AMD A12-9800E vs Intel Pentium Gold G5600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a narrow but consistent victory for the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 across every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The AMD A12-9800E does not win a single test in this matchup, with the Intel part taking all five recorded wins. The margins, however, are remarkably small, ranging from 0.6% to 0.7% depending on the workload.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium Gold G5600 scores 299 against the A12-9800E's 297, a delta of 0.7% in Intel's favor. That two-point gap is within typical run-to-run variance for most systems, but the pattern repeats across every other test. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1247 versus 1239, a 0.6% advantage for Intel. The single-core results are equally tight: Cinebench R20 single-core gives 175 to Intel and 174 to AMD, while Cinebench R23 single-core records 419 against 416.

The larger Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same story, with Intel at 2971 and AMD at 2950, a 0.7% delta. What is striking about these results is not the magnitude of Intel's victory, but the consistency of it. The Pentium Gold wins by nearly identical margins on both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, which suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific.

Looking at the broader benchmark database, the AMD A12-9800E's average benchmark score is 1033, with a percentile rank of 28 among all CPUs. The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 posts an average score of 1022, also at the 28th percentile. This places both processors in the same performance tier overall, despite the head-to-head sweep. The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the AMD A10-9700 at 1034 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Pentium G4560 at 1031 (0.2% behind), and the AMD A10-7890K at 1035 (0.2% ahead). For Intel, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-975 at 1023 (0.1% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U at 1024 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i3-4330 at 1020 (0.2% behind).

The database also records a Geekbench multi-core score of 1521 and a single-core score of 631 for the AMD A12-9800E. No Geekbench results are listed for the Intel Pentium Gold G5600, so a direct comparison on that test is not possible from the available data. The Cinebench family of tests, however, provides a complete picture, and that picture shows Intel with a slim but consistent edge.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 is the faster processor in this matchup, but only by a razor-thin margin. Across all five head-to-head benchmarks, Intel wins by less than 1%. The A12-9800E is not outclassed; it is edged out in every test by a small but reproducible amount.

For users who prioritize raw CPU throughput in Cinebench-style workloads, the Pentium Gold G5600 is the choice. It delivers higher scores in both single-core and multi-core tests, and it does so while being the newer product, released on 2018-04-01 with a launch MSRP of $86. The AMD A12-9800E, released on 2017-07-26, trails by fractions of a percent across the board.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The AMD A12-9800E averages 1033 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 averages 1022. That 11-point gap in AMD's favor reflects the broader benchmark suite, which includes Geekbench results that favor the AMD part. The head-to-head Cinebench tests, however, are the most direct comparison available, and they favor Intel.

The percentile ranks are identical at 28, meaning both processors sit in the same performance bracket relative to all CPUs in the database. Neither chip is a standout; both are entry-level desktop parts that land near the lower quartile of overall performance. The Intel part's nearest rivals include older high-end chips like the Core i7-975 and the Phenom II X6 1075T, which suggests it trades blows with much older flagship hardware. The AMD part's nearest rivals are primarily other AMD A-series parts and the Pentium G4560, indicating it competes in a similar segment.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is not part of the equation. The Intel chip carries a higher TDP of 54 watts against AMD's 35 watts, which means the A12-9800E is more power-efficient on paper, though the database does not include any power consumption measurements to verify real-world impact.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 wins every head-to-head benchmark in the database, but the margins are so small that the practical difference is negligible for most workloads. The 0.6% to 0.7% deltas translate to single-digit point differences in Cinebench scores, which are unlikely to be perceptible in everyday use. The Intel chip's wins are consistent, however, which matters for users who run benchmark-driven workloads and want the top score on paper.

The AMD A12-9800E does not win any head-to-head test, but it does hold a higher average benchmark score of 1033 versus Intel's 1022. That average includes Geekbench results where the AMD part scores 1521 multi-core and 631 single-core, figures that are not matched by any listed Intel benchmark. Users who rely on Geekbench as their primary metric would see the AMD part as the stronger performer.

In terms of platform capabilities, the AMD A12-9800E integrates a Radeon R7 GPU, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 integrates UHD Graphics 630. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so a direct comparison of iGPU performance is not possible from the recorded data. The AMD chip also supports dual-channel DDR4 memory, as does the Intel chip, but the Intel part lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s while the AMD part does not record a bandwidth figure.

