CPU Comparison

The AMD A12-9800E and Intel Processor N150 represent two very different approaches to low-power computing, separated by seven years of silicon evolution. The data shows a fascinating split: the AMD part wins the modern multi-threaded test, while the Intel part dominates single-thread performance and an older multi-core benchmark. Both processors land at the 28th percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1033 and 1025, respectively, placing them in a virtual tie overall despite their architectural chasms.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results reveal a generational schism in workload preferences. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Processor N150 scores 422.5 against the AMD A12-9800E's 297, a decisive 29.7% advantage. This older test appears to favor Intel's higher memory bandwidth and more efficient instruction pipeline. The gap is stark: the AMD chip barely reaches two-thirds of the Intel part's output, suggesting that the Excavator architecture's age shows most prominently in legacy workloads that rely on raw clock-for-clock efficiency.

Flip to Cinebench R23 multicore, and the story reverses completely. The AMD A12-9800E scores 2950, beating the Intel N150's 2590.5 by 13.9%. This is the only head-to-head win for AMD, and it is significant. The newer R23 benchmark scales differently across the two designs, likely rewarding the AMD part's higher sustained boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus the Intel's 3.60 GHz. The 360-point margin suggests that under prolonged multi-threaded load, the AMD chip's older but higher-clocked cores maintain an edge that the Intel part cannot overcome.

The most lopsided result comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel N150 scores 935 against AMD's 416, a crushing 55.5% deficit for the A12-9800E. This is not a close contest; the Intel part more than doubles the AMD chip's single-thread performance. For any workload that relies on one or two threads, the Intel N150 is in a different performance class entirely. The delta here is so large that it skews the overall picture: the Intel part wins two of three head-to-head tests, while the AMD part's single victory is narrower in percentage terms.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is cavernous. The AMD A12-9800E uses the Excavator architecture on the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP, using the AMD Socket AM4. The Intel Processor N150, by contrast, is a Twin Lake architecture chip built on Intel's 10 nm process, designed for mobile use in the Intel BGA 1264 socket with a dramatically lower 6 W TDP.

Core configurations are nominally identical, 4 cores and 4 threads on both sides, but the cache hierarchies tell different stories. The AMD part has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel part has 96 KB of L1 per core (384 KB total), 2 MB of shared L2, and crucially, 6 MB of shared L3 cache. That L3 presence is a major differentiator, providing a buffer that the AMD chip entirely lacks. The AMD die size is a massive 250 mm² with 3,100 million transistors, while the Intel die size and transistor count are not listed in the data, but the process node difference alone (28 nm versus 10 nm) implies a far denser, more efficient Intel design.

Memory support diverges sharply. The AMD A12-9800E supports dual-channel DDR4, while the Intel N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 but only in single-channel mode. The Intel part has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the AMD part's bandwidth is not specified. This is a peculiar inversion: the AMD chip has a wider memory bus, but the Intel chip has faster memory technology and a published bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity is similar on paper, Gen 3 with 8 lanes for AMD versus 9 lanes for Intel, but the integrated graphics are very different: Radeon R7 on the AMD side versus UHD Graphics 730 on the Intel side.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A12-9800E wins in sustained multi-threaded rendering with modern benchmark methodology. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2950 versus 2590.5 for Intel indicates that for longer, heavier compute tasks, the AMD chip's higher boost clock and dual-channel memory configuration provide a measurable benefit. The 13.9% advantage in this test makes it the choice for workloads that can fully utilize all four cores over extended periods, such as video encoding or compile tasks that scale well with core count.

The Intel Processor N150 wins everywhere else. Single-thread performance is its crown jewel, the 55.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core means that any application with a dominant main thread (web browsing, office productivity, light scripting) will feel markedly snappier on the Intel part. Its Cinebench R15 multicore victory by 29.7% suggests that legacy software, which may not be optimized for modern multi-threading patterns, also favors the Intel architecture. The Intel part's 6 MB of L3 cache and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth likely contribute to its responsiveness in bursty, latency-sensitive tasks.

For users running mixed workloads, the Intel N150 is the safer bet, it wins two of three benchmarks, and its single-core dominance is so pronounced that it will cover most everyday scenarios. The AMD part is a niche player for those who know their workloads are heavily multi-threaded and modern, where its R23 multicore advantage can shine.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Processor N150 wins decisively, scoring 935 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 416 for the AMD A12-9800E, a 55.5% advantage for Intel.

Q: Is the AMD A12-9800E better at any benchmark?

A: Yes, the AMD part wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 2950 versus 2590.5 for Intel, a 13.9% lead. This is its only head-to-head victory.

Q: How do the TDP values compare?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Processor N150 has a 6 W TDP. The Intel part consumes dramatically less power, which is consistent with its mobile market segment.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads. However, the Intel part includes 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD part has no L3 cache at all.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD A12-9800E supports dual-channel DDR4 only. The Intel Processor N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, but in single-channel mode, with a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD A12-9800E has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, slightly higher than the Intel Processor N150's 3.60 GHz. The AMD base clock is 3.10 GHz, while the Intel base clock is listed as 0.10 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A12-9800E | Intel Processor N150 |

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

| Architecture | Excavator | Twin Lake |

| Codename | Bristol Ridge | Twin Lake |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 0.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 6 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

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

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes | Gen 3, 9 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2017-07-26 | 2024-11-19 |

| Part Number | AD9800AHM44AB | SRPNR |

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Processor N150 as the more versatile processor for most users. It wins two of the three head-to-head benchmarks, including the most lopsided result in either direction, a 55.5% single-core advantage that will translate to perceptible everyday responsiveness. Its 6 W TDP versus 35 W for AMD makes it dramatically more power-efficient, and its 6 MB L3 cache provides a structural advantage that the AMD chip cannot match. The Intel part's 28th percentile ranking matches AMD's, but its average benchmark score of 1025 is nearly identical to AMD's 1033, confirming parity in aggregate while winning on key workloads.

The AMD A12-9800E is the pick only for a narrow use case: sustained modern multi-threaded workloads where its 13.9% Cinebench R23 multicore lead matters more than everything else. Its higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz and dual-channel memory help in this specific scenario. However, its lack of L3 cache, 28 nm process, and 35 W TDP are serious liabilities. For anyone weighing these two, the Intel Processor N150 is the rational choice, it wins the majority of tests, consumes a fraction of the power, and its single-core dominance is the kind of advantage that shows up in nearly every application. The AMD part remains an interesting anomaly for multi-threaded enthusiasts, but the benchmark data does not support choosing it for general use.