AMD A10-9700E vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5500U and AMD A10-9700E are two processors from different eras and market segments, yet their average benchmark scores land them within a fraction of a point of each other. The Intel chip, a 15-watt mobile part from the Broadwell generation, posts an average benchmark score of 953, while the AMD A10-9700E, a 35-watt desktop part based on the Excavator architecture, scores 951. Despite this near-identical overall average, the head-to-head benchmark results tell a different story, with the AMD processor winning all five comparative tests by a consistent margin of roughly 13.5% to 13.8%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-5500U has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 953, compared to 951 for the AMD A10-9700E. The difference is minimal, with the Intel chip leading by a mere 0.2% over the AMD part.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD A10-9700E outperforms the Intel Core i7-5500U in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 2762 versus 2381. This represents a 13.8% advantage for the AMD processor.

Q: What is the difference in single-core Cinebench R20 scores?

A: The AMD A10-9700E scores 163 in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, while the Intel Core i7-5500U scores 141. The AMD chip leads by 13.5% in this test.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A10-9700E has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i7-5500U has 2 physical cores. However, the Intel chip supports hyper-threading, bringing its total thread count to 4, the same as the AMD processor.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-5500U has a TDP of 15 watts, making it a low-power mobile part. The AMD A10-9700E has a TDP of 35 watts, which is more than double the Intel chip's power envelope.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD A10-9700E supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i7-5500U supports DDR3. The AMD chip also offers a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s compared to the Intel's 25.6 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-9700E is the outright winner in every benchmark listed in the head-to-head comparison, taking all five tests. Its victories span both single-core and multi-core workloads across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 versions. The largest margin of victory is 13.8%, seen in the Cinebench R20 multi-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core tests, while the smallest margin is 13.5% in the Cinebench R20 single-core test. This consistent performance advantage suggests that the AMD chip holds a clear edge in raw computational throughput across the board, regardless of whether the workload is lightly threaded or heavily threaded.

The Intel Core i7-5500U's only statistical claim to superiority is its average benchmark score of 953, which edges out the AMD's 951 by a razor-thin margin of 0.3%. This is an artifact of averaging across a broader set of benchmarks, including Geekbench tests where the Intel chip scores 1689 in multi-core and 881 in single-core. However, those Geekbench results are not part of the head-to-head comparison, so the Intel chip does not register a single direct benchmark win against the AMD A10-9700E.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i7-5500U is built on a 14 nm process node by Intel, featuring 1,300 million transistors on a compact 82 mm² die. It uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U variant, and belongs to the Core i7 (Broadwell-U) generation. In contrast, the AMD A10-9700E is fabricated on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries, packing 3,100 million transistors into a much larger 250 mm² die. The AMD chip uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, and belongs to the A10 (Bristol Ridge) generation.

The cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Intel chip features a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB and per-core L2 cache of 256 KB, along with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The AMD processor has a total L1 cache of 320 KB and a 2 MB L2 cache, but no L3 cache at all. This architectural difference means the Intel chip relies on a larger shared pool of L3 cache to compensate for its smaller per-core caches, while the AMD chip depends entirely on its L1 and L2 caches for data locality.

The integrated graphics solutions also diverge, with the Intel chip featuring Intel HD 5500 graphics and the AMD chip featuring Radeon R7 graphics. Additionally, the memory controllers differ, with the Intel chip supporting DDR3 memory and the AMD chip supporting DDR4, leading to different memory bandwidth figures. The PCIe support also varies, with the Intel chip offering Gen 2 with 12 lanes and the AMD chip offering Gen 3 with 8 lanes.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification difference is the core count: the Intel Core i7-5500U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD A10-9700E has 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the AMD processor offers twice the physical core count, but neither chip has simultaneous multi-threading advantage over the other in terms of total threads.

Clock speeds also differ, with the Intel chip running at a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The AMD chip runs at a higher base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. This gives the AMD processor a 0.60 GHz advantage at base and a 0.50 GHz advantage at boost.

The TDP difference is substantial: the Intel chip is rated at 15 watts, while the AMD chip is rated at 35 watts. This reflects their different target markets, with the Intel chip designed for mobile use (Socket Intel BGA 1168) and the AMD chip designed for desktop use (Socket AMD Socket AM4). The memory bandwidth also differs, with the Intel chip offering 25.6 GB/s and the AMD chip offering 38.4 GB/s.

The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $393, while the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP. The Intel chip is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD chip is marked as active production. The Intel chip was released on 2015-02-28, while the AMD chip was released on 2017-07-26.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-9700E wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the margins are remarkably consistent across different workload types. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD chip scores 278 against the Intel's 240, a 13.7% advantage. This pattern repeats in the Cinebench R20 multi-core test, where AMD scores 1160 versus 1000, a 13.8% lead.

The single-core results follow the same trend. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD scores 163 against Intel's 141, a 13.5% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 390 versus 336, a 13.8% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows AMD scoring 2762 against Intel's 2381, another 13.8% lead.

These results are notable for their consistency. The AMD chip maintains a 13.5% to 13.8% advantage across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, suggesting that its higher clock speeds and additional physical cores provide a uniform performance boost. The Intel chip's lower TDP and smaller die size do not translate into any benchmark victory in this direct comparison.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD A10-9700E in raw benchmark performance, as it wins every head-to-head test by a margin of at least 13.5%. For users prioritizing computational throughput in Cinebench workloads, the AMD chip is the superior choice. Its 4 physical cores, higher clock speeds, and DDR4 memory support contribute to this consistent advantage.

However, the Intel Core i7-5500U is not without merit. Its 15-watt TDP makes it a far more power-efficient option, and its compact 82 mm² die size suggests it is designed for thermally constrained mobile environments. The Intel chip also has a slightly higher average benchmark score when including Geekbench results, though this does not translate into any direct head-to-head wins. The Intel chip's launch MSRP of $393 also positions it as a premium mobile part.

The choice between these two processors depends on the use case. The AMD A10-9700E, with its active production status and desktop socket, is better suited for users who need maximum compute performance from a desktop platform and can accommodate a 35-watt TDP. The Intel Core i7-5500U, despite being end-of-life, remains relevant for mobile applications where power consumption and heat dissipation are critical constraints. Its 2 cores and 4 threads, combined with 4 MB of shared L3 cache, provide adequate performance for lightweight tasks, but the data shows it falls behind the AMD chip in every direct benchmark comparison.