CPU Comparison

The AMD A12-9800 and Intel Core i5-2310 are two quad-core desktop processors from different eras, yet benchmark results place them in an unusually tight performance band. The data shows the AMD chip wins every recorded head-to-head test, but the margins are so narrow that the Intel part remains a relevant comparison point for specific workloads and platform considerations.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A12-9800 wins all five benchmark comparisons in the dataset, but the scale of those victories is minimal. Its largest edge comes in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where it scores 186 against the i5-2310's 184, a 1.1% difference. Across multi-core tests, the AMD part consistently leads by 0.6% to 0.7%. This means the A12-9800 is the better choice for pure Cinebench rendering performance, though the advantage is effectively negligible for real-world workloads.

The Intel Core i5-2310 does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head data. However, its average benchmark score of 1073 places it within 0.8% of the A12-9800's 1081 average. The i5-2310's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4170T (0.1% ahead) and the AMD Athlon X4 880K (0.1% behind), indicating it sits in a crowded performance tier. For users already on an LGA 1155 platform, the i5-2310 offers comparable compute capability without requiring a motherboard change.

The real differentiator is not raw rendering speed but platform features. The A12-9800 supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes, while the i5-2310 uses DDR3 and offers 16 PCIe lanes. The AMD part also integrates Radeon R7 graphics, which is a stronger iGPU than Intel HD 2000, making it the better choice for builds without a discrete graphics card.

Architecture Differences

The A12-9800 uses AMD's Excavator architecture on the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The i5-2310 is a Sandy Bridge part, Intel's second-generation Core architecture, fabricated on a 32 nm process at Intel with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The process node gap is significant: AMD's 28 nm is less dense than Intel's 32 nm, yet the AMD chip manages a higher clock speed.

Both processors have four cores and four threads, but their cache hierarchies differ fundamentally. The A12-9800 has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. The i5-2310 has 64 KB of L1 per core (256 KB total), 256 KB of L2 per core (1 MB total), and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel part's larger cache pool likely explains why it nearly matches the AMD chip despite a 0.90 GHz base clock deficit.

Memory support is another clear split. The A12-9800 runs DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5-2310 runs DDR3 in dual-channel mode, and the fact pack lists no memory bandwidth figure for it. The AMD part's newer memory standard gives it a theoretical bandwidth advantage, though the benchmark data does not isolate this effect.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the A12-9800 has Radeon R7, while the i5-2310 has Intel HD 2000. Both are entry-level iGPUs, but Radeon R7 is the more capable of the two for light gaming or media playback. The production status also diverges, the A12-9800 is listed as Active, while the i5-2310 is End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the A12-9800 scoring 316 against the i5-2310's 314, a 0.6% win. This is the smallest margin in the dataset. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD part scores 1318 versus 1309, a 0.7% lead. The same 0.7% margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the A12-9800 scores 3140 and the i5-2310 scores 3118.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the A12-9800 scores 186 against 184, a 1.1% win, the largest delta in the entire comparison. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 443 versus 440, another 0.7% lead for the AMD part. Across all five tests, the A12-9800's average advantage is roughly 0.7%, which is within run-to-run variance for most benchmark software.

The practical interpretation is that these two CPUs are performance twins in Cinebench workloads. A score of 3140 versus 3118 in Cinebench R23 multi-core will not translate to a perceptible difference in rendering times or application responsiveness. The i5-2310's 6 MB of L3 cache likely compensates for its lower clock speeds, keeping it competitive despite its older architecture.

Both processors sit at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, reinforcing their parity. The A12-9800's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T, which scores 1082 on average, just 0.1% higher. The i5-2310's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-4170T at 1072, also 0.1% off. These are entry-level desktop parts by modern standards, but they remain adequate for basic productivity and light multi-threaded work.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specification fields:

• Base clock: 3.80 GHz (A12-9800) vs 2.90 GHz (i5-2310)
• Boost clock: 4.20 GHz (A12-9800) vs 3.20 GHz (i5-2310)
• TDP: 65 W (A12-9800) vs 95 W (i5-2310)
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 vs Intel Socket 1155
• Process node: 28 nm (GlobalFoundries) vs 32 nm (Intel)
• Transistors: 3,100 million vs 1,160 million
• Die size: 250 mm² vs 216 mm²
• L1 cache: 320 KB vs 64 KB per core
• L2 cache: 2 MB vs 256 KB per core
• L3 cache: None vs 6 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4 vs DDR3
• Memory bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s vs not listed
• PCIe lanes: 8 lanes vs 16 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Radeon R7 vs Intel HD 2000
• Production status: Active vs End-of-life
• Release date: 2017-07-26 vs 2011-05-21

The A12-9800 has a 0.90 GHz higher base clock and a 1.00 GHz higher boost clock, yet it consumes 30 W less power (65 W TDP vs 95 W). This is a notable efficiency advantage for the AMD part. The i5-2310 counters with a 6 MB L3 cache and twice the PCIe lanes, which matters for systems with multiple expansion cards or high-bandwidth storage.

The release date gap is over six years, with the A12-9800 launching on 2017-07-26 and the i5-2310 on 2011-05-21. Despite this, the newer AMD chip only manages a 0.7% average performance lead, which speaks to how far ahead Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture was for its time.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The AMD A12-9800 wins both single-core tests. It scores 186 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 184 for the i5-2310, and 443 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 440. The margin is 1.1% in R20 and 0.7% in R23.

Q: Do these CPUs support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD A12-9800 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel operation and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-2310 supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, with no bandwidth figure listed in the data.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The AMD A12-9800 features Radeon R7 integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i5-2310 has Intel HD 2000. The Radeon R7 is the more capable iGPU for tasks like light gaming or video playback.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-2310 still in production?

A: No. The i5-2310 is listed as End-of-life, while the AMD A12-9800 is listed as Active production status. This means the AMD part is still available for new builds, whereas the Intel part would be a used or refurbished purchase.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The A12-9800's average benchmark score of 1081 is 0.1% behind the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T (1082) and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-2320 (1083). The i5-2310's score of 1073 is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i3-4170T and AMD Athlon X4 880K, both at 1072.

Q: Which processor uses less power?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-2310 has a 95 W TDP. The AMD part delivers higher clock speeds while drawing 30 W less power.

The Verdict

The benchmark data makes one thing clear: these are functionally equivalent processors for Cinebench workloads. The AMD A12-9800 wins all five tests, but by margins of 0.6% to 1.1%, which no user will notice in practice. Both sit at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 8 points out of roughly 1080.

The choice comes down to platform priorities. Pick the AMD A12-9800 if you want an active-production part with DDR4 memory support, a lower 65 W TDP, and more capable Radeon R7 integrated graphics. It also offers a higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, which can help in lightly threaded tasks despite the similar benchmark scores.

Pick the Intel Core i5-2310 if you are upgrading an existing LGA 1155 system and want to keep your DDR3 memory and motherboard. Its 6 MB L3 cache and 16 PCIe lanes are genuine advantages for cache-sensitive workloads and multi-device configurations. The i5-2310's 95 W TDP is higher, but for a system already in service, that may be an acceptable trade-off.

For a new build, the AMD A12-9800 is the more sensible choice. It is newer, more power-efficient, and supports a modern memory standard. For a drop-in upgrade on an old Sandy Bridge platform, the i5-2310 remains a viable option, though its End-of-life status means you are buying used hardware. The performance gap is too small to justify replacing a working motherboard either way.