CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2320 and AMD A12-9800 are two desktop processors from different eras and architectures, yet benchmark data places them in nearly the same performance class. The Intel part, a Sandy Bridge quad-core from 2011, and the AMD part, a Bristol Ridge quad-core from 2017, both land at the 30th percentile among all CPUs tested. Their average benchmark scores sit within 2 points of each other, 1083 for the Intel and 1081 for the AMD, making this a comparison defined by small margins rather than decisive victories.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results show a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the Intel Core i5-2320 across all five Cinebench tests. In the multicore Cinebench R15 test, the i5-2320 scores 317 against the A12-9800’s 316, a delta of 0.3%. That is the largest percentage gap in the entire comparison, yet it translates to a single point. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the Intel part scores 1321 versus 1318, a 0.2% lead. The same 0.2% delta appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i5-2320 records 3146 and the A12-9800 records 3140.

Single-core results are essentially identical. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both processors score exactly 186, resulting in a 0% delta. The Intel part is designated the winner, but the scores are equal. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a one-point margin: 444 for the Intel versus 443 for the AMD, again a 0.2% delta. Across all five benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-2320 wins five and the AMD A12-9800 wins none. However, the largest advantage is 0.3%, and the average score gap is only 0.2% in favor of Intel. This is not a case of one part dominating another; it is a statistical tie with a slight tilt.

Looking at the nearest rivals context, the AMD A12-9800’s average score of 1081 is 0.1% behind the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T (1082) and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-2320 (1083). The Intel Core i5-2320’s average of 1083 is exactly tied with the Intel Core i5-3335S (1083) and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-6320 (1085, which is actually higher, meaning the i5-2320 is 0.2% behind that part). Both processors occupy the same performance band, surrounded by the same set of rivals.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i5-2320 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It contains 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD A12-9800 uses the Excavator architecture on a 28 nm node, fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. AMD’s chip has nearly three times the transistor count and a larger die, but that does not translate into a performance advantage in these benchmarks.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The i5-2320 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The A12-9800 has 320 KB of L1 cache total, 2 MB of L2 cache total, and no L3 cache at all. The Intel part’s shared L3 cache likely helps in multitasking and repeated data access, while the AMD part relies entirely on its smaller L2 pool. Memory support also diverges: the i5-2320 supports DDR3 memory, while the A12-9800 supports DDR4 with a rated memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel part has no listed memory bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The i5-2320 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the A12-9800 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has double the PCIe lanes, which could matter for discrete GPU bandwidth in some workloads. Integrated graphics also differ: the i5-2320 includes Intel HD 2000, while the A12-9800 includes Radeon R7. Neither part supports ECC memory. The release dates are far apart, September 2011 for Intel, July 2017 for AMD, yet their compute performance has converged to near-identical levels.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the Intel Core i5-2320 wins every single test, but the margins are so small that the practical implications are limited. In multicore workloads, the i5-2320 leads by 0.2% to 0.3%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, that 0.3% advantage is the largest any processor holds in this matchup. For users running Cinebench-style rendering tasks, the Intel part edges ahead, but the difference of 1 to 6 points out of scores in the hundreds or thousands is within run-to-run variance.

The AMD A12-9800 has no benchmark wins, but the data does not indicate any workload where it loses by a meaningful margin. Its single-core score in Cinebench R20 is exactly equal to the Intel part’s, meaning for lightly threaded tasks, the two processors are effectively interchangeable. The A12-9800’s higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to the i5-2320’s 3.00 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, do not translate into a performance lead in these tests. The Intel part’s architectural efficiency compensates for its lower clocks.

For use-case planning, the data suggests that neither processor offers a clear advantage in any category measured. The i5-2320 wins all five Cinebench tests, so if one must pick a winner for rendering or multi-threaded CPU tasks, the Intel part is the choice. The A12-9800, meanwhile, offers a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 95 watts for the Intel part, which could make it more suitable for power-constrained systems, but that is not a benchmark score.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. Here are the key differences from the FACT PACK:

• Base Clock: Intel Core i5-2320 at 3.00 GHz; AMD A12-9800 at 3.80 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Intel Core i5-2320 at 3.30 GHz; AMD A12-9800 at 4.20 GHz.
• TDP: Intel Core i5-2320 at 95 watts; AMD A12-9800 at 65 watts.
• Socket: Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-2320; AMD Socket AM4 for the A12-9800.
• Process Node: 32 nm for Intel; 28 nm for AMD.
• Transistors: 1,160 million for Intel; 3,100 million for AMD.
• Die Size: 216 mm² for Intel; 250 mm² for AMD.
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core for Intel; 320 KB total for AMD.
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core for Intel; 2 MB total for AMD.
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared for Intel; none for AMD.
• Memory Support: DDR3 for Intel; DDR4 for AMD.
• Memory Bandwidth: Not listed for Intel; 38.4 GB/s for AMD.
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes for Intel; Gen 3, 8 lanes for AMD.
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 2000 for Intel; Radeon R7 for AMD.
• Production Status: End-of-life for Intel; Active for AMD.
• Release Date: September 2011 for Intel; July 2017 for AMD.
• Part Number: SR02L for Intel; AD9800AUABBOXAD9800AUM44AB for AMD.

Both processors have 4 cores and 4 threads, dual-channel memory buses, no ECC support, locked multipliers, and a market segment of Desktop. Neither has a launch MSRP listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-2320 has an average benchmark score of 1083, while the AMD A12-9800 has 1081. The difference is 0.2% in favor of Intel.

Q: How many benchmark tests did the AMD A12-9800 win?

A: The AMD A12-9800 won zero tests. The Intel Core i5-2320 won all five head-to-head Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is 0.3%, seen in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the Intel Core i5-2320 scores 317 and the AMD A12-9800 scores 316.

Q: Do these processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to 3.30 GHz for the Intel Core i5-2320.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the scores are identical?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R20 single-core, both processors score 186, resulting in a 0% delta.

The Verdict

The data presents an unusual case: two processors from different generations, built on different nodes (32 nm versus 28 nm), with vastly different transistor counts (1,160 million versus 3,100 million), and different cache hierarchies, yet they produce nearly identical Cinebench scores. The Intel Core i5-2320 wins all five head-to-head tests, but the margins range from 0% to 0.3%. The average benchmark scores differ by 2 points out of roughly 1080, which is negligible in real-world terms.

For users prioritizing raw CPU compute in Cinebench-style workloads, the Intel Core i5-2320 is the technically superior part, as it holds the win in every measured test. Its 6 MB of shared L3 cache and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide structural advantages that may benefit certain workloads, though those are not directly benchmarked here. The AMD A12-9800, meanwhile, offers a lower TDP of 65 watts, which is 30 watts less than the Intel part, and supports DDR4 memory with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It also has a higher base clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and boost clock (4.20 GHz versus 3.30 GHz), yet those clocks do not yield a performance lead.

The choice between these two comes down to factors outside the benchmark scores. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active. The AMD part uses the AM4 socket, which may offer a more modern platform, but the data does not measure platform features. If the decision is purely based on Cinebench performance, the Intel Core i5-2320 is the winner, but by such a slim margin that the AMD A12-9800 is effectively equivalent. Users who value lower power consumption or DDR4 memory support might lean toward the AMD part, while those who want the slight edge in multicore and single-core scores would choose Intel. Neither processor demonstrates a meaningful performance advantage, so the verdict is a near-tie, with the Intel Core i5-2320 taking the nominal win on benchmark counts.