AMD A12-9800 vs Intel Pentium Gold G5400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, albeit narrow, victory for the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 across every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The AMD A12-9800 does not win a single test. The largest margin of victory for the Intel part is a 1% lead in Cinebench R20 multicore, where it scores 1331 against the AMD's 1318. The same 1% delta appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, with the Intel scoring 3171 versus 3140.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium Gold G5400 posts 187 points, just 0.5% ahead of the A12-9800's 186. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a 0.9% lead, with the Intel at 447 and the AMD at 443. The oldest test in the set, Cinebench R15 multicore, gives the Intel a 0.9% edge (319 versus 316).

These are the smallest possible margins. When average benchmark scores are considered, the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 records 1091, while the AMD A12-9800 records 1081. That works out to a roughly 0.9% gap in the aggregate. The database places both chips at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier.

For context, the Pentium Gold G5400's average score of 1091 ties it exactly with the Intel Core i5-3475S, and it sits within 0.2% of the AMD Athlon 220GE (1088). The A12-9800's 1081 average is nearly matched by the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T at 1082, a 0.1% difference. The AMD also lands within 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-4440S (1078). In short, the two CPUs are so close that external cooling, motherboard quality, or memory configuration could easily flip any individual run, but the recorded data consistently favors the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The most significant architectural split is node size and transistor density. The Intel Pentium Gold G5400 is built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the AMD A12-9800 uses GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process. This translates directly into die area: the Intel chip measures 126 mm², while the AMD chip is nearly double at 250 mm². The AMD part contains 3,100 million transistors, while the Intel's transistor count is not recorded.

Core topology differs as well. The Intel chip has 2 physical cores with hyper-threading, giving 4 threads. The AMD also has 4 threads, but from 4 physical cores with no simultaneous multithreading. Base clocks are close (3.70 GHz Intel vs 3.80 GHz AMD), but the AMD adds a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the Intel has no boost capability at all. This means the AMD's single-thread ceiling is higher in theory, yet the benchmark data shows the Intel winning single-core tests anyway.

Cache hierarchies are completely different. The Intel allocates 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The AMD uses a unified 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 with no L3 cache at all. The lack of L3 on the AMD is a notable handicap in workloads that benefit from shared data.

Memory support is identical on paper: both support DDR4 and run dual-channel with a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported on either. PCIe connectivity differs, though: the Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD offers only 8 lanes. For systems with multiple GPUs or high-bandwidth storage, the Intel has the advantage.

Integrated graphics are a major differentiator. The Intel uses UHD Graphics 610, a basic solution. The AMD pairs its CPU with a Radeon R7 iGPU, which in this context is a significantly more capable graphics engine. The AMD's iGPU advantage is not captured in the Cinebench CPU tests but is a real feature for fanless or low-profile builds.

Production status and release timing differ. The Intel is marked end-of-life with a release date of April 2018, while the AMD is still listed as active, despite launching in July 2017. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $64, which is the only price datum in the pack. The AMD's launch MSRP is not recorded.

Where Each One Wins

Based on recorded data, the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 wins every single benchmark in this comparison. There is no test where the AMD A12-9800 comes out ahead. That means for pure CPU rendering workloads, such as Cinebench multi-core and single-core, the Intel is the consistent choice. The margins are 0.5% to 1%, which might be within noise, but the direction is uniform across all five tests.

The Intel's win pattern makes sense from a microarchitecture standpoint, even though the AMD has more physical cores and a higher base clock. The Intel's shared 4 MB L3 cache and 14nm process likely mitigate the AMD's core count advantage. The Intel also has a higher average benchmark score (1091 vs 1081) and a higher percentile rank, though both sit at the 30th percentile.

The AMD A12-9800 does have a clear use case outside the CPU benchmark suite. Its Radeon R7 integrated graphics are a major step up from Intel's UHD Graphics 610. For a system without a discrete GPU, the AMD will handle light gaming and hardware-accelerated video playback far better. However, the database does not contain any iGPU benchmark scores, so this is a qualitative observation based solely on the architecture naming.

In terms of platform, the AMD uses Socket AM4 with only 8 PCIe lanes, whereas the Intel uses Socket 1151 with 16 lanes. If the user plans to install a discrete GPU plus a second NVMe drive, the Intel's lane count is more accommodating. The AMD's 28nm node also means higher power draw (65 W TDP versus 58 W for Intel), though the pack does not include thermal testing data.

For overclocking, neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so that is not a deciding factor. For production use, the Intel is end-of-life while the AMD is still active, which might matter for long-term availability.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core score?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G5400 has the higher multi-core score in all three recorded tests: Cinebench R15 (319 vs 316), R20 (1331 vs 1318), and R23 (3171 vs 3140).

Q: Does the AMD A12-9800 win any benchmark tests?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 5 wins for the Intel Pentium Gold G5400 and 0 wins for the AMD A12-9800.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two?

A: The AMD has a higher base clock (3.80 GHz) and adds a 4.20 GHz boost clock. The Intel runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz with no boost, yet still wins the single-core benchmarks.

Q: Which chip has a larger cache?

A: The Intel has a 4 MB shared L3 cache in addition to per-core L1 and L2. The AMD has no L3 cache at all, only a 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2.

Q: Are they the same performance class?

A: Yes, both sit at the 30th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel's average score is 1091, and the AMD's is 1081, a difference of less than 1%. Their nearest rivals overlap: the Intel ties the i5-3475S at 1091, while the AMD is essentially tied with the Pentium Gold G6505T at 1082.

Q: Which has a larger die size?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has a 250 mm² die, nearly twice the Intel's 126 mm². The AMD also lists 3,100 million transistors, while the Intel's transistor count is not recorded.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Pentium Gold G5400 | AMD A12-9800 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 58 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Excavator |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Bristol Ridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 250 mm² |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 3,100 million |

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

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

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

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 610 | Radeon R7 |

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

| Release Date | April 2018 | July 2017 |

| Launch MSRP | $64 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | SR3X9 | AD9800AUABBOXAD9800AUM44AB |