AMD A10 PRO-7850B vs Intel Xeon X5470 Comparison

The Intel Xeon X5470 and AMD A10 PRO-7850B are both end-of-life four-core, four-thread processors, but they represent fundamentally different eras and design philosophies. The data places them in a near-identical performance tier, with the Xeon achieving an average benchmark score of 839 and the AMD scoring 828, a difference of roughly 1.3%. Both sit at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they outperform only about a fifth of the processors in the database. Given the near-parity in average scores, the choice between them hinges entirely on platform features, power characteristics, and specific workload strengths rather than raw overall speed.

The Verdict

The data does not declare a single outright winner; instead, it points to two distinct user profiles. For anyone building or upgrading a legacy system where a drop-in server-grade replacement is needed, the Intel Xeon X5470 is the logical pick. Its architecture is older, but its benchmark results show it holding its own against the much newer AMD part in CPU-centric tests, while also offering ECC memory support. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B, conversely, is the choice for a desktop build where the integrated Radeon R7 graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU, and where a lower 95W TDP and a faster 3.70 GHz base clock are more attractive. The Xeon's 120W TDP is 26% higher, a significant gap for systems with limited cooling or power budgets. Ultimately, the data suggests picking the Xeon for a pure compute task on a server platform, and the AMD for a compact, all-in-one desktop solution with a need for graphics output.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results show a clear split in workload types. The Intel Xeon X5470 dominates in multi-threaded rendering tasks. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 245, and in R20 multi-core, it scores 1024. These are the only multi-core scores available for the Xeon, and they demonstrate its strength in sustained, parallel workloads. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B, on the other hand, has no Cinebench results in the data, making a direct comparison in that specific area impossible.

However, the AMD part wins in clock speed and platform features. Its base clock of 3.70 GHz is 11% higher than the Xeon's 3.33 GHz, and it has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, a feature entirely absent from the Xeon. This suggests an advantage in lightly-threaded or single-threaded tasks that rely on raw frequency, though the Xeon's single-core score of 344 in Cinebench R23 is the only direct single-core data point available. The AMD's integrated Radeon R7 graphics is a decisive win for any system requiring display output without a discrete card, a capability the Xeon lacks entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Xeon X5470 is built on the Core 2 architecture with the codename Harpertown, manufactured on a 45 nm process by Intel. It packs 820 million transistors across two dies, each measuring 107 mm², for a total die size of 2x 107 mm². Its cache hierarchy is split: 64 KB of L1 per core and 6 MB of L2 per die, with no L3 cache. It uses the Intel Socket 771 and supports DDR2 and DDR3 memory, with the exact type depending on the motherboard. It also supports ECC memory, a key feature for server reliability.

The AMD A10 PRO-7850B uses the Steamroller architecture under the Kaveri codename. It is a monolithic 245 mm² die built on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries, and it integrates 2,411 million transistors. The cache is a simpler setup: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3. It uses the AMD Socket FM2+ and supports only DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. It lacks ECC support. Crucially, it features integrated Radeon R7 graphics, making it an APU rather than a pure CPU. It also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon X5470 has the only multi-core scores in the data. It scores 245 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 1024 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, indicating strong parallel performance. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has no multi-core scores listed for comparison.

Q: Does the AMD A10 PRO-7850B have a significant advantage in clock speed?

A: Yes. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Xeon X5470 is locked at a 3.33 GHz base clock with no boost capability. This gives the AMD a 0.37 GHz advantage at base and a 0.67 GHz advantage at its maximum boost.

Q: Can I use ECC memory with either of these processors?

A: Only the Intel Xeon X5470 supports ECC memory. The AMD A10 PRO-7850B does not list ECC support in its specifications, making it unsuitable for systems that require error-correcting memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD A10 PRO-7850B has integrated graphics, featuring a Radeon R7 GPU. The Intel Xeon X5470 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete graphics card for any display output.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon X5470 has an average benchmark score of 839, while the AMD A10 PRO-7850B scores 828. This is a difference of 11 points, or about 1.3%, placing them in the same performance tier.

Q: Which processor is more energy-efficient based on the data?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has a lower TDP of 95W compared to the Intel Xeon X5470's 120W. This makes the AMD part more power-efficient on paper, though real-world energy consumption is not detailed in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons are not available in the dataset, so the analysis must rely on the individual scores each processor achieved. The Intel Xeon X5470 shows its strength in the Cinebench suite, which is a standard for rendering performance. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 2440, and its single-core score is 344. The R20 multi-core score is 1024, and the R15 multi-core score is 245. These numbers show a clear scaling pattern, with the multi-core score rising as the workload becomes more demanding across versions.

The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has a different benchmark profile, with results only from Geekbench. It scores 1194 in Geekbench multi-core and 462 in Geekbench single-core. These are different tests than the Cinebench runs, so a direct correlation is not possible. However, the Geekbench single-core score of 462 is higher than the Xeon's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 344, but comparing across different benchmark suites is not a valid measure of performance.

The most telling comparison comes from the average benchmark scores and the nearest rivals data. The Xeon's average of 839 places it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-3380M and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-5200U. The AMD's average of 828 places it 0.9% ahead of the AMD PRO A10-8750B and 1.1% behind the Intel Xeon X3450. Both processors are clustered within a 2% band of their closest competitors, confirming that they are functionally equivalent in overall compute capability. The Xeon's performance profile is clearly geared toward sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the AMD's higher clock speed and integrated GPU suggest a focus on responsiveness and all-in-one functionality.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification except for core and thread count. The Intel Xeon X5470 has a base clock of 3.33 GHz with no boost clock, while the AMD A10 PRO-7850B has a 3.70 GHz base and a 4.00 GHz boost. The Xeon has a TDP of 120W, while the AMD is rated at 95W. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 771, while the AMD uses the AMD Socket FM2+. The process nodes differ significantly: the Xeon is on 45 nm, while the AMD is on 28 nm. The transistor counts are also vastly different, with the Xeon at 820 million and the AMD at 2,411 million.

The cache configurations are distinct, with the Xeon using a per-die design (64 KB L1 per core, 6 MB L2 per die) and the AMD using a unified design (256 KB L1, 4 MB L2). The Xeon supports DDR2 and DDR3 memory, while the AMD only supports DDR3. The AMD has a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Xeon has no such figure listed. ECC support is exclusive to the Xeon. The Xeon is limited to PCIe Gen 2, while the AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The most glaring difference is the integrated graphics: the AMD includes a Radeon R7 GPU, while the Xeon has none. The market segments also differ, with the Xeon classified as a Server/Workstation part and the AMD as a Desktop part. Finally, the release dates are six years apart, with the Xeon launching in September 2008 and the AMD in July 2014, and the Xeon had a launch MSRP of $1386, while the AMD has no listed launch price.