AMD A12-9800 vs Intel Core i7-4600M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split between these two processors is decisive: the AMD A12-9800 wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-4600M records zero wins. This does not mean the Intel part is without merit, but its strengths lie outside the Cinebench suite that dominates this database's measurements.

Looking at the workload distribution, the AMD A12-9800 wins every multi-core test by a consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 316 against 275 for the Intel, a 14.9% advantage. That same 14.9% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1318 versus 1147) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (3140 versus 2732). The consistency of that gap across three different Cinebench versions suggests a stable architectural advantage in threaded workloads, not a test-specific anomaly.

Single-core results tell a similar story. The AMD part leads by 15.5% in Cinebench R20 single-core (186 versus 161) and by 15.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (443 versus 385). The single-core margins are actually slightly larger than the multi-core deltas, which is noteworthy given that the Intel chip has a higher clock-per-thread expectation from its dual-core design with Hyper-Threading.

The Intel Core i7-4600M does have one data point the AMD chip lacks: Geekbench results. It scores 1930 multi-core and 1018 single-core on that platform. However, without a corresponding Geekbench score for the AMD A12-9800, those numbers cannot be compared directly in this database. The recorded data simply does not include a Geekbench run for the AMD part.

In terms of overall positioning, both processors sit at the 30th percentile against all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close: 1081 for the AMD, 1093 for the Intel. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Core i7-4610M (1094, a 0.1% gap) and the Core i7-10510Y (1092, also a 0.1% gap). The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Pentium Gold G6505T (1082, a 0.1% difference) and the Core i5-3335S (1083, also 0.1% off). So while the head-to-head Cinebench results favor AMD decisively, the broader average-score picture places them in the same performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD A12-9800 is a desktop part built on Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, manufactured on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-4600M is a mobile processor using Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 960 million transistors on a 131 mm² die.

Core counts differ sharply. The AMD chip has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip has 2 physical cores but 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. Despite having half the physical cores, the Intel part manages to stay within 15% of the AMD chip in multi-core Cinebench tests, which speaks to the efficiency of the Haswell architecture and its higher per-core throughput.

Clock speeds favor the AMD part on paper. The A12-9800 runs at a 3.80 GHz base and boosts to 4.20 GHz. The i7-4600M runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. However, the Intel chip's 37 W TDP versus the AMD chip's 65 W TDP shows that the mobile part achieves its performance at a much lower power envelope. That power difference is partly explained by the process node advantage: 22 nm for Intel versus 28 nm for AMD.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD chip has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The presence of L3 cache on the Intel part is a significant architectural distinction, as it allows for more efficient data sharing between the two cores.

Memory support also differs. The AMD A12-9800 uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel i7-4600M uses DDR3, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The AMD part's memory bandwidth advantage of roughly 50% is notable, though it does not translate into a proportional benchmark advantage.

Other differences include PCIe lane counts: the AMD chip provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Both have integrated graphics, with the AMD featuring Radeon R7 and the Intel featuring HD 4600. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD A12-9800 scores 316 against the Intel i7-4600M's 275, a 14.9% margin. The same 14.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the scores are 1318 and 1147 respectively. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 3140 versus 2732, again a 14.9% difference.

Single-core tests show slightly larger gaps. Cinebench R20 single-core gives the AMD chip 186 points against 161 for the Intel, a 15.5% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 443 versus 385, a 15.1% advantage. The near-identical margins across all five tests suggest a consistent per-clock performance difference rather than a workload-specific effect.

For context, the AMD chip's 15.1% to 15.5% single-core advantage means it is delivering roughly the same percentage lead in lightly threaded tasks as it does in fully threaded tasks. This is somewhat surprising for a 4-core desktop part against a 2-core mobile part, as one might expect the multi-core tests to show a larger gap given the 2x core count difference. The fact that the margins are uniform suggests the Intel architecture's higher IPC (instructions per clock) is partially compensating for its core deficit.

The Geekbench scores for the Intel chip (1930 multi-core, 1018 single-core) cannot be compared to the AMD chip since no Geekbench data exists for the A12-9800 in this database. However, they do provide a reference point for where the Intel part sits in other benchmark suites.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench workloads: the AMD A12-9800. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons with margins between 14.9% and 15.5%. For users running Cinebench-based rendering or similar CPU-bound tasks, the AMD chip delivers measurably higher performance.

However, the Intel Core i7-4600M has its own profile. It achieves 92.9% of the AMD chip's multi-core score in Cinebench R23 (2732 versus 3140) while drawing only 37 W compared to 65 W. For mobile or power-constrained environments, that efficiency advantage is substantial. The Intel part is also the only one with L3 cache (4 MB shared), which may benefit certain latency-sensitive workloads not captured in the Cinebench suite.

The database shows both chips at the 30th percentile overall, with average scores within 1.1% of each other (1081 versus 1093). This suggests that in a broader benchmark context, the two are closely matched despite the Cinebench-specific AMD advantage.

For a desktop user prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the AMD A12-9800 is the better choice based on recorded data. For a mobile user or someone prioritizing power efficiency, the Intel i7-4600M offers comparable average performance at nearly half the TDP. The Intel part's end-of-life production status and 2013 release date versus the AMD part's active status and 2017 release date may also factor into purchasing decisions, though the database does not quantify longevity.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD A12-9800 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 316 versus 275 in R15, 1318 versus 1147 in R20, and 3140 versus 2732 in R23. Each margin is exactly 14.9%.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The AMD A12-9800 leads in both recorded single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 186 against 161 (15.5% ahead). In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 443 against 385 (15.1% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel chip have any benchmark advantage?

A: In the head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, no. The Intel Core i7-4600M wins zero of five tests. However, it has Geekbench scores (1930 multi-core, 1018 single-core) that the AMD chip does not have in this database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-4600M has 2 cores and 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double its thread count.

Q: How do their power requirements differ?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has a TDP of 65 W, while the Intel Core i7-4600M has a TDP of 37 W. The Intel chip is a mobile processor, while the AMD chip is a desktop part.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The AMD A12-9800 supports DDR4 with dual-channel operation and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-4600M supports DDR3, also dual-channel, with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A12-9800 | Intel Core i7-4600M |

|---|---|---|

| Manufacturer | AMD | Intel |

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 37 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket G3 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Haswell |

| Codename | Bristol Ridge | Haswell |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 960 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 131 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | None | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-07-26 | 2013-08-31 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $346 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| ECC Memory | No | No |