AMD A8-6600K vs Intel Core i5-750 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data for this comparison is limited in scope, as the database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark runs between the AMD A8-6600K and the Intel Core i5-750. However, the aggregate average benchmark scores provide a useful starting point. The AMD A8-6600K posts an average benchmark score of 764, while the Intel Core i5-750 records an average of 747. This places the AMD part roughly 2.3% ahead in overall average performance, a modest but measurable margin.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each processor helps contextualize these averages. The AMD A8-6600K sits within a tight cluster of comparable CPUs, its 764 average being only 0.3% behind the Intel Core i7-3537U (766), 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i3-3240 (761), 0.8% ahead of the Intel Core i5-3210M (758), and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i3-5020U (757). The Intel Core i5-750, with its 747 average, is nearly tied with the Intel Core i5-4200U and AMD A10 PRO-7800B (both at 746, a 0.2% delta), and is 0.2% ahead of the AMD FX-9800P (745) and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5520 (742). These figures show that both processors occupy the same general performance tier, with the AMD part holding a slight edge in aggregate.

The database records no wins for either processor in direct head-to-head testing, so the margin of victory must be inferred from the available benchmark subsets. The AMD A8-6600K has two recorded Geekbench results: a multi-core score of 1076 and a single-core score of 451. The Intel Core i5-750 has no Geekbench entries, but it does have multiple Cinebench scores: R15 multi-core at 218, R20 multi-core at 912, R20 single-core at 128, R23 multi-core at 2172, and R23 single-core at 306. Since these benchmark suites differ, a direct numeric comparison is not possible, but the averages indicate the AMD chip's aggregate advantage is real if narrow.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-6600K demonstrates its strength in scenarios where its higher clock frequencies can be leveraged. With a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, it substantially outpaces the Intel Core i5-750's 2.67 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. This clock advantage, combined with the AMD part's unlocked multiplier, makes it the more flexible choice for users who prioritize raw clock speed and the ability to overclock. The integrated Radeon HD 8570D graphics on the AMD chip also provide a built-in display output capability, which the Intel Core i5-750 lacks entirely, as it has no integrated graphics.

The Intel Core i5-750, by contrast, wins in scenarios that benefit from its architecture's efficiency and cache hierarchy. Despite its lower clocks, the Nehalem architecture and its 8 MB of shared L3 cache give it a structural advantage in