AMD A10-9700E vs Intel Core i7-2715QE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2715QE and AMD A10-9700E are two very different processors that happen to land in the same performance tier. The Intel part is a 2011 mobile chip built on Sandy Bridge, while the AMD is a 2017 desktop part from the Bristol Ridge line. Despite their different origins, the benchmark data shows them trading blows at a remarkably even level, with the AMD chip taking a narrow but consistent lead across every Cinebench test recorded. This analysis breaks down exactly where each processor stands, using only the benchmark results and architectural data provided.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the AMD A10-9700E wins all five recorded Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are extremely slim. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the AMD scores 278 against Intel's 275, a delta of -1.1 percent from the Intel perspective. That translates to a three-point difference out of nearly three hundred—well within run-to-run variance, but the result is consistent across the board.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. In the multicore test, the AMD scores 1160 versus the Intel's 1149, a 0.9 percent gap. The single-core R20 result is nearly identical: AMD at 163, Intel at 162, a 0.6 percent difference. These are single-digit percentage swings that would be invisible in real-world use, yet they do show a slight edge in efficiency for the AMD architecture in these specific workloads.

The Cinebench R23 results reinforce the trend. In multicore, AMD scores 2762 against Intel's 2737, again a 0.9 percent delta. In single-core, AMD posts 390 versus Intel's 386, a one percent lead. The pattern is clear: AMD wins every test, but by margins so small that they fall below the threshold of perceptible performance difference. Both processors also share the same 25th percentile rank among all CPUs, suggesting they occupy an identical performance class in the broader market.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The Intel i7-2715QE has an average score of 942, while the AMD A10-9700E averages 951. That nine-point spread is under one percent. Looking at the nearest rivals for each chip underscores how close they are: the Intel's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-8145U at 941 (0.1 percent delta), while the AMD's nearest is the Intel Core i7-5500U at 953 (-0.2 percent). Both chips sit in a dense cluster of processors scoring between roughly 940 and 955, making them statistically indistinguishable in aggregate performance.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial, even if the benchmark results are not. The Intel Core i7-2715QE uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 1,160 million transistors into a 216 mm² die. The AMD A10-9700E uses the Excavator architecture, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. AMD's chip has nearly three times the transistor count, largely due to its integrated graphics and other SoC features, but it also has a larger die.

Threading is a major differentiator. The Intel chip offers 4 cores and 8 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double its logical processor count. The AMD chip is a straight 4-core, 4-thread part with no simultaneous multithreading. This means the Intel processor has twice the thread count, yet it still loses the multicore benchmarks to AMD—evidence of the AMD's higher clock speeds and per-core efficiency in these tests.

Clock speeds favor AMD significantly. The Intel chip runs at a 2.10 GHz base clock with a 3.00 GHz boost. The AMD starts at 3.00 GHz base and boosts up to 3.50 GHz. That's a 900 MHz base clock advantage and a 500 MHz boost advantage for AMD, which explains how a 4-thread part can keep pace with an 8-thread one in heavily multithreaded Cinebench workloads.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The Intel chip has a three-level hierarchy: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD has no L3 cache at all, instead relying on a larger unified L1 of 320 KB and a 2 MB L2. Without a shared L3, the AMD's cache is smaller in total, but its higher clocks compensate in the benchmark results.

Memory support and platform features also diverge. The AMD supports DDR4 memory with a 38.4 GB/s bandwidth figure, while the Intel's memory support field is not listed. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU; the Intel's PCIe configuration is not specified. The AMD uses Socket AM4, a desktop platform, while the Intel uses BGA 1023, a soldered mobile socket.