The AMD A12-9800E has four physical cores, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 has two cores with four threads. In multi-threaded workloads that scale well with physical cores, the AMD part's extra cores could be an advantage, but the benchmark data shows the opposite: Intel wins multi-core tests despite having half the physical cores. The Intel chip's higher base clock of 3.90 GHz against AMD's 3.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost likely compensates for the core deficit in these specific workloads.

The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 supports ECC memory, while the AMD A12-9800E does not. This makes the Intel part the only option for users who require error-correcting memory in a low-cost desktop build. The Intel chip also provides 16 PCIe lanes (Gen 3) from the CPU, while the AMD part provides 8 lanes, which matters for users planning to install multiple expansion cards or high-bandwidth storage devices.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks recorded in the database, with deltas ranging from 0.6% to 0.7% over the AMD A12-9800E.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two processors?

A: The gap is very small. The largest margin is 0.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R23 single-core, while the smallest is 0.6% in Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core. The average benchmark scores differ by 11 points in AMD's favor (1033 versus 1022).

Q: Does the AMD A12-9800E have more cores than the Intel Pentium Gold G5600?

A: Yes, the AMD A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite this, the Intel part wins all multi-core Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the base clock speed difference?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, while the AMD A12-9800E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz with a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel chip has no recorded boost clock.

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the AMD A12-9800E does not record a bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 supports ECC memory, while the AMD A12-9800E does not. This is a distinguishing feature for users who require error correction.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The AMD A12-9800E uses the Excavator architecture under the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel. The process node difference is significant: 28 nm versus 14 nm, which typically translates to better power efficiency and higher transistor density for the Intel part.

The AMD chip integrates 3,100 million transistors on a die size of 250 mm², while the Intel chip does not record a transistor count but uses a much smaller die at 126 mm². The smaller die on a more advanced process node gives Intel a density advantage, though the database does not include any thermal or power efficiency measurements to quantify the real-world impact.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD A12-9800E has a 320 KB L1 cache and a 2 MB L2 cache, with no L3 cache recorded. The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 has a 64 KB L1 cache per core and a 256 KB L2 cache per core, plus a 4 MB shared L3 cache. The presence of L3 cache on the Intel part is a notable architectural advantage, as it provides a larger pool of fast memory for frequently accessed data.

The integrated graphics solutions are different as well. AMD uses a Radeon R7 GPU, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 630. The database does not include any graphics benchmark scores, so the relative performance of these iGPUs cannot be determined from the recorded data.

The memory controllers are similar in configuration: both support dual-channel DDR4. The Intel part lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the AMD part does not list a bandwidth figure. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the AMD part.

PCIe capabilities differ, with Intel providing 16 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU and AMD providing 8 Gen 3 lanes. This gives the Intel platform more headroom for expansion cards, discrete GPUs, or NVMe storage configurations.

Specification Differences

The core count is the most obvious specification difference. The AMD A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel chip's simultaneous multithreading allows each core to handle two threads, while the AMD chip uses a one-to-one core-to-thread ratio.

Clock speeds differ as well. The AMD A12-9800E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and no recorded boost clock. The Intel chip's base clock is higher than the AMD chip's boost clock, which explains its strong single-core performance despite having fewer physical cores.

The TDP ratings show a significant difference. The AMD A12-9800E is rated at 35 watts, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 is rated at 54 watts. This makes the AMD chip the lower-power option, which could be relevant for compact builds with limited cooling.

The sockets are incompatible. AMD uses Socket AM4, while Intel uses Socket 1151. This means the two processors cannot be swapped into the same motherboard, so platform choice is a deciding factor.

The process nodes differ, with AMD at 28 nm and Intel at 14 nm. The die sizes also differ: 250 mm² for AMD and 126 mm² for Intel. The AMD chip has 3,100 million transistors, while the Intel chip does not record a transistor count.

Cache specifications are notably different. AMD has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. Intel has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's L3 cache provides a significant architectural advantage.

The production status differs: the AMD A12-9800E is listed as Active, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 is End-of-life. The Intel chip's launch MSRP is $86, while the AMD chip does not have a recorded launch price. The Intel part also has a part number of SR3YB, while AMD uses AD9800AHM44AB.

Memory support is dual-channel DDR4 for both, but Intel adds ECC support and a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The PCIe configuration differs, with Intel providing 16 Gen 3 lanes and AMD providing 8 Gen 3 lanes. Both processors have locked multipliers, and both are desktop market segments. The release dates differ by roughly nine months, with AMD launching 2017-07-26 and Intel launching 2018-04-01.