AMD A10 PRO-7850B vs Intel Core i5-3320M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between these two processors. In the Geekbench multicore test, the AMD A10 PRO-7850B scores 1194 against the Intel Core i5-3320M's 1146. That gives AMD a 4.2% lead in multi-threaded workloads. The Intel part fights back hard in single-core performance, where it posts 589 versus AMD's 462. That is a 21.6% advantage for Intel, a substantial margin that will show up in everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

Looking at the average benchmark score across all recorded tests, the AMD part lands at 828 while Intel sits at 803. That puts AMD roughly 3% higher on average, but the gap is small enough that workload selection matters far more than the aggregate number. Both processors sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same general performance tier despite their different strengths.

The nearest rivals list for each chip reinforces this positioning. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-3360M, which scores 835 on average, a mere 0.8% difference. The AMD PRO A10-8750B is 0.9% behind, and the Intel Xeon E5540 is also 0.9% behind. On the Intel side, the Core i5-3320M trades blows with the AMD A10-7700K at 801 (0.2% gap), the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U at 805 (0.2% gap), and the Intel Xeon E5530 and Pentium Silver J5040, both at 801. These rival scores confirm that neither chip dominates its peer group; they are clustered together in a tight performance band.

The Geekbench single-core result deserves special attention. Intel's 589 score is not just a win, it is a commanding one. The 21.6% delta means that for any workload that cannot use more than one or two threads, the Intel part will feel noticeably quicker. The AMD chip's multicore win is real but modest at 4.2%, so the trade-off is clear: AMD wins threaded tasks by a small margin, Intel wins single-threaded tasks by a very large one.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B scores 1194 in Geekbench multicore versus 1146 for the Intel Core i5-3320M, a 4.2% advantage for AMD.

Q: Which processor wins single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3320M scores 589 in Geekbench single-core compared to the AMD A10 PRO-7850B's 462, giving Intel a 21.6% lead.

Q: How do these chips compare to their closest rivals?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-3360M at 835 average score, just 0.8% higher. The Intel Core i5-3320M's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U at 805 average score, only 0.2% higher.

Q: Do both processors occupy the same performance tier?

A: Yes, both sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are 828 for AMD and 803 for Intel, a difference of about 3%.

Q: Which chip has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3320M has 2 cores and 4 threads. Thread counts are equal, but AMD has twice the physical cores.

Q: What do the benchmark deltas mean for real-world use?

A: The 4.2% multi-core lead for AMD is minor and may not be noticeable. The 21.6% single-core lead for Intel is significant and will be felt in applications that rely on one or two threads.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: choose based on workload, not brand loyalty. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B is the better choice for multi-threaded tasks. It wins the only multi-core benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, and its 4.2% lead, while not huge, is consistent with its 4-core design. The Intel Core i5-3320M is the better choice for single-threaded performance. Its 21.6% advantage in Geekbench single-core is the largest performance gap between these two chips in either direction.

For a desktop user who frequently runs parallel workloads, video encoding, or compilation tasks, the AMD part's extra physical cores give it an edge. For a mobile user, or anyone running older software that scales poorly across cores, the Intel part's single-core strength will deliver snappier performance. The Intel chip also consumes far less power with a 35W TDP versus the AMD part's 95W, which matters for thermals and battery life in portable systems.

Both processors end up around the same average performance level, and both sit at the 22nd percentile in the database. Neither chip is a clear winner overall; they simply excel in different areas. The deciding factor should be the specific applications you run most often. If those applications are single-threaded, the Intel Core i5-3320M is the obvious pick. If they are multi-threaded, the AMD A10 PRO-7850B offers the better result, even if the margin is smaller than the Intel single-core advantage.

Specification Differences

The core counts set these two apart immediately. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3320M has 2 cores and 4 threads. Both support 4 threads total, but AMD does it with physical cores while Intel relies on Hyper-Threading. Clock speeds favor AMD on paper: the A10 PRO-7850B has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The i5-3320M runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The Intel chip does more with fewer clocks per cycle, as the single-core benchmark score of 589 versus 462 demonstrates.

Power consumption is another major difference. The AMD part has a 95W TDP, while the Intel part draws only 35W. That is a 60W gap that affects cooling requirements, chassis selection, and power bills. The AMD chip uses an AMD Socket FM2+ and pairs with the Radeon R7 integrated graphics. The Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1023 and pairs with Intel HD 4000 graphics. Memory support differs too: AMD lists DDR3 with dual-channel support and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel lists only dual-channel memory with no bandwidth figure recorded.

The AMD part is a desktop processor, launched on 2014-07-30, and is marked as end-of-life. The Intel part is a mobile processor, launched earlier on 2012-05-31. The AMD chip has a part number of AD785BXBI44JA, while Intel's is SR0MY. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The AMD part lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel's PCIe configuration is not recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural schools. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B uses the Steamroller architecture under the Kaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. Cache is arranged as 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache present. The Intel Core i5-3320M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel. Its die is 118 mm², and transistor count is not recorded. Intel's cache layout is per-core for L1 and L2 (64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively) with a shared 3 MB L3 cache.

The process node difference is significant: Intel's 22 nm process is denser than AMD's 28 nm, which helps explain the much smaller die size and lower power draw. The cache topology also tells a story. AMD relies on a large 4 MB L2 and no L3, while Intel uses smaller per-core L1 and L2 caches but adds a 3 MB shared L3. For workloads that fit in L3, Intel gets a latency advantage; for workloads that stream through L2, AMD's larger pool may help.

The memory bandwidth figure for AMD is 34.1 GB/s on DDR3 dual-channel. Intel's memory bandwidth is not recorded, but its dual-channel memory bus is confirmed. Both chips integrate graphics, with AMD using Radeon R7 and Intel using HD 4000. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is limited on both sides. The AMD part is fabricated by GlobalFoundries, Intel by its own fabs, and both are now older designs: AMD's release date is 2014-07-30, Intel's is 2012-05-31.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10 PRO-7850B wins in multi-threaded workloads. The Geekbench multicore result of 1194 versus 1146 gives it a 4.2% edge, which is modest but consistent. The 4-core, 4-thread design with 4 MB of L2 cache suits tasks that can parallelize across physical cores. Desktop users running video transcoding, 3D rendering, or software compilation will see the AMD part pull slightly ahead. The higher base and boost clocks (3.70 GHz and 4.00 GHz versus 2.60 GHz and 3.30 GHz) also help in sustained multi-threaded loads.

The Intel Core i5-3320M wins decisively in single-threaded performance. The Geekbench single-core score of 589 versus 462 is a 21.6% advantage, the largest margin in any head-to-head test. This matters for operating system responsiveness, web browsing, office applications, and older games that rely on one or two fast cores. The 3 MB shared L3 cache and the efficiency of the Ivy Bridge architecture at lower clock speeds make the Intel part feel quicker in everyday use despite its lower clock numbers.

The Intel chip also wins on power efficiency. Its 35W TDP versus AMD's 95W makes it suitable for thin laptops and compact systems where heat and battery life are priorities. The AMD part, as a desktop chip, has more room for cooling and does not face the same constraints. For a user choosing between these two, the decision is straightforward: pick the AMD A10 PRO-7850B for parallel compute tasks, pick the Intel Core i5-3320M for single-threaded speed and low power draw. The benchmark data does not support a universal winner, only a workload-dependent one.