AMD A8-6600K vs Intel Core i3-5020U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two processors cleanly by workload type, and the split is not subtle. The AMD A8-6600K does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, while the Intel Core i3-5020U takes both recorded tests. That is a decisive sweep in the database, but the margin matters more than the direction.

The Intel Core i3-5020U wins the multi-core test by 22% (1076 vs. 1379 points on Geekbench multi-core). It wins the single-core test by an even larger 35.2% (451 vs. 696 points on Geekbench single-core). For any workload that depends on per-thread performance, which includes most everyday desktop tasks, the Intel part is the clear choice. For workloads that scale across cores, the Intel part still leads, though by a smaller margin.

The AMD A8-6600K does have four physical cores against the Intel part's two cores and four threads. However, the benchmark results show that the Intel architecture compensates for the core count disadvantage. The data does not support any scenario where the AMD chip wins outright, but its higher base clock (3.90 GHz vs. 2.20 GHz) and boost clock (4.20 GHz) suggest it may feel more responsive in lightly threaded tasks that do not stress the memory subsystem. The benchmark scores contradict that intuition, however, and the Intel part leads in both recorded tests.

The Intel Core i3-5020U also carries integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 5500, while the AMD chip ships with Radeon HD 8570D. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part, so any comparison of GPU performance must remain qualitative.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The AMD A8-6600K is a desktop part built on the Piledriver architecture (codename Richland), released in 2013. It uses a 32 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with 1,303 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-5020U is a mobile part built on the Broadwell architecture (codename Broadwell-U), released in 2015. It uses a 14 nm process from Intel, with 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. The transistor counts are nearly identical, but the Intel die is roughly one-third the size, which reflects the denser manufacturing process.

The core configuration differs significantly. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading equivalent. The Intel chip has 2 cores and 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count. The AMD part has a 192 KB L1 cache and 4 MB L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel part has 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, and a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The presence of an L3 cache on the Intel part is a meaningful architectural advantage for workloads that repeatedly access a working set larger than the L2.

Clock behavior also differs. The AMD A8-6600K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and the multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i3-5020U has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and no boost clock, and the multiplier is locked. The AMD chip's clocks are nearly double the Intel chip's base clock, yet the Intel chip wins every benchmark. This points to a large instructions-per-clock advantage for the Broadwell architecture.

Memory support is similar in type: both use DDR3 in dual-channel mode. The AMD chip has a theoretical memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip has 25.6 GB/s. The AMD figure is higher, but the recorded benchmarks do not show this translating into a performance win. Neither part supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 2, though the Intel part exposes 12 lanes from the CPU only.

Power and thermal characteristics differ dramatically. The AMD part has a TDP of 100 watts and uses the AMD Socket FM2. The Intel part has a TDP of 15 watts and uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, which is soldered. The Intel part is a mobile chip by market segment, while the AMD part is a desktop chip. The production status for both is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records exactly two head-to-head benchmarks between these processors, both from Geekbench. The results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-5020U wins both, and the margins are substantial.

In Geekbench multi-core, the AMD A8-6600K scores 1076 points. The Intel Core i3-5020U scores 1379 points. That is a 22% lead for the Intel part (the delta is recorded as -22% from the AMD side, meaning the AMD chip is 22% behind). For a mobile processor with a 15 watt TDP to beat a desktop processor with a 100 watt TDP by 22% in a multi-core test is a striking result. It demonstrates that core count alone does not determine performance; the combination of architecture, cache hierarchy, and memory subsystem matters more.

In Geekbench single-core, the gap widens. The AMD chip scores 451 points, while the Intel chip scores 696 points. The Intel part leads by 35.2%. This is the more important result for typical desktop use, since many applications remain single-threaded or lightly threaded. A 35.2% single-core deficit is difficult to overcome with additional cores, especially when the multi-core test also favors the Intel part.

The average benchmark score in the database places the AMD A8-6600K at 764 and the Intel Core i3-5020U at 757. These are nearly identical averages, but the two Geekbench tests tell the fuller story. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3537U (766, 0.3% ahead), the Intel Core i3-3240 (761, 0.5% behind), and the Intel Core i5-3210M (758, 0.8% behind). The Intel Core i3-5020U's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5450 (756, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i5-3210M (758, 0.1% behind), and the Intel Core i5-4250U (756, 0.2% ahead). Both chips sit in the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

The Intel part has additional recorded Cinebench scores that the AMD part does not have: Cinebench R15 multi-core at 188, Cinebench R20 multi-core at 787, Cinebench R20 single-core at 110, Cinebench R23 multi-core at 1876, and Cinebench R23 single-core at 264. These are not head-to-head comparisons, but they provide a reference point for the Intel part's sustained performance across different rendering workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-5020U is faster by a wide margin. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel part scores 696 points against the AMD A8-6600K's 451 points, a 35.2% lead.

Q: Does the AMD A8-6600K's four physical cores beat the Intel Core i3-5020U's two cores?

A: No. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel Core i3-5020U scores 1379 points against the AMD chip's 1076 points, a 22% lead. The Intel part uses four threads across two cores and still wins decisively.

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

A: The AMD A8-6600K has a TDP of 100 watts, while the Intel Core i3-5020U has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel part delivers higher benchmark scores while consuming a fraction of the power budget.

Q: Can the AMD A8-6600K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked on the AMD A8-6600K. The Intel Core i3-5020U has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked in the same way.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Both support DDR3 in dual-channel mode. The AMD chip has a theoretical bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, and the Intel chip has 25.6 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What integrated graphics do these processors include?

A: The AMD A8-6600K includes a Radeon HD 8570D, and the Intel Core i3-5020U includes an Intel HD 5500. The database does not record graphics benchmark scores for either part.

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: the Intel Core i3-5020U is the stronger processor in every recorded benchmark. It wins Geekbench multi-core by 22% and Geekbench single-core by 35.2%. It does so while drawing 15 watts against the AMD part's 100 watts, and it is built on a more advanced 14 nm process. The AMD A8-6600K offers a higher clock speed, an unlocked multiplier, and four physical cores, but none of those features translate into a benchmark win in the database.

For a user choosing between these two on the basis of recorded performance, the Intel Core i3-5020U is the correct pick for any workload that appears in the measurements. The single-core advantage is particularly relevant for everyday responsiveness, and the multi-core advantage covers threaded workloads as well. The AMD part's only advantages are qualitative: it is a desktop socket part with an unlocked multiplier, which may appeal to users who intend to overclock. The launch MSRP of the Intel part is $281, and it is end-of-life like the AMD part.

The AMD A8-6600K sits at the 20th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals are all within roughly 1% of its average score. The Intel Core i3-5020U also sits at the 20th percentile, with rivals similarly clustered. These are comparable parts in the database's overall ranking, but the head-to-head benchmarks reveal that the AMD chip's average is not representative of its performance against this specific Intel rival. In the direct comparison, the Intel part is not marginally better; it is 22% to 35.2% better. The verdict is straightforward: choose the Intel Core i3-5020U for measured performance, and choose the AMD A8-6600K only if the unlocked multiplier or desktop socket form factor matters more than benchmark results.