AMD A12-9800E vs Intel Core i7-4558U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4558U and AMD A12-9800E are a study in contrasting priorities. The data shows two processors with the same overall percentile ranking (28th) and nearly identical average benchmark scores (1038 vs. 1033), yet their performance profiles diverge sharply depending on the workload. In Cinebench tests, the AMD A12-9800E consistently leads by roughly 14%, but in Geekbench, the Intel Core i7-4558U decisively reverses the outcome, winning by 29-49%. This split suggests that the "better" processor depends entirely on the software environment, making the choice a matter of workload compatibility rather than raw superiority.

The Verdict

The benchmark results paint a clear, if bifurcated, picture. The AMD A12-9800E is the pick for multi-core Cinebench workloads, where it wins all four multicore tests by a consistent margin of 14.1-14.2%. It also edges out the Intel chip in single-core Cinebench R20 and R23, by 14.4% and 14.2%, respectively. For users running rendering tasks that scale with Cinebench, the AMD part is the clear winner.

Conversely, the Intel Core i7-4558U is the choice for Geekbench-centric applications. Its Geekbench multicore score of 1967 is 29.3% higher than the AMD's 1521, and its single-core score of 941 is 49.1% higher than the AMD's 631. The data shows that the Intel chip's architecture provides a significant advantage in this benchmark suite, making it the better option for software that relies on Geekbench-style performance metrics.

Neutral analysis suggests that neither chip is a universal victor. The AMD A12-9800E takes 5 of the 7 head-to-head tests, but the Intel Core i7-4558U wins the two most lopsided contests. Given the equal percentiles and near-identical average scores (1038 vs. 1033), the decision should hinge on which benchmark suite aligns with the user's primary applications. The Intel part is also the more power-efficient option on paper, with a TDP of 28W compared to the AMD's 35W.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The Intel Core i7-4558U is a mobile chip based on the Haswell architecture, manufactured on a 22 nm process by Intel. It features 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip integrates Intel HD 5100 graphics and supports DDR3 memory. It is a 28W part socketed into Intel BGA 1168.

The AMD A12-9800E is a desktop processor using the Excavator architecture, built on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It offers 4 cores and 4 threads, with a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its cache configuration differs significantly: 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache present. The AMD part integrates Radeon R7 graphics, supports DDR4 memory via a dual-channel bus, and includes PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes. It is a 35W part on the AMD Socket AM4.

The transistor counts reveal a stark difference in design philosophy. The AMD A12-9800E packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while the Intel Core i7-4558U uses only 1,300 million on a 118 mm² die. Despite having fewer transistors, the Intel chip's smaller process node and larger L3 cache likely contribute to its Geekbench dominance. The AMD part compensates with more physical cores, which helps in the Cinebench multicore tests. The Intel chip's release date of June 2013 also predates the AMD's July 2017 launch by over four years, yet it remains competitive in several metrics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a consistent pattern across Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD A12-9800E scores 297 against the Intel's 255, a 14.1% advantage. This gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where AMD's 1239 beats Intel's 1063 by 14.2%. The R20 single-core test shows AMD leading 174 to 149, a 14.4% margin. In Cinebench R23, the AMD part again wins by 14.2% in both multicore (2950 vs. 2532) and single-core (416 vs. 357) tests. These results suggest that the AMD architecture is particularly well-suited to Cinebench's rendering workloads, likely benefiting from its four physical cores.

The Geekbench results tell a completely different story. The Intel Core i7-4558U scores 1967 in Geekbench multicore, which is 29.3% higher than the AMD's 1521. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: Intel's 941 beats AMD's 631 by a massive 49.1%. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison. The data indicates that Intel's Haswell architecture, despite having fewer cores, is vastly more efficient in Geekbench's execution patterns. The L3 cache and higher IPC of the Intel design likely play a role here.

The win count is lopsided at 5 wins for AMD and 2 for Intel, but the margin of victory is what matters. AMD's wins are all in the 14% range, while Intel's wins are 29.3% and 49.1%. This means that while AMD wins more tests, Intel wins by a larger magnitude in the tests it does win. The average benchmark scores reflect this balance: Intel's 1038 and AMD's 1033 are separated by only 0.5%, placing them within 0.4% of each other's nearest rivals like the AMD A10-9700 and AMD A8-7680.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-4558U's boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i7-4558U has 2 cores. Both support 4 threads, though the Intel part uses Hyper-Threading to achieve this.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U has an average benchmark score of 1038, while the AMD A12-9800E scores 1033. This represents a negligible 0.5% difference, placing them in the same performance tier.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U wins decisively, scoring 941 compared to the AMD A12-9800E's 631, a 49.1% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core i7-4558U nor the AMD A12-9800E supports ECC memory, according to the data.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U is built on a 22 nm process, while the AMD A12-9800E uses a 28 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A12-9800E is the clear winner in Cinebench-based workloads. It wins all four multicore tests (R15, R20, R23) and both single-core Cinebench tests, with margins consistently around 14%. This makes it the superior choice for applications that leverage Cinebench's rendering engine, such as 3D modeling and animation tasks. Its four physical cores appear to provide a tangible benefit in these threaded workloads, despite the lack of an L3 cache. The AMD part also has a higher base clock (3.10 GHz vs. 2.80 GHz) and boost clock (3.80 GHz vs. 3.30 GHz), which may contribute to its Cinebench performance.

The Intel Core i7-4558U wins in Geekbench, where it delivers a 29.3% multicore advantage and a 49.1% single-core advantage. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison. This suggests that the Intel chip is better suited for applications that follow Geekbench's workload patterns, which often emphasize memory latency and single-thread efficiency. The Intel part's larger L3 cache (4 MB shared vs. none on AMD) and smaller process node (22 nm vs. 28 nm) likely explain this dominance. The Intel chip also has a lower TDP of 28W, making it the more power-efficient option for thermally constrained mobile environments.

The data shows that the AMD A12-9800E wins more individual tests (5 vs. 2), but the Intel Core i7-4558U wins the tests with the largest margins. For users who prioritize Cinebench performance, the AMD part is the clear choice. For users who rely on Geekbench, the Intel part is superior. The near-identical average scores (1038 vs. 1033) and equal percentile rankings (28th) suggest that neither chip offers a universal advantage, and the decision should be guided by the specific software environment. The AMD A12-9800E remains an active production part, while the Intel Core i7-4558U's production status is not specified, which may influence availability considerations.