CPU Comparison

The AMD A10-9700E and the Intel Xeon X5560 are two very different processors that end up in a near-identical performance bracket. The data shows the AMD A10-9700E wins every single head-to-head benchmark, but by margins so narrow (0.5% to 0.7%) that they are effectively statistical ties. The real differentiators are not raw speed, but platform features, power characteristics, and the era each component represents. The A10-9700E is a modern, low-power desktop chip with integrated graphics, while the Xeon X5560 is an older, high-power server part with ECC support and more threads. This is a choice between efficiency and ecosystem, not a choice between a winner and a loser in performance.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD A10-9700E wins all five head-to-head comparisons. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 278 against the Xeon's 276, a 0.7% lead. The remaining four tests, Cinebench R20 multi-core (1160 vs 1154), R20 single-core (163 vs 162), R23 multi-core (2762 vs 2749), and R23 single-core (390 vs 388), all show the AMD part ahead by 0.5% or 0.6%. None of these deltas exceed 1%, meaning the actual compute throughput is nearly identical.

However, the Xeon X5560 wins in a category not measured by these specific Cinebench tests: thread count. With 8 threads versus the A10-9700E's 4, the Xeon has a structural advantage in workloads that scale beyond four threads, even if the Cinebench suite here does not show it. The AMD part wins on power efficiency, with a 35W TDP versus the Xeon's 95W TDP. The A10-9700E also wins on platform modernity, supporting DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, while the Xeon is limited to DDR3 and PCIe Gen 2. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics in the AMD part is another exclusive win, as the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two parts spans nearly a decade of silicon evolution. The AMD A10-9700E is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, using a 28nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Xeon X5560 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Gainestown, on Intel's 45nm process, with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark, the AMD part has over four times as many transistors, yet draws less than half the power.

Cache configurations differ fundamentally. The A10-9700E has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Xeon X5560 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but crucially adds 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part compensates for the lack of L3 with a higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.80 GHz) and higher boost clock (3.50 GHz vs 3.20 GHz). The Xeon counters with simultaneous multithreading (8 threads on 4 cores), which the AMD part lacks.

Memory architecture is another split. The A10-9700E uses dual-channel DDR4 with a rated memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, but no ECC support. The Xeon X5560 uses triple-channel DDR3, with no bandwidth figure in the data, and supports ECC memory. PCIe capabilities also differ: the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon offers Gen 2. The AMD part is a desktop segment product, still listed as Active production, while the Xeon is a server/workstation part marked End-of-life.

The Verdict

The data leads to a clear conclusion for most users: the AMD A10-9700E is the better choice for a general-purpose desktop system. It wins every benchmark, consumes 60W less power (35W vs 95W TDP), supports faster DDR4 memory, and includes integrated graphics that eliminate the need for a separate GPU. The 0.5% to 0.7% performance margins are negligible, but the efficiency and platform advantages are not.

The Intel Xeon X5560 is only preferable in a specific scenario: when you need ECC memory support and have a workload that can exploit its 8 threads. The triple-channel DDR3 memory bus and 8MB of L3 cache are server-oriented features, but the 95W TDP and end-of-life status make it a poor choice for new builds. The Xeon's lack of integrated graphics is a further disadvantage for desktop use.

If you are building a low-power, modern desktop PC with integrated graphics and DDR4 RAM, pick the AMD A10-9700E. If you have a legacy server motherboard with Socket 1366 and need ECC memory or more threads per core, the Xeon X5560 remains functional, but it is a relic. The benchmark data shows no performance reason to choose the Xeon over the AMD part.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD A10-9700E scores 2762 versus the Intel Xeon X5560's 2749, a 0.5% lead for the AMD part.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon X5560 support error-correcting memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon X5560 supports ECC memory. The AMD A10-9700E does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD A10-9700E has integrated graphics (Radeon R7). The Intel Xeon X5560 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The AMD A10-9700E has a TDP of 35W, while the Intel Xeon X5560 has a TDP of 95W. The AMD part uses significantly less power.

Q: How many threads does each CPU have?

A: The AMD A10-9700E has 4 threads, while the Intel Xeon X5560 has 8 threads (4 cores with Hyper-Threading).

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD A10-9700E supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus. The Intel Xeon X5560 supports DDR3 memory with a triple-channel bus.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are remarkably consistent, with the AMD A10-9700E winning all five tests by margins ranging from 0.5% to 0.7%. The largest win is in Cinebench R15 multi-core: AMD scores 278, Intel scores 276, giving the AMD part a 0.7% advantage. This is the only test where the delta exceeds 0.6%.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD A10-9700E scores 1160 against the Xeon's 1154, a 0.5% lead. The single-core R20 test shows a 0.6% advantage (163 vs 162). Cinebench R23 multi-core shows AMD at 2762 versus Intel at 2749, again a 0.5% margin. The R23 single-core test rounds out the set with AMD at 390 and Intel at 388, a 0.5% difference.

The pattern is clear: the AMD A10-9700E is consistently ahead, but never by more than a fraction of a percent. These deltas fall well within normal run-to-run variance for most benchmark software. The practical takeaway is that the two CPUs are performance equals in these Cinebench tests, despite the Xeon having twice the thread count. The AMD part's higher clock speeds (3.00/3.50 GHz vs 2.80/3.20 GHz) appear to offset the Xeon's 8MB of L3 cache and extra threads.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet shows two processors designed for entirely different markets. The AMD A10-9700E is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop chip from the Bristol Ridge family, built on a 28nm GlobalFoundries process with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Xeon X5560 is a 4-core, 8-thread server/workstation chip from the Gainestown family, built on Intel's 45nm process with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die.

Clock speeds favor the AMD part: 3.00 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost versus 2.80 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost for the Xeon. Power consumption heavily favors the AMD part as well, with a 35W TDP against the Xeon's 95W TDP. The AMD chip uses DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon uses DDR3 in a triple-channel configuration with no listed bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon.

Cache hierarchies are fundamentally different. The A10-9700E has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. The Xeon X5560 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics, while the Xeon has none. PCIe support differs: the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Xeon offers Gen 2. The AMD part is Active in production, released in 2017; the Xeon is End-of-life, released in 2009. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier, and both have a 25th percentile ranking against all CPUs.