CPU Comparison

The AMD A10 PRO-7850B and Intel Xeon E5540 are two very different processors from different eras, yet their average benchmark scores place them nearly dead-even. The A10 PRO-7850B averages 828 points, while the Xeon E5540 averages 820 points, a margin of only 0.9% in favor of the AMD chip. Both sit at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are firmly in the entry-level performance tier by modern standards. The Xeon E5540’s nearest rival is the AMD PRO A10-8750B, which scores 821 points (a -0.1% delta), while the A10 PRO-7850B’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-3360M at 835 points (a -0.8% delta). The data shows two chips that trade blows, but the nature of their performance is entirely different.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking difference in the benchmark data is the absence of shared test results. The A10 PRO-7850B has only Geekbench scores: 1,194 in multi-core and 462 in single-core. The Xeon E5540 has Cinebench results instead: 240 in R15 multi-core, 1,001 in R20 multi-core, 141 in R20 single-core, 2,384 in R23 multi-core, and 336 in R23 single-core. Because no test appears on both processors, a direct apples-to-apples comparison is impossible from the available data. The head-to-head benchmark list is empty, with zero wins recorded for either side.

That said, the average benchmark score is the only common metric. At 828 versus 820, the AMD chip leads by 8 points, or roughly 1%. This is within the margin of error, but it points to the A10 PRO-7850B having a slight edge in overall aggregated performance. The Xeon E5540’s nearest rival list shows it trading blows with low-power mobile chips like the Intel Core i5-L16G7 (816 points, 0.5% delta) and the Intel Core i7-5550U (813 points, 0.9% delta), suggesting its performance profile is closer to efficient ultrabooks than to modern desktop parts. The A10 PRO-7850B, by contrast, sits near the AMD PRO A10-8750B (821 points, 0.9% delta) and the Intel Xeon X3450 (837 points, -1.1% delta), a server chip with similar heritage.

The Xeon E5540’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2,384 is its strongest result, roughly 7x its single-core score of 336. That scaling indicates the eight threads are being utilized effectively in heavily threaded workloads. The A10 PRO-7850B, with only four threads, shows a Geekbench multi-core score of 1,194 versus 462 single-core, a ratio of about 2.6x, which is typical for a quad-core part with no SMT. This suggests the Xeon handles parallel tasks proportionally better than the AMD chip handles single-threaded tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The A10 PRO-7850B wins on raw clock speed and integrated graphics. With a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost of 4.00 GHz, it far outpaces the Xeon E5540’s 2.53 GHz base and 2.80 GHz boost. For single-threaded responsiveness, the Geekbench single-core score of 462, while not directly comparable to the Xeon’s Cinebench numbers, indicates strong per-core performance for its era. The integrated Radeon R7 GPU is a decisive advantage: the Xeon E5540 has no integrated graphics at all, meaning the AMD chip can run a display output without a discrete GPU, making it a viable platform for basic office builds or media-center PCs. The A10 also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, whereas the Xeon is limited to PCIe Gen 2, which matters for modern GPU bandwidth.

The Xeon E5540 wins on thread count and memory capabilities. It has 8 threads versus the A10’s 4, which is why its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1,001 and R23 score of 2,384 are respectable for a chip from 2009. The Xeon supports triple-channel DDR3 memory, offering a wider memory bus, though its 25.6 GB/s bandwidth is actually lower than the A10’s 34.1 GB/s due to the AMD chip’s higher clocked memory support. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the A10 does not, making it a candidate for error-correcting workloads like file servers or long-running computation tasks. Its TDP is 80W versus 95W for the AMD chip, meaning it draws less power under load despite being an older architecture.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has an average score of 828, which is 0.9% higher than the Intel Xeon E5540’s 820 points, according to the nearestRivals data.

Q: Does the Xeon E5540 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5540 supports ECC memory, while the AMD A10 PRO-7850B does not. This is a key differentiator for server or workstation use.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD A10 PRO-7850B has integrated graphics, in the form of a Radeon R7 GPU. The Intel Xeon E5540 has no integrated graphics unit at all.

Q: How do their thread counts differ?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has 4 threads across 4 cores, while the Intel Xeon E5540 has 8 threads across 4 cores, thanks to Hyper-Threading.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5540 has a base clock of 2.53 GHz and a boost clock of 2.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B is built on a 28 nm process, while the Intel Xeon E5540 uses a 45 nm process.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge sharply on nearly every specification except core count and socket market segment. Both have 4 physical cores, but the AMD A10 PRO-7850B has 4 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5540 has 8 threads. Clock speeds favor AMD dramatically: 3.70 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost versus 2.53 GHz and 2.80 GHz for Intel. TDP is lower on the Xeon at 80W versus 95W for the A10. The AMD chip uses the FM2+ socket, while the Xeon uses Socket 1366. Memory support differs in channel count: the A10 uses dual-channel DDR3 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon uses triple-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory; the Xeon does. PCIe connectivity also differs: the A10 has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon has PCIe Gen 2. The A10 has integrated Radeon R7 graphics, while the Xeon has none. Cache configurations are completely different as well: the A10 has 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3, while the Xeon has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Release dates are five years apart, with the A10 launched in 2014 and the Xeon in 2009. The Xeon carried a launch MSRP of $774, while the A10 has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips reflects a half-decade of silicon evolution. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B uses the Steamroller architecture on the Kaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors into a 245 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5540 uses the Nehalem architecture on the Gainestown codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel, with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The transistor density difference is stark: the AMD chip fits over three times as many transistors into a smaller physical area. The A10’s cache hierarchy is simpler, with a unified 4 MB L2 and no L3 cache, whereas the Xeon has per-core L1 and L2 caches plus a shared 8 MB L3. The AMD chip’s integrated memory controller supports dual-channel DDR3, while the Xeon’s supports triple-channel. Both are end-of-life products, but the A10’s 28 nm process is far more advanced than the Xeon’s 45 nm process, leading to better power efficiency per transistor despite the higher TDP. The Xeon’s lack of integrated graphics is a hallmark of server-class silicon from that era, whereas the A10’s Radeon R7 GPU represents AMD’s attempt to fuse decent CPU and GPU performance onto a single die.

The Verdict

The data suggests two distinct buyers. Pick the AMD A10 PRO-7850B if you need a functional all-in-one chip for a basic desktop. It has the higher average benchmark score (828 vs 820), much higher clocks (4.00 GHz boost vs 2.80 GHz boost), integrated Radeon R7 graphics for display output without a GPU, and faster memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s). Its PCIe Gen 3 support also makes it more modern for GPU connectivity. The A10 is the better choice for a simple office PC, a HTPC, or any build where adding a discrete GPU is wasteful.

Pick the Intel Xeon E5540 if your workload is heavily threaded and benefits from ECC memory. Its 8 threads versus 4 give it a structural advantage in parallel tasks, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2,384. It supports ECC memory, which the A10 cannot, making it relevant for data integrity in file servers or long-running compute jobs. Its lower TDP of 80W is also a plus for dense or power-sensitive environments. However, its PCIe Gen 2 interface and lack of integrated graphics make it a less flexible platform for modern consumer tasks. The Xeon’s launch MSRP of $774 indicates it was once a premium server part, but its 2009 release date and 45 nm process mean it is now a legacy component. Both chips sit at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a performance champion today. Choose the A10 for general-purpose desktop use; choose the Xeon for specific server-like duties where ECC and thread count matter more than clocks or graphics.