AMD A12-9800 vs Intel Processor N95 Comparison

The Verdict

The data separates these two CPUs into very different roles. The AMD A12-9800 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, built on the older Excavator architecture, and it wins in one benchmark: Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 3140 against the Intel Processor N95’s 2769, a 13.4% lead. That makes it the pick for sustained multi-threaded desktop workloads where power draw is not the primary concern.

The Intel Processor N95 is the opposite: a 15 W mobile chip with Gracemont cores. It wins two benchmarks, including Cinebench R23 single-core with a massive 914 versus 443, a 51.5% advantage, and Cinebench R15 multi-core with 445 versus 316, a 29% lead. This is the chip for single-thread responsiveness, light multitasking, and any scenario where low power consumption and modern IPC matter more than raw multi-core throughput.

If you are building or upgrading a desktop PC with an AM4 socket and need the best multi-core score in the database, the A12-9800 is the logical choice. If you are choosing a chip for a compact, low-power, or mobile system where single-core speed and efficiency dominate, the N95 is the clear winner. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1081 for AMD, 1070 for Intel), but the distribution of wins tells the real story: Intel wins on efficiency and single-thread, AMD wins on multi-core in the newer R23 test.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Processor N95. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 914 versus the AMD A12-9800’s 443, a 51.5% advantage.

Q: Which CPU wins in multi-core performance?

A: It depends on the test. The AMD A12-9800 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 3140 versus 2769 (13.4% ahead). However, the Intel Processor N95 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 445 versus 316 (29% ahead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has an average benchmark score of 1081, while the Intel Processor N95 scores 1070. The difference is about 1%, so they are statistically near-identical overall.

Q: What are the power consumption figures?

A: The AMD A12-9800 has a TDP of 65 W, while the Intel Processor N95 has a TDP of 15 W. The Intel chip draws significantly less power.

Q: Which CPU has the better integrated graphics?

A: The AMD A12-9800 features Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Processor N95 features UHD Graphics 710. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores, so a direct performance comparison cannot be made from this data.

Q: What is the difference in memory channels?

A: The AMD A12-9800 supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Processor N95 supports single-channel memory, also with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A12-9800 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It is a desktop-class design with 4 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The die size is 250 mm² with 3,100 million transistors. Its cache layout includes 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. This is an older microarchitecture that focuses on raw clock speed over IPC efficiency.

The Intel Processor N95 uses the Gracemont architecture, part of the Alder Lake-N generation, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. It also has 4 cores and 4 threads, but its base clock is listed as 100.00 (likely a nominal value; the boost clock is 3.40 GHz). The cache structure is different: 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. Gracemont is a modern efficiency-focused core design, which explains its massive single-core advantage in the benchmarks.

The transistor count and die size for the N95 are not recorded in the database, so a direct comparison on those metrics is not possible. However, the process node difference (28 nm versus 10 nm) is stark and explains the power and efficiency gap. The A12-9800 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, while the N95 is a mobile part rated at 15 W, a four-fold difference in thermal design power.

Both support DDR4 memory, but the N95 also supports DDR5, while the A12-9800 is limited to DDR4. The AMD part uses dual-channel memory, the Intel part uses single-channel, yet both achieve the same memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe support differs: the A12-9800 has Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the N95 has Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specification fields:

• Base clock: AMD A12-9800 at 3.80 GHz, Intel Processor N95 at 100.00 (nominal, with a 3.40 GHz boost).
• Boost clock: AMD at 4.20 GHz, Intel at 3.40 GHz.
• TDP: AMD at 65 W, Intel at 15 W.
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel BGA 1264.
• Architecture: Excavator versus Gracemont.
• Process node: 28 nm versus 10 nm.
• Cache: AMD has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, no L3. Intel has 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB shared L2, and 6 MB shared L3.
• Memory support: AMD only DDR4, Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5.
• Memory bus: AMD dual-channel, Intel single-channel.
• Integrated graphics: Radeon R7 versus UHD Graphics 710.
• Market segment: Desktop versus Mobile.
• Release date: 2017-07-26 versus 2023-01-02.
• PCIe lanes: AMD 8 lanes, Intel 9 lanes.

The transistor count and die size are only recorded for the AMD part (3,100 million and 250 mm²); the Intel fields are null. The AMD part has a part number listed, the Intel does not. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a split verdict based on the test generation.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Processor N95 wins clearly with 445 points against the AMD A12-9800’s 316. That is a 29% delta, meaning the Intel chip is nearly a third faster in this older multi-threaded test. This is a significant margin and suggests the Gracemont cores handle the R15 workload more efficiently despite a lower boost clock.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the tables turn. The AMD A12-9800 scores 3140, while the Intel Processor N95 scores 2769. The delta is 13.4% in favor of AMD. This is notable because R23 is a heavier, more sustained workload, and the AMD chip’s higher base and boost clocks (3.80/4.20 GHz versus 100.00/3.40 GHz) appear to give it an advantage when the test runs long enough. The 65 W TDP allows the AMD part to maintain higher clocks under load.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Processor N95 dominates with 914 points versus 443 for the AMD. The delta is -51.5%, meaning the Intel chip is more than twice as fast in single-threaded performance. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison and reflects the fundamental IPC advantage of the Gracemont architecture over Excavator. For any application that relies on a single thread, the N95 is the superior choice by a wide margin.

Overall, the Intel wins 2 out of 3 head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD wins only the R23 multi-core test. The average benchmark scores are close (1081 versus 1070), but the per-test breakdown shows that the Intel chip is more consistent across different workload types.

The percentile rankings are also telling: the AMD sits at the 30th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel at the 29th. They are nearly identical in overall standing, which reinforces the idea that these are budget-tier parts with similar aggregate performance, just with very different strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A12-9800 is the winner for multi-core rendering in the Cinebench R23 workload. If you are running a desktop application that stresses all four cores for a prolonged period, the 13.4% lead over the N95 is meaningful. The 65 W TDP and dual-channel memory support also make it a better fit for a traditional desktop build where power draw is not a constraint. The AM4 socket gives it upgrade potential, and the older architecture is compensated by higher clock speeds.

The Intel Processor N95 is the winner for single-core tasks and older multi-threaded benchmarks. The 51.5% single-core advantage is decisive for everyday responsiveness: web browsing, office work, and applications that are not heavily multi-threaded. The 29% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core also shows that for lighter multi-threaded loads, the N95 is faster. The 15 W TDP makes it ideal for laptops, mini PCs, or fanless designs where heat and power are critical.

The practical split is clear: choose the A12-9800 for a desktop where you need maximum multi-core throughput and have the power budget for a 65 W chip. Choose the N95 for a mobile or low-power system where single-core speed and efficiency are priorities. The data shows no overall winner, but a clear situational one.