AMD A10 PRO-7800B vs Intel Core i5-3230M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a split decision between these two processors, with each claiming a victory in one of the two shared benchmark tests. The AMD A10 PRO-7800B takes the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 1055, while the Intel Core i5-3230M posts 1018 in the same test. That translates to a 3.5% advantage for AMD in this particular workload. Meanwhile, the Intel part strikes back decisively in Geekbench singlecore, scoring 505 against AMD's 436, a 15.8% lead.

The magnitude of these deltas is worth examining closely. The multicore gap is modest: AMD's 1055 is only 37 points ahead of Intel's 1018. In practical terms, this suggests the A10 PRO-7800B does offer a measurable edge when all cores are engaged, but it is not a commanding lead. The singlecore picture is quite different. Intel's 505 versus AMD's 436 represents a 69-point spread, a substantial margin that indicates a clear per-thread performance advantage for the Core i5-3230M.

Looking at the broader database context, both processors sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy similar tiers in the overall performance hierarchy. Their average benchmark scores reinforce this: the Intel part averages 754, while the AMD part averages 746. These numbers are remarkably close, and the nearest rival lists confirm the tight grouping. The i5-3230M sits exactly level with the Intel Xeon X5460 at 754, trails the Core i5-4250U by 0.2%, and lags the Xeon E5450 and Core i3-5020U by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively. The A10 PRO-7800B matches the Core i5-4200U at 746, sits 0.1% above the FX-9800P, and trails the Core i5-750 by 0.2% while leading the Xeon E5520 by 0.6%. These delta values are all within a single percentage point, underscoring how closely these parts cluster in the database's performance rankings.

The benchmark results indicate that neither processor dominates across the board. Instead, the data reveals a complementary pattern: AMD wins where thread count and aggregate throughput matter, while Intel wins where single-thread efficiency is paramount. This is a classic tradeoff, and the numbers quantify it clearly. The 15.8% singlecore swing in Intel's favor is more than four times larger than AMD's 3.5% multicore edge, which suggests that the Intel architecture extracts more performance from each individual thread, even though it has fewer physical cores.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the choice between these two processors hinges on workload type rather than overall capability. For applications that scale well across multiple cores, the AMD A10 PRO-7800B holds a measurable advantage. Its Geekbench multicore score of 1055 tops Intel's 1018, and with four physical cores versus Intel's two, the architectural rationale is evident in the numbers. Users running heavily threaded tasks, such as video rendering or scientific simulations, would see the A10 PRO-7800B finish ahead, albeit by a modest 3.5%.

Conversely, the Intel Core i5-3230M is the clear pick for single-threaded performance. Its Geekbench singlecore score of 505 versus AMD's 436 represents a 15.8% advantage, a substantial gap that would manifest in everyday responsiveness, legacy applications, and lightly threaded software. The data shows that Intel's Hyper-Threading implementation, which provides four threads from two cores, does not compensate for the raw single-core deficit of the AMD part.

The average benchmark scores tell a nuanced story. Intel's 754 average edges AMD's 746 by just 8 points, a 1% difference that falls well within the noise of typical benchmark variance. Both processors land at the 20th percentile, and their nearest rivals are separated by fractions of a percentage point. The verdict, strictly from the data, is that these are closely matched parts with different strengths. A user prioritizing multi-threaded throughput should select the A10 PRO-7800B, while a user prioritizing single-thread speed should select the Core i5-3230M. Neither is a universal winner, and the benchmark results do not support a blanket recommendation for one over the other.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-3230M is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, fabricated at 22 nm by Intel, while the AMD A10 PRO-7800B uses the Steamroller architecture, specifically the Kaveri generation, fabricated at 28 nm by GlobalFoundries. This process node difference is significant: Intel's 22 nm process is more advanced than AMD's 28 nm, which partially explains the Intel part's superior single-thread efficiency despite its lower clock speeds.

The core configurations diverge sharply. Intel offers 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, while AMD provides 4 physical cores with 4 threads, no simultaneous multi-threading. The AMD part compensates with higher clocks: 3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost versus Intel's 2.60 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. These clock advantages are substantial, roughly 35% at base and 22% at boost, yet the benchmark data shows AMD only leading by 3.5% in multicore and trailing badly in singlecore. This indicates that the Intel architecture achieves significantly higher instructions per clock, a hallmark of the Ivy Bridge design.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Intel part has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 256 KB L1 total and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The die sizes reflect the complexity gap: Intel's die measures 118 mm², while AMD's is 245 mm² with 2,411 million transistors. AMD's larger die accommodates the integrated Radeon R7 graphics, whereas Intel uses the HD 4000. Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel buses, but the AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, a figure not recorded for Intel. AMD also specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the CPU, while Intel's PCIe configuration is not listed in the database.

The market segments differ: Intel's part is a mobile processor on Socket G2 (988B), while AMD's is a desktop part on Socket FM2+. AMD's production status is listed as end-of-life, and its release date is July 2014, compared to Intel's December 2012. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3230M. Its Geekbench singlecore score is 505, compared to 436 for the AMD A10 PRO-7800B, a 15.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7800B. Its Geekbench multicore score is 1055, while the Intel scores 1018, a 3.5% lead for AMD.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-3230M averages 754, while the AMD A10 PRO-7800B averages 746. The 8-point difference is about 1%, and both sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel uses Hyper-Threading, while the AMD does not.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7800B. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz and boost clock is 3.90 GHz, versus the Intel's 2.60 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i5-3230M and the AMD A10 PRO-7800B list ECC memory support as false.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10 PRO-7800B wins in scenarios that leverage its four physical cores and higher clock speeds. The Geekbench multicore result of 1055 versus 1018 shows that AMD's aggregate throughput is superior, even if the margin is slim. This advantage would be most pronounced in applications like video encoding, 3D rendering, or any workload that distributes threads evenly across cores. AMD's 3.50 GHz base clock and 3.90 GHz boost clock, combined with four integer cores, provide a solid foundation for parallel processing. The presence of Radeon R7 integrated graphics and 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth also positions this part for systems where GPU compute and memory throughput matter.

The Intel Core i5-3230M wins in single-threaded and latency-sensitive scenarios. Its Geekbench singlecore score of 505 versus 436 is the standout statistic, a 15.8% lead that would be noticeable in everyday desktop tasks, legacy software, and applications that resist parallelization. The Ivy Bridge architecture, despite lower clock speeds and fewer physical cores, delivers higher per-core efficiency. The 22 nm process node and 118 mm² die size indicate a more tightly optimized design. For users running office productivity suites, web browsers, or older games that rely on one or two threads, the Intel part would provide a snappier experience. Its mobile form factor on Socket G2 (988B) and 35 W TDP also make it suitable for laptops where power and heat constraints are paramount, though the AMD's 65 W TDP reflects its desktop orientation.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-3230M | AMD A10 PRO-7800B |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket G2 (988B) | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Steamroller (Kaveri) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 245 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 256 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not recorded | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not recorded | End-of-life |

| Release Date | December 2012 | July 2014 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | SR0WY | AD780BYBI44JA |

The table above lists only the fields where the two processors differ. Both support DDR3 memory with dual-channel buses, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP. The specification differences align with the benchmark outcomes: AMD's four cores and higher clocks drive its multicore win, while Intel's more advanced process node and per-core cache design underpin its singlecore dominance. The TDP gap of 30 W reflects the mobile versus desktop positioning, and the die size difference of 127 mm² points to AMD's more complex integrated graphics and larger transistor count.