AMD A12-9800E vs Intel Core i7-5650U Comparison

The AMD A12-9800E and Intel Core i7-5650U are two processors from different eras and design philosophies, yet they land in the same performance percentile. The AMD part, a 35W desktop chip built on a 28nm process, wins the majority of the head-to-head Cinebench tests, while the Intel mobile part, a 15W part on 14nm, dominates Geekbench. The data shows a clear split: the AMD A12-9800E is the stronger multi-threaded renderer in Cinebench workloads, while the Intel Core i7-5650U holds a significant advantage in Geekbench's mixed integer/float tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has an average benchmark score of 1033, while the Intel Core i7-5650U scores 1027. This puts the AMD part at the 28th percentile of all CPUs, matching the Intel part's identical 28th percentile ranking.

Q: How does the AMD A12-9800E perform in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD A12-9800E scores 2950 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 16.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-5650U's score of 2542. This is the largest absolute performance gap in the head-to-head results.

Q: Where does the Intel Core i7-5650U beat the AMD A12-9800E?

A: The Intel Core i7-5650U wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 1854 in Geekbench multi-core versus the AMD's 1521, a 18% advantage, and 960 in Geekbench single-core versus the AMD's 631, a 34.3% advantage.

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

A: The AMD A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5650U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite having half the physical cores, the Intel part's hyper-threading allows it to process 4 threads simultaneously.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has a TDP of 35 watts, whereas the Intel Core i7-5650U has a TDP of 15 watts. This makes the Intel part significantly more power-efficient on paper.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The AMD A12-9800E supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i7-5650U supports DDR3 memory. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A12-9800E is built on the Excavator architecture, part of the Bristol Ridge generation, using a 28nm process from GlobalFoundries. It contains 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-5650U, in contrast, is based on the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-U, manufactured by Intel on a 14nm process. It packs 1,900 million transistors on a much smaller 133 mm² die. This process advantage is a key differentiator, as Intel achieves lower power consumption with a smaller and denser chip.

The AMD A12-9800E features 4 physical cores without hyper-threading, resulting in 4 threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache present. The Intel Core i7-5650U employs a different strategy: 2 physical cores with hyper-threading, yielding 4 threads. Its cache is organized as 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The presence of L3 cache on the Intel part is a notable architectural advantage for data sharing between cores.

The two chips also differ in memory support. The AMD A12-9800E uses DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i7-5650U uses DDR3. The Intel part has a specified memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. For PCIe connectivity, the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes, whereas the Intel part offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD A12-9800E carries Radeon R7 graphics, and the Intel Core i7-5650U has Intel HD 6000 graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a decisive pattern: the AMD A12-9800E wins 5 out of 7 benchmarks, all of which are Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 297 versus Intel's 256, a 16% advantage. This margin is consistent across the Cinebench suite: R20 multi-core shows a 16.1% lead (1239 vs 1067), and R23 multi-core shows a 16.1% lead (2950 vs 2542). Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trend. In R20 single-core, the AMD wins with 174 versus 150, a 16% difference, and in R23 single-core, it wins with 416 versus 358, a 16.2% difference. These results indicate that in rendering workloads measured by Cinebench, the AMD A12-9800E's 4 physical cores provide a consistent edge over the Intel's 2 cores and 4 threads, even in single-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i7-5650U's wins come exclusively from Geekbench, and they are substantial. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel part scores 1854 against the AMD's 1521, an 18% victory. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided: the Intel scores 960 versus the AMD's 631, a 34.3% advantage. This suggests that the Intel architecture is significantly more efficient in the specific workloads Geekbench measures, which include encryption, compression, and memory-intensive tasks. The 34.3% single-core gap is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison, dwarfing the AMD's winning margins.