The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel pairs the i7-2715QE with HD 3000 graphics, while AMD includes Radeon R7 graphics. The AMD's iGPU is presumably more capable given its larger transistor budget, though no direct benchmark comparisons are provided for graphics.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the data, the AMD A10-9700E wins every recorded benchmark comparison. That gives it five wins out of five head-to-head tests. However, the margins are so thin—never exceeding 1.1 percent—that these wins are more symbolic than substantial. The AMD's largest advantage comes in the Cinebench R15 multicore test, where it leads by 1.1 percent, and its smallest is in R20 single-core at 0.6 percent.

The Intel i7-2715QE does not win any benchmark in this comparison, but its architectural strengths suggest different use cases. With 8 threads versus the AMD's 4, the Intel part would likely handle heavily threaded workloads that scale beyond 4 threads more gracefully, even if Cinebench's specific workload does not show an advantage. The Intel chip also carries a 6 MB shared L3 cache, which can benefit certain data-intensive tasks that rely on frequent cache hits.

The AMD wins on raw clock speed and power efficiency. Its 35 W TDP is significantly lower than the Intel's 45 W TDP, making it the better choice for thermally constrained systems. The AMD also benefits from being a newer part (2017 release versus 2011) with DDR4 support and a modern AM4 socket, which offers a clearer upgrade path.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD A10-9700E has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-2715QE boosts to 3.00 GHz.

Q: Do both processors have the same core count?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores, but the Intel i7-2715QE supports 8 threads while the AMD A10-9700E only supports 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD A10-9700E has a TDP of 35 W, while the Intel Core i7-2715QE has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-2715QE has 6 MB of shared L3 cache; the AMD A10-9700E has no L3 cache at all.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD A10-9700E averages 951 points, while the Intel Core i7-2715QE averages 942 points, a difference of less than one percent.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the AMD A10-9700E lists DDR4 memory support, with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the Intel chip's memory support is not specified.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Intel uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node, while the AMD uses Excavator on 28 nm. The Intel has 4 cores and 8 threads; the AMD has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for Intel and 3.00 GHz for AMD; boost clocks are 3.00 GHz and 3.50 GHz respectively. TDP is 45 W for Intel and 35 W for AMD.

Sockets are completely different: Intel uses BGA 1023, AMD uses Socket AM4. The Intel chip is a Mobile segment part, while the AMD is a Desktop part. Intel's process node uses 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die; AMD uses 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The cache hierarchy is inverted: Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3; AMD has 320 KB L1 total, 2 MB L2, and no L3. Memory support also differs, with only the AMD listing DDR4 support and a 38.4 GB/s bandwidth figure.

The integrated GPUs differ: Intel HD 3000 versus AMD Radeon R7. The AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes; the Intel's PCIe is unspecified. Production status also varies: the Intel is end-of-life, while the AMD is still active. The AMD has a part number of AD9700AHM44AB; the Intel is SR076.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear but narrow picture. The AMD A10-9700E wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with a maximum lead of 1.1 percent and a minimum of 0.6 percent. Its average benchmark score of 951 also tops the Intel's 942. For anyone choosing strictly on the basis of these measured results, the AMD is the faster processor in every listed test.

However, the Intel i7-2715QE brings its own advantages that the benchmarks do not capture. Its 8-thread capability, enabled by Hyper-Threading, gives it a structural edge in workloads that can utilize more than 4 threads, even if Cinebench does not show it. The 6 MB of shared L3 cache is also a distinctive feature that the AMD completely lacks.

The AMD's case is stronger on platform and efficiency. It offers a lower 35 W TDP, higher clocks, DDR4 support, and a modern AM4 socket with active production status. The Intel part is end-of-life, mobile-only, and soldered via BGA 1023, limiting its upgrade potential.

The verdict depends on the use case. For a desktop build requiring DDR4, a modern socket, and lower power draw, the AMD A10-9700E is the data-backed choice. For a system that values thread count and a larger L3 cache, the Intel i7-2715QE has architectural merits, but the benchmark results do not translate those merits into wins here. Given the AMD's five-for-five victory and its overall average score advantage, the data favors the AMD A10-9700E as the higher-performing processor of the two.