AMD A12-9800E vs Intel Core i5-6350HQ Comparison

# Intel Core i5-6350HQ vs AMD A12-9800E: Benchmark Analysis

The Intel Core i5-6350HQ and AMD A12-9800E occupy different corners of the desktop CPU market. The i5-6350HQ is a quad-core Skylake-H part built for mobile systems, while the A12-9800E is a Bristol Ridge desktop part with four Excavator cores. Both chips have 4 cores and 4 threads, but their architectural approaches and benchmark results differ significantly. This analysis relies strictly on the recorded database measurements for these two processors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains five direct Cinebench comparisons between the Intel Core i5-6350HQ and the AMD A12-9800E. The Intel part wins all five of those head-to-head tests.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel scores 364 against the AMD's 297. That is a 22.6% advantage for the Intel chip. The gap narrows somewhat in Cinebench R20 multicore: 1518 against 1239, a 22.5% lead. The single-core results show a similar pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel scores 214 versus 174, a 23% difference. In Cinebench R23, the Intel part posts 3616 in multicore, while the AMD reaches 2950, a 22.6% gap. The single-core R23 numbers are 510 and 416, respectively, for a 22.6% advantage. Across all five direct comparisons, the Intel Core i5-6350HQ is the clear winner, taking 5 out of 5 head-to-head tests.

Looking at the broader database averages, the Intel chip has an average benchmark score of 1046 across all recorded tests, while the AMD A12-9800E averages 1033. That puts the Intel part about 1.3% higher on average. The Intel part sits at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the AMD A12-9800E sits at the 28th percentile. Both are near the middle of the pack, but the Intel design has a modest edge in the aggregate.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i5-6350HQ is built on a 14 nm Skylake-H process, using the Skylake architecture. It integrates 2,300 million transistors on a 171 mm² die. The AMD A12-9800E, in contrast, uses a 28 nm process (Excavator architecture, Bristol Ridge family) and packs 3,100 million transistors onto a 250 mm² die. The Intel chip is the newer and denser design, using a smaller process node and a smaller die despite the lower transistor count.

The Intel processor has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, with 256 KB of L2 per core and 64 KB of L1 per core. The AMD part has 2 MB of shared L2 cache and 320 KB of L1 cache. The larger L3 cache on the Intel part is a notable advantage in workloads that fit within shared cache.

Both CPUs support dual-channel memory. The Intel part supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the AMD part supports DDR4 only. The Intel chip has a set of 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes dedicated to the CPU, while the AMD has 8 Gen 3 lanes for the CPU. The Intel part also includes the Intel Iris Pro 580 integrated graphics. The AMD part features the Radeon R7 integrated graphics.

The Intel part is listed for mobile market segments, while the AMD is a desktop part. The Intel chip has an end-of-life production status, while the AMD part remains active. The launch dates differ: the Intel part came out on 23 January 2016, and the AMD part in late July 2017.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data points to a straightforward split. The Intel Core i5-6350HQ wins every single direct comparison in Cinebench, across both multicore and single-core tests. The margins are consistent, the Intel part leads by 22% to 23% in every test. For multi-threaded workloads such as Cinebench's render test, the Intel chip is the stronger choice. The Skylake architecture and its larger L3 cache enable it to outpace the AMD Bristol Ridge part.

The AMD A12-9800E still has a role. Its 28 nm die carries more transistors, and its Radeon R7 integrated graphics may provide a different feature set for systems that favor the AMD ecosystem. The Intel part is also the only one with DDR3 support, which matters for older memory kits. The AMD part is the only one of these that is actively produced, and it is the desktop part.

A user building a new compact mobile system should look to the Intel Core i5-6350HQ. A user building an AM4 desktop system with a preference for AMD platforms and needing an active integrated GPU could consider the AMD A12-9800E. For pure CPU compute from the database results, the Intel part is the consistent winner in every benchmark test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-6350HQ beats the AMD A12-9800E in all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons. The Intel chip has a 22.6% higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23 and a 22.5% higher single-core score in that same test. The AMD A12-9800E is not a bad chip in absolute terms, it is near the 28th percentile of all CPUs, but the Intel part is just better, at the 29th percentile.

Strictly from the database numbers, the recommendation is the Intel Core i5-6350HQ for anyone who prioritizes the recorded multi-threaded and single-threaded performance. The AMD A12-9800E remains an option for an AM4 build with an integrated Radeon GPU and an active production status.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-6350HQ scores 3616, the AMD A12-9800E scores 2950. Intel is 22.6% ahead.

Q: What about single-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core i5-6350HQ scores 510, the AMD A12-9800E scores 416. The Intel part leads by 22.6%.

Q: Are these chips similar in core count?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which part has more cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-6350HQ has a 6MB L3 cache. The AMD A12-9800E has a 2MB L2 and no L3 cache. The Intel has the larger last-level cache.

Q: Do both support dual-channel memory?

A: Yes, both support dual-channel memory. The Intel Core i5-6350HQ supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the AMD A12-9800E supports DDR4 only.

Q: Which is the mobile part?

A: The Intel Core i5-6350HQ is the mobile part, the AMD A12-9800E is the desktop part.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-6350HQ | AMD A12-9800E |

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

| Architecture | Skylake | Excavator |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 2,300 million | 3,100 million |

| Die Size | 171 mm² | 250 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris Pro 580 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Launch Date | 2016-01-23 | 2017-07-26 |

| Launch MSRP | $306 | None listed |