The overall win count—5 for AMD, 2 for Intel—is misleading if not weighed by the magnitude of the losses. While the AMD wins all Cinebench tests by roughly 16%, it loses Geekbench single-core by over 34%. The average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture: the AMD A12-9800E averages 1033, and the Intel Core i7-5650U averages 1027, a difference of only 0.6%. The AMD's nearest rival is the AMD A10-9700 with an average score of 1034 (a -0.1% delta), while the Intel's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B with a score of 1027 (a 0% delta).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across almost every core specification. The AMD A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5650U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clock speeds differ: the AMD runs at 3.10 GHz, and the Intel runs at 2.20 GHz. Boost clocks also favor the AMD, with 3.80 GHz versus the Intel's 3.20 GHz. The TDP is a major differentiator: the AMD is rated at 35 watts, and the Intel is rated at 15 watts.

The manufacturing process and physical characteristics are distinct. The AMD uses a 28nm node, while the Intel uses a 14nm node. The AMD die size is 250 mm² with 3,100 million transistors, whereas the Intel die is 133 mm² with 1,900 million transistors. Cache configurations vary: the AMD has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, with no L3; the Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 4 MB shared L3. Memory support is also different, with the AMD using DDR4 and the Intel using DDR3.

Additional differences include the socket type: the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 1168. The PCIe implementation differs, with the AMD offering Gen 3, 8 lanes and the Intel offering Gen 2, 12 lanes. The integrated graphics are different models. The market segments differ, with the AMD targeting desktop and the Intel targeting mobile. The production status also differs, with the AMD listed as active and the Intel listed as end-of-life. The release dates are different, with the AMD releasing in 2017-07-26 and the Intel in 2015-02-28. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $426.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear verdict based on workload type. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering performance, the AMD A12-9800E is the superior choice. It wins every Cinebench test by approximately 16%, including single-threaded variants. This consistency suggests that the AMD's higher clock speeds and 4 physical cores give it an edge in these specific tasks. The data shows the AMD is also the more recently released processor, with a 2017 launch date versus Intel's 2015, and it remains in active production.

For users whose workloads resemble Geekbench, the Intel Core i7-5650U is the clear winner. Its Geekbench single-core score of 960 is 34.3% higher than the AMD's 631, and its multi-core score of 1854 is 18% higher. The Intel part also has a significantly lower TDP of 15 watts versus 35 watts, making it a more power-efficient option for mobile or compact systems. The Intel's 14nm process node and 4 MB L3 cache are likely contributors to its Geekbench efficiency.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the AMD at 1033 and the Intel at 1027. This means that for a general-purpose user, the choice between the two will likely come down to specific application requirements. The AMD A12-9800E's wins are consistent but moderate, while the Intel's Geekbench wins are larger but confined to one benchmark suite. The Intel's end-of-life status is a concern for long-term availability, whereas the AMD's active production status suggests ongoing support.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A12-9800E wins in Cinebench workloads, which are representative of 3D rendering and animation tasks. Its 16% lead across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests makes it the stronger option for users running CPU-based rendering software. The AMD also wins in Cinebench single-core tests by a similar margin, which is notable because single-core performance is often a weak point for AMD processors in this era. The data suggests that the AMD's 3.80 GHz boost clock and 4 physical cores are well-suited for these rendering pipelines.

The Intel Core i7-5650U wins in Geekbench workloads, which cover a broader range of tasks including encryption, compression, and memory operations. Its 34.3% lead in Geekbench single-core is the most decisive result in the entire comparison, indicating that the Intel architecture is far more efficient per clock in these tasks. The Intel's 18% multi-core Geekbench win also shows that its 2 cores and 4 threads can outperform the AMD's 4 physical cores in this specific benchmark. For users running general productivity applications that stress integer and floating-point operations similarly to Geekbench, the Intel part is the better performer.

The power consumption data also favors the Intel part. With a TDP of 15 watts versus the AMD's 35 watts, the Intel Core i7-5650U is the more efficient choice for battery-powered or thermally constrained systems. The AMD A12-9800E's higher TDP allows for higher clock speeds but requires more substantial cooling. The Intel's 14nm process node and smaller die size (133 mm² versus 250 mm²) contribute to its efficiency advantage. For a user building a compact desktop with the AMD's AM4 socket, the A12-9800E offers active production status and DDR4 memory support. For a user with a mobile platform using Intel BGA 1168, the i7-5650U offers lower power consumption and a 4 MB L3 cache.