A10-9700E also integrates a Radeon R7 GPU, whereas the Intel chip carries Intel HD 5000. For a desktop builder, the AM4 platform offers a modern memory standard and a newer release date (2017 versus 2013). For a laptop user, the i5-4330M is designed for that form factor, and its 37 W TDP is close to the AMD part’s 35 W, so thermal expectations are similar.

The verdict from the recorded data is that the AMD A10-9700E is the faster processor, but only by a hair. The Intel Core i5-4330M is not a loser here; it trades blows with a chip that has twice the physical core count, which speaks well to Haswell’s efficiency. If the choice is strictly about benchmark scores, pick the AMD part. If the choice is about platform fit, the socket and memory support will likely decide the matter.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD A10-9700E uses the Excavator architecture, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 250 mm² and 3,100 million transistors. The Intel Core i5-4330M uses the Haswell architecture, built on Intel’s 22 nm process, with a die size of 118 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The transistor counts and die sizes are not directly comparable due to different process nodes, but they do highlight a striking contrast: the AMD chip packs more than twice the transistors onto a die that is more than twice the size, yet delivers only marginally better performance.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The A10-9700E has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. The Core i5-4330M has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. For the Intel chip, that works out to roughly 128 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 across both cores, plus the 3 MB L3. The AMD part has no L3 at all, which is a notable disadvantage in workloads that benefit from a large shared cache. Yet the A10-9700E still wins, suggesting that its dual-channel DDR4 memory bandwidth, rated at 38.4 GB/s, helps compensate. The Intel part has no listed memory bandwidth figure, but its DDR3 support likely provides less headroom.

The memory support itself is a major architectural split. The A10-9700E runs DDR4 in dual-channel mode, while the Core i5-4330M runs DDR3 with no listed memory bus or bandwidth details. This is not just a spec sheet difference; it affects achievable bandwidth and latency in real workloads. The AMD chip’s higher bandwidth may explain why it stays ahead in multicore tests despite lacking L3 cache and having a lower boost clock.

The integrated GPUs also differ: the AMD part has Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel part has Intel HD 5000. Neither is a gaming powerhouse, but the Radeon R7 is generally the more capable iGPU, and the database records no competing graphics benchmarks, so the comparison rests on architecture alone.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the database records.

| Field | AMD A10-9700E | Intel Core i5-4330M |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket G3 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Haswell |

| Process node | 28 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 1,400 million |

| Die size | 250 mm² | 118 mm² |

| L1 cache | 320 KB | 64 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 2 MB | 256 KB per core |

| L3 cache | None | 3 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not listed |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon R7 | Intel HD 5000 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2017-07-26 | 2013-08-31 |

The core count difference is the most obvious spec gap, but the cache layout and memory type are equally important. The Intel part has a much smaller L1 and L2 per core, but adds a shared L3 that the AMD part lacks entirely. The AMD part compensates with a newer memory standard and higher rated bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core tests?

A: The AMD A10-9700E wins both single-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 163 against 161 for the Intel Core i5-4330M. In R23 single-core, it scores 390 against 385. Both wins are around 1.3%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-4330M win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD A10-9700E winning all five recorded tests: R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core. The Intel part has zero wins in this comparison.

Q: How do these chips compare to other CPUs in the database?

A: Both sit at the 25th percentile among all CPUs. The A10-9700E has an average score of 951, with the Intel Core i7-5500U at 953 and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U at 947 as nearest rivals. The Core i5-4330M averages 938, with the Intel Core i3-8145U at 941 and the AMD Athlon X4 860K at 943 as nearest rivals.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The AMD A10-9700E supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-4330M supports DDR3 memory, but the database does not list its memory bus or bandwidth.

Q: Which chip has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A10-9700E has four physical cores and four threads. The Intel Core i5-4330M has two physical cores and four threads via Hyper-Threading.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the AMD A10-9700E and the Intel Core i5-4330M have a multiplier locked, according to the database records.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-9700E wins every recorded benchmark, so the straightforward answer is that it wins in all tested scenarios. But the margins are so small that the practical winner depends on the workload and platform context.

For multicore rendering tasks, the A10-9700E has a slight edge. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it leads by 1.5%, and in R20 and R23 multicore, it leads by 1.3%. The four physical cores likely help in sustained parallel workloads, even though the lack of L3 cache and lower boost clock (3.50 GHz versus 3.80 GHz) should hurt. The DDR4 memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s appears to offset those drawbacks.

For single-core tasks, the A10-9700E also wins, but by the same narrow margin. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock, 3.80 GHz, is not enough to overcome the AMD part’s architectural efficiency, or perhaps its memory bandwidth advantage. The deltas are 1.2% in R20 single-core and 1.3% in R23 single-core.

The Intel Core i5-4330M, despite losing every test, still has a case for certain users. Its mobile market segment and Intel Socket G3 make it the only choice for laptops that require that socket. Its 37 W TDP is nearly identical to the AMD part’s 35 W, so it is not a power-efficiency loser. The 3 MB shared L3 cache is a structural advantage for workloads that repeatedly access a moderate-sized working set, even if the benchmark suite does not capture that benefit. The smaller die size, 118 mm² versus 250 mm², also suggests it is cheaper to produce, though the database does not record pricing.

In practical terms, the A10-9700E wins where the workload is memory-bandwidth sensitive or benefits from four physical cores. The Core i5-4330M wins where the platform requires a mobile chip, or where the shared L3 cache helps, though no benchmark in the database confirms that latter point. The data shows a narrow but consistent victory for the AMD part, and no scenario where the Intel part pulls ahead in the recorded tests.