AMD A8-6500B vs Intel Core i5-750 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-750 and AMD A8-6500B are both four-core, four-thread desktop processors from different architectural generations, and the recorded data paints a clear picture for different workloads. The Intel Core i5-750 carries an average benchmark score of 747, placing it in the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD A8-6500B scores 732 on average, landing in the 19th percentile. The raw average scores are close, but the benchmark composition matters. The Intel part dominates multi-threaded rendering workloads, while the AMD part shows its strength in a different test suite. Users who prioritize sustained multi-core rendering should select the Intel Core i5-750. Users who need a processor with integrated graphics and a higher base clock for legacy single-threaded applications may find the AMD A8-6500B more suitable, but the data shows the Intel chip has a decisive edge in the Cinebench suite. The Intel Core i5-750 also sits slightly higher in the percentile ranking, which indicates it edges out the AMD part when compared against the broader database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturers, process nodes, and design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-750 is built on the Nehalem architecture with the Lynnfield codename, manufactured on a 45 nm process by Intel. It contains 774 million transistors on a die size of 296 mm². The AMD A8-6500B uses the Piledriver architecture with the Richland codename, manufactured on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries. AMD's chip packs 1,303 million transistors into a smaller die of 246 mm². The transistor density difference reflects the newer manufacturing node, but the architectural designs diverge sharply.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel Core i5-750 has a three-level cache hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD A8-6500B has a two-level hierarchy: 192 KB of total L1 cache and 4 MB of shared L2 cache, with no L3 cache present in the recorded data. The Intel chip's larger L3 cache provides a buffer for multi-threaded workloads that repeatedly access the same data, while AMD's design relies on a faster but smaller L2 pool.

Clock speeds favor AMD. The A8-6500B runs at a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boosts to 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-750 operates at 2.67 GHz base and boosts to 3.20 GHz. Despite the clock disadvantage, the Intel chip wins the Cinebench multi-core tests, which indicates the Nehalem architecture extracts more instructions per clock in those rendering workloads.

Memory support is similar: both support DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel part does not have a bandwidth figure in the recorded data. Both processors lack ECC memory support.

PCI Express support differs. The Intel Core i5-750 provides PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU only. The AMD A8-6500B lists PCIe Gen 2 without a lane count or CPU-only qualifier.

The most significant architectural difference is integrated graphics. The AMD A8-6500B includes a Radeon HD 8570D integrated GPU, while the Intel Core i5-750 has no integrated graphics listed in the database. This makes the AMD part a more complete package for systems without a discrete graphics card, even though the CPU performance in rendering benchmarks lags.

Power consumption also differs. The Intel Core i5-750 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD A8-6500B draws only 65 watts. The lower TDP of the AMD chip makes it easier to cool in compact systems, though the Intel chip's higher TDP correlates with its stronger multi-core rendering scores.

Release dates place these parts far apart. The Intel Core i5-750 was released in September 2009, while the AMD A8-6500B arrived in May 2013. Both are now end-of-life products. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is restricted without external clock adjustments.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between these two processors, so the analysis relies on their respective benchmark suites. The Intel Core i5-750 has five recorded Cinebench scores. The AMD A8-6500B has two recorded Geekbench scores. The test sets do not overlap, which means a direct apples-to-apples comparison is impossible from the recorded data. However, the average benchmark scores provide a baseline for comparison.

The Intel Core i5-750 posts a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 218. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 912, and in R20 single-core it scores 128. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is 2172, with a single-core score of 306. These numbers show a multi-core to single-core ratio that reflects the processor's four physical cores without hyper-threading. The R23 multi-core score is roughly seven times the R23 single-core score, which aligns with a four-core design scaling across rendering workloads.

The AMD A8-6500B records a Geekbench multi-core score of 1011 and a single-core score of 452. The multi-core to single-core ratio is about 2.24, which is typical for a quad-core part in the Geekbench suite, but the absolute numbers are modest compared to modern processors.

The nearest rival data provides context for each chip. The Intel Core i5-750's closest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4200U with an average score of 746 and a delta of 0.2 percent, the AMD A10 PRO-7800B also at 746 with a 0.2 percent delta, the AMD FX-9800P at 745 with a 0.2 percent delta, and the Intel Xeon E5520 at 742 with a 0.7 percent delta. These rivals are all within a narrow band, which means the Intel Core i5-750 sits at parity with several mobile and desktop parts from later generations.

