AMD A12-9800 vs Intel Pentium Gold G6505 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 wins every multi-core benchmark in the head-to-head data. It scores 374 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 316 for the AMD A12-9800, and 3,715 in Cinebench R23 multicore versus 3,140. The Intel chip leads by 15.5% in all multi-core tests.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The Pentium Gold G6505 dominates single-core workloads. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 220 versus 186 for the A12-9800. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 524 versus 443 — a consistent 15.5% advantage across every single-core test listed.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite having half the physical cores, the Intel chip outperforms the AMD part in all benchmark comparisons.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 runs at a 4.20 GHz base clock. The AMD A12-9800 has a 3.80 GHz base clock but offers a 4.20 GHz boost clock, whereas the Intel part lists no boost clock in the data.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has an average benchmark score of 1,081. The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 has an average benchmark score of 1,074. Both sit at the 30th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the AMD A12-9800 and the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 have ECC memory support marked as false. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. Across five head-to-head Cinebench tests — covering both single-core and multi-core workloads — the Intel chip wins all five, with a uniform 15.5% performance advantage. The AMD A12-9800 records zero wins.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance, the choice is clear. The Pentium Gold G6505 delivers higher scores in every workload category, from Cinebench R15 multicore (374 vs 316) to Cinebench R23 single-core (524 vs 443). The Intel part achieves this despite having only 2 physical cores, relying on its higher 4.20 GHz base clock and newer Comet Lake architecture.

The AMD A12-9800 is not without merit. It offers 4 physical cores, a 4.20 GHz boost clock, and a larger 2 MB L2 cache. However, benchmark results indicate these advantages do not translate into performance wins. The AMD chip’s average benchmark score of 1,081 is actually slightly higher than the Intel’s 1,074, but this is misleading — the head-to-head data shows the Intel part winning by 15.5% in every direct comparison.

Buyers should select the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 for any application where Cinebench-style rendering or single-threaded responsiveness matters. The AMD A12-9800 may still be relevant for users who specifically need the AMD Socket AM4 platform or the Radeon R7 integrated graphics, but the performance data does not favor it.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results form a perfect sweep for Intel. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Pentium Gold G6505 scores 374 against the A12-9800’s 316, a 15.5% margin. This pattern repeats exactly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel scores 1,560 versus AMD’s 1,318 — again a 15.5% delta.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, Intel leads 220 to 186. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 524 versus 443. The consistency is notable: every single benchmark, regardless of workload type or generation of the Cinebench test, shows the exact same 15.5% performance gap.

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Intel chip scores 3,715 versus 3,140 for AMD. This is a 575-point absolute difference, the largest raw margin in the data set. The Intel part achieves this with only 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD chip uses 4 cores and 4 threads.

The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a 242-point difference (1,560 vs 1,318), and the R15 multicore test shows a 58-point difference (374 vs 316). The single-core margins are smaller in absolute terms but proportionally identical: 34 points in R20 (220 vs 186) and 81 points in R23 (524 vs 443).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ significantly in their core configurations. The AMD A12-9800 uses 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 uses 2 cores and 4 threads. Both support hyper-threading-equivalent thread counts, but AMD’s physical core advantage does not help in benchmarks.

Clock speeds favor Intel. The Pentium Gold G6505 has a 4.20 GHz base clock with no boost clock listed. The AMD A12-9800 has a 3.80 GHz base clock and a 4.20 GHz boost clock. This means Intel’s sustained clock matches AMD’s maximum boost clock.

Thermal design power differs by 7 watts: the AMD chip has a 65W TDP, while the Intel chip has a 58W TDP. Sockets are incompatible — AMD uses Socket AM4, while Intel uses Socket 1200. Memory bandwidth favors Intel at 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for AMD, though both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode.

PCIe lanes also differ: the AMD chip provides 8 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel chip provides 16 Gen 3 lanes. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $75. Manufacture dates are far apart: the AMD A12-9800 released in July 2017, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 released in March 2021.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap explains the benchmark results. The AMD A12-9800 uses the Excavator architecture on a 28 nm process node, built by GlobalFoundries with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The codename is Bristol Ridge, representing the A12 generation.

The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. Its codename is Comet Lake-R, and it belongs to the Pentium Gold generation. No transistor count or die size is listed for the Intel part.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD chip has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Intel part’s L3 cache provides a significant advantage for data reuse.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD A12-9800 includes Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 includes UHD Graphics 630. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 wins everywhere that performance is measured. It takes all five head-to-head benchmarks, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three generations of Cinebench tests. The 15.5% advantage is uniform, meaning Intel wins by the same proportion regardless of whether the workload is lightly threaded or fully threaded.

The AMD A12-9800 wins no benchmark comparisons in the data set. Its only relative advantage is in the average benchmark score — 1,081 versus 1,074 for Intel — but this aggregate figure includes data beyond the direct head-to-head tests. In direct comparisons, AMD trails consistently.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Intel chip is the clear choice. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 3,715 outperforms AMD’s 3,140 by a wide margin. For single-threaded tasks like legacy applications or lightly threaded games, Intel’s 524 in Cinebench R23 single-core beats AMD’s 443.

The AMD A12-9800 may still be selected for its 4 physical cores, which could theoretically benefit workloads that scale with core count rather than per-core speed. However, the benchmark data shows no such benefit — Intel’s 2-core chip beats AMD’s 4-core chip in every multi-core test. Users on the AMD Socket AM4 platform or those needing Radeon R7 integrated graphics may prefer the A12-9800, but the performance verdict is entirely in favor of the Intel Pentium Gold G6505.