AMD A12-9800 vs Intel Xeon W3580 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across the entire Cinebench test suite: the AMD A12-9800 wins every single head-to-head comparison, but by margins so narrow they sit at the edge of measurement noise. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the AMD A12-9800 scores 316 versus the Intel Xeon W3580's 311, a delta of -1.6% from the Intel's perspective. That is a 1.6% advantage for AMD, which translates to roughly five points. The Cinebench R20 multicore test shows a similar story, with the AMD at 1318 and the Intel at 1298, again a 1.5% gap.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. The Cinebench R20 singlecore test gives the AMD A12-9800 a score of 186, while the Intel Xeon W3580 manages 183, a 1.6% difference. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the gap is 3140 versus 3092, another 1.5% lead for the AMD. The singlecore R23 test rounds out the sweep with 443 for the AMD and 436 for the Intel, a 1.6% margin. The data records five wins for the AMD A12-9800 and zero for the Intel Xeon W3580, yet the largest delta across all tests is just 1.6%. This is not a decisive victory, it is a consistent but marginal edge for the newer part.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the AMD A12-9800 sits at 1081, while the Intel Xeon W3580 is at 1064. The AMD's percentile ranking is 30, compared to the Intel's 29. These are essentially adjacent positions in the overall CPU distribution. The nearest rivals for the AMD include the Intel Core i5-3335S at 1083, and the Intel Core i5-4440S at 1078. For the Intel Xeon, the nearest rival is the Core i3-9100HL at 1065. The deltas to these rivals are all within 0.3%, reinforcing the notion that both CPUs occupy a very crowded performance tier.

What is most striking is the consistency of the margin. The AMD A12-9800 is not faster in one workload and slower in another; it is uniformly 1.5% to 1.6% ahead across all tested scenarios. This suggests a fundamental architectural baseline rather than a workload-specific optimization. The Intel Xeon W3580, despite its server pedigree and older release date, is not outclassed. It trails by roughly the same amount in every test, which implies the two are trading blows on a level field.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon W3580 is built on the Nehalem architecture, specifically the Bloomfield codename, using a 45 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It integrates 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The AMD A12-9800, by contrast, uses the Excavator architecture with the Bristol Ridge codename, fabricated on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors into a 250 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark: the AMD has over four times the transistor count, yet it fits on a slightly smaller die, thanks to the denser process node.

The core layout reveals another key divergence. The Intel Xeon W3580 has 4 cores and 8 threads, meaning it supports simultaneous multithreading (SMT). The AMD A12-9800 also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, so it lacks SMT. This should theoretically give the Intel an advantage in multi-threaded workloads, but the benchmark data does not reflect that. The AMD's higher clock speeds appear to compensate. The Intel runs at a base clock of 3.33 GHz and boosts to 3.60 GHz. The AMD runs at 3.80 GHz base and boosts to 4.20 GHz. The AMD's clocks are roughly 14% higher at base, and this likely explains why it edges ahead in every test.

Cache configurations are fundamentally different. The Intel Xeon W3580 has a three-level cache hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and an 8 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD A12-9800 uses a simpler two-level design: 320 KB of L1 total, 2 MB of L2 total, and no L3 cache at all. The Intel has far more total cache, especially considering the shared L3. Yet the AMD still wins the benchmarks, suggesting that its higher clocks and memory bandwidth mitigate the cache deficit.

The memory subsystems also differ. The Intel supports DDR3 memory over a triple-channel bus. The AMD supports DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel's memory bandwidth is not listed, but the triple-channel design with the older DDR3 standard indicates a different approach. The AMD's ECC support is absent, while the Intel supports ECC memory. The Intel uses PCIe Gen 2, while the AMD uses PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The AMD also has integrated Radeon R7 graphics, which the Intel lacks entirely.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous on the benchmark side: the AMD A12-9800 wins every recorded test. That means for any Cinebench workload, whether single-core or multi-core, the AMD has the edge. The margin is consistent, so the win is not workload specific; it is a universal, if slim, advantage. The AMD's higher clock speeds, both base and boost, are the likely driver behind its wins in single-threaded scenarios. Its 4.20 GHz boost clock, compared to the Intel's 3.60 GHz, gives it a clear 0.6 GHz advantage in light, single-threaded tasks. The data shows the AMD is 1.6% ahead in both singlecore tests, which aligns with the clock speed differential.

For the Intel Xeon W3580, there are no benchmark wins to point to. It does not win any test in the recorded dataset. However, the data does show that the Intel is not far behind. It is within 1.6% in every test, and it offers features that the AMD lacks. The Intel's 8 threads versus 4 threads, its triple-channel DDR3 memory with ECC support, and its larger shared L3 cache are assets that the benchmarks do not fully capture. In a server or workstation context, ECC memory support is a crucial feature. The AMD's lack of ECC support makes it unsuitable for error-sensitive workloads, whereas the Intel's was designed for that market segment.

The use-case split is therefore not about raw performance, it is about ecosystem features. The AMD A12-9800 is the better performer in the recorded benchmarks, but it is a desktop part with integrated graphics and no ECC. The Intel Xeon W3580 is a server/workstation part with ECC, triple-channel memory, and an older but proven platform. If the workload is strictly rendering or computation, the AMD is the faster part, but only slightly. If the workload requires memory reliability or server-grade features, the Intel is the only choice that supports them.

The Verdict

The data presents an unambiguous answer to the question of benchmark performance: the AMD A12-9800 is faster in every single recorded test. The wins are consistent, with deltas of 1.5% to 1.6% across all five Cinebench tests. The AMD also holds a higher average benchmark score 1081 versus 1064, and a higher percentile ranking 30th versus 29th. For anyone choosing purely on measured Cinebench performance, the AMD A12-9800 is the correct pick. The AMD also comes with a significantly lower TDP of 65 watts compared to the Intel's 130 watts, and it is an active production part, whereas the Intel is end-of-life.

However, the choice is not entirely one-sided once the full specification data is considered. The Intel Xeon W3580 offers features the AMD cannot match: ECC memory support, triple-channel DDR3, and a shared 8 MB L3 cache. It also has 8 threads versus the AMD's 4, which should theoretically help in heavily parallel workloads, even if the Cinebench results do not show it. The Intel's market segment is server/workstation, and its platform is designed for reliability and memory integrity. The AMD is a desktop part with integrated graphics and a dual-channel memory bus. If the user needs ECC, the Intel is the only option. If the user needs the fastest Cinebench numbers, the AMD is the winner.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD has a higher average benchmark score of 1081, while the Intel scores 1064.

Q: Are the two CPUs close in performance?

A: Yes. The AMD wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, but the largest margin is only 1.6%, which is a very narrow edge.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores. However, the Intel has 8 threads while the AMD has 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W3580 support ECC memory?

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

A: The AMD has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boosts to 4.20 GHz. The Intel has a base clock of 3.33 GHz and boosts to 3.60 GHz.

Q: Which CPU has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The AMD uses a 28 nm process, while the Intel uses a 45 nm process. The AMD is the smaller node.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon W3580 | AMD A12-9800 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 130 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Nehalem | Excavator |

| Codename | Bloomfield | Bristol Ridge |

| Process Node | 45 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 731 million | 3,100 million |

| Die Size | 263 mm² | 250 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Triple-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2009-08-08 | 2017-07-26 |

The table above highlights the fundamental differences. The AMD is a much newer, lower power part with a higher clock. The Intel is an older, server-oriented part with more threads and ECC support.