The AMD A8-6500B's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-5010U with an average score of 734 and a delta of negative 0.3 percent, the AMD A8 PRO-7600B at 735 with a negative 0.3 percent delta, the AMD Athlon Gold 3150U at 736 with a negative 0.5 percent delta, and the AMD Athlon X4 750K at 736 with a negative 0.5 percent delta. The AMD chip sits slightly below these rivals, with its 732 average score falling 0.3 to 0.5 percent behind them. This places the A8-6500B at the lower edge of its performance neighborhood, while the Intel Core i5-750 sits at the upper edge of its own.

The percentile rankings reinforce this. The Intel Core i5-750 ranks in the 20th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD A8-6500B ranks in the 19th percentile. The one-percentile gap is small but consistent with the average score difference of 15 points in favor of Intel.

The Cinebench results for the Intel chip are particularly strong when considered against its average score. The R23 multi-core score of 2172 suggests the processor can sustain multi-threaded rendering workloads effectively, while the single-core score of 306 indicates modest single-thread performance by modern standards. The AMD chip's Geekbench single-core score of 452, when scaled to the Geekbench metric, shows that the higher clock speed does not translate into a decisive advantage in that test, though direct comparison is limited by different test suites.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 has an average benchmark score of 747, while the AMD A8-6500B has an average benchmark score of 732. The Intel chip leads by 15 points.

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

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-750 and the AMD A8-6500B have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither uses simultaneous multi-threading.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD A8-6500B includes a Radeon HD 8570D integrated GPU. The Intel Core i5-750 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-750 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD A8-6500B has a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD part consumes less power.

Q: Which processor has the larger cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD A8-6500B has 192 KB of total L1 and 4 MB of shared L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel chip's total cache capacity is larger.

Q: How do the two processors compare in their percentile rankings?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 ranks in the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD A8-6500B ranks in the 19th percentile. The Intel part is one percentile higher.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-750 wins clearly in multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2172 and R20 multi-core score of 912 demonstrate that the Nehalem architecture, despite its older 45 nm process and lower clock speeds, scales effectively across four cores. The R15 multi-core score of 218 follows the same pattern. For users running CPU-intensive rendering tasks such as 3D modeling or video encoding, the Intel chip's recorded data shows a decisive advantage. The 8 MB shared L3 cache likely contributes to this strength by reducing memory latency during repeated data access in multi-core workloads.

The AMD A8-6500B wins in power efficiency and platform integration. Its 65 watt TDP is 30 watts lower than the Intel chip's 95 watt TDP, which makes it suitable for systems with smaller power supplies or tighter thermal envelopes. The integrated Radeon HD 8570D GPU means the processor can power a display without a separate graphics card, which the Intel Core i5-750 cannot do. The AMD part's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz also give it an advantage in legacy applications that rely heavily on single-thread performance, though the recorded Geekbench single-core score of 452 does not show a dramatic lead over the Intel chip's Cinebench single-core scores.

The AMD part also sits closer to its nearest rivals in the database. Its average score of 732 trails the AMD Athlon X4 750K and AMD Athlon Gold 3150U by 0.5 percent, which is a negligible margin. The Intel Core i5-750, by contrast, leads its nearest rivals, including the Intel Xeon E5520, by up to 0.7 percent. This suggests the Intel chip is at the higher end of its performance neighborhood, while the AMD chip is at the lower end.

For users with existing Socket 1156 motherboards, the Intel Core i5-750 is the natural choice for a drop-in upgrade, provided the system can handle the 95 watt TDP. For users with Socket FM2 boards, the AMD A8-6500B offers a complete CPU-plus-GPU solution. The Intel chip's lack of integrated graphics means it requires a discrete GPU, which increases system cost and complexity. The AMD chip's on-board graphics make it a viable option for basic desktop tasks, media playback, or office workloads where discrete graphics are unnecessary.

The memory bandwidth figure for the AMD part, 29.9 GB/s, is listed in the database, while the Intel part lacks such a figure. This suggests the AMD chip may have a memory throughput advantage in bandwidth-sensitive tasks, though the Intel chip's larger L3 cache may compensate in cache-friendly workloads.

The release dates also matter for platform longevity. The Intel Core i5-750 arrived in 2009, while the AMD A8-6500B arrived in 2013. The AMD chip is four years newer, which means it benefits from a more modern manufacturing process and a newer socket. However, both are end-of-life products, so neither has a future upgrade path within its platform.

In summary, the Intel Core i5-750 is the stronger multi-core rendering processor, as shown by its Cinebench scores and higher average benchmark total. The AMD A8-6500B is the more power-efficient and self-contained option, with integrated graphics and a lower TDP. The choice between them depends on whether the user prioritizes raw multi-threaded CPU performance or platform simplicity and power efficiency. The recorded data does not show any direct head-to-head wins for either part, so the decision rests on the specific benchmark suites and hardware features each one offers.