AMD A8-6600K vs Intel Core i5-4200U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data pits a desktop quad-core part against a mobile dual-core chip, and the results are lopsided in favor of the Intel Core i5-4200U. In the Geekbench multicore test, the Intel part scores 1308 against 1076 for the AMD A8-6600K, a delta of 17.7% in favor of Intel. That is a significant margin for a processor with half the physical cores, and it speaks directly to the efficiency of the Haswell architecture under threaded workloads.

The single-core gap is even more pronounced. The Core i5-4200U delivers 728 points in Geekbench single-core, while the A8-6600K manages only 451. That is a 38% deficit for the AMD part, and it is the largest swing in the entire comparison. Single-threaded performance is often the deciding factor in everyday responsiveness, and the data here shows a clear Intel advantage. The A8-6600K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost of 4.20 GHz, yet it still trails a chip whose base clock is listed at 1600.00 MHz with a 2.60 GHz boost. Clock speed alone does not explain the outcome; architectural efficiency carries the day.

The overall average benchmark scores tell a similar story, though the margins narrow. The A8-6600K averages 764 across its recorded benchmarks, while the Core i5-4200U averages 746. That places the AMD part just ahead in the aggregate, but the comparison is complicated by the fact that the two chips have different benchmark suites in the database. The A8-6600K only has Geekbench results recorded, while the Core i5-4200U also includes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 runs. In the Cinebench R23 multicore test, the Intel chip scores 1852, and in single-core it scores 261. Those numbers reinforce the pattern: Intel wins in both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench workloads. The Cinebench R20 multicore score of 777 and single-core score of 109 follow the same trend.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database, the A8-6600K sits in a tight cluster. The Intel Core i7-3537U averages 766, just 0.3% above the AMD chip. The Intel Core i3-3240 averages 761, a 0.5% edge for the A8. The Core i5-3210M is 0.8% behind, and the Core i3-5020U is 0.9% behind. These are all close calls, suggesting that the A8-6600K performs at a level comparable to a range of Intel mobile and desktop parts from its era. The Core i5-4200U, meanwhile, is bracketed by the AMD A10 PRO-7800B at 746, a 0.1% difference, the AMD FX-9800P at 745, also 0.1% off, the Intel Core i5-750 at 747, and the Intel Xeon E5520 at 742. The Intel mobile chip is essentially tied with those parts in average score, which puts it in a different performance class than the A8-6600K despite the similar percentile ranking.

Both processors sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are in the same broad performance tier. But that percentile hides the head-to-head reality. In the only two direct benchmark comparisons available, the Core i5-4200U wins both. The wins column shows zero for the AMD part and two for Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. The AMD A8-6600K is a desktop processor built on the Piledriver architecture, code-named Richland. It uses a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries and packs 1,303 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-4200U is a mobile part based on Haswell, built on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a much smaller 118 mm² die. The transistor counts are close, but the die size difference is stark: Intel fits roughly the same number of transistors into less than half the area. That density advantage is a direct result of the more advanced process node.

Core counts differ as well. The A8-6600K has four physical cores and four threads, while the Core i5-4200U has two physical cores and four threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. In the recorded benchmarks, the Intel chip still wins multicore workloads, which indicates that its two cores with four threads outperform the AMD quad-core design in these specific tests. Cache layouts are also different. The AMD part has 192 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The presence of a shared L3 cache on the Intel chip is a notable architectural advantage for inter-core communication and repeated data access.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the A8-6600K lists a dual-channel memory bus with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Core i5-4200U has no memory bus or bandwidth figures recorded in the database. The AMD chip also supports PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel part has no PCIe generation listed. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics are present on both. The A8-6600K carries a Radeon HD 8570D, while the Core i5-4200U has Intel HD 4400. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so any comparison of iGPU performance is not possible from the recorded data. The A8-6600K has an unlocked multiplier, making it a candidate for overclocking, while the Core i5-4200U is locked. That is a meaningful distinction for enthusiasts, though the benchmark data does not include overclocked results.

The A8-6600K is an end-of-life desktop part on the AMD Socket FM2 platform with a 100 W TDP. The Core i5-4200U is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 1168 with a 15 W TDP. The power envelope difference is enormous, and it contextualizes the performance results. The Intel chip achieves higher benchmark scores while drawing a fraction of the power, which is the defining characteristic of the Haswell mobile design. The A8-6600K was released on 2013-05-31, and the Core i5-4200U followed on 2013-06-03, so they are contemporaries in release timing.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-4200U as the stronger performer in every direct benchmark comparison. It wins Geekbench multicore by 17.7% and Geekbench single-core by 38%. Those are not marginal victories; they are decisive margins that hold across both threaded and single-threaded workloads. For users who prioritize raw performance in the recorded tests, the Intel part is the clear choice.

The AMD A8-6600K does have advantages that the benchmark scores do not capture. It has four physical cores, a higher base clock of 3.90 GHz, a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, an unlocked multiplier, and a desktop socket. It also has a larger L2 cache at 4 MB. But the recorded benchmarks do not show those features translating into wins. In the only two head-to-head tests available, the AMD part loses both.

The TDP difference is also a factor. The Core i5-4200U runs at 15 W, while the A8-6600K runs at 100 W. That makes the Intel chip suitable for thin-and-light laptops, while the AMD chip is bound to desktop systems with active cooling. The performance-per-watt story heavily favors Intel. The A8-6600K may appeal to users with existing FM2 motherboards or those who value the unlocked multiplier, but the benchmark data does not support a performance-based recommendation for the AMD part over the Intel chip.

The aggregate scores are close, 764 for the A8-6600K versus 746 for the Core i5-4200U, but that closeness is misleading because the benchmark sets differ. In the tests where both chips are measured, Intel wins every time. The verdict from the data is straightforward: the Core i5-4200U is the better performer in this matchup.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multicore performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-4200U scores 1308, beating the AMD A8-6600K's 1076, a 17.7% margin.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Core i5-4200U scores 728 in Geekbench single-core, while the A8-6600K scores 451, a 38% difference in favor of Intel.

Q: Does the AMD A8-6600K have more cores?

A: Yes, it has four physical cores and four threads. The Intel Core i5-4200U has two physical cores and four threads.

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

A: The A8-6600K has a 100 W TDP, while the Core i5-4200U has a 15 W TDP.

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

A: Yes, it has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-4200U is locked.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no comparison is possible from the recorded data. The A8-6600K has a Radeon HD 8570D, and the Core i5-4200U has an Intel HD 4400.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-4200U wins in every recorded benchmark category. In Geekbench multicore, it leads by 17.7%. In Geekbench single-core, it leads by 38%. It also posts strong Cinebench scores, though the A8-6600K has no Cinebench results in the database for direct comparison. The Intel chip is the winner for anyone who needs the best performance in the measured tests, especially in single-threaded tasks where the gap is largest. Its 15 W TDP also makes it the only viable option for mobile systems.

The A8-6600K does not win any of the head-to-head benchmarks, but it holds its own in the broader database context. Its average benchmark score of 764 is slightly above the Core i5-4200U's 746, and it sits within 1% of several Intel mobile and desktop rivals. For users with an FM2 platform, the A8-6600K offers four physical cores and an unlocked multiplier, which are not represented in the benchmark scores. If workload types that favor high clock speeds on a desktop platform are priorities, the A8-6600K remains a reasonable part, but the recorded data does not show it outperforming the Core i5-4200U in this specific matchup. The use-case split is therefore simple: Intel for benchmark wins and mobile use cases, AMD for desktop-specific features and aggregate average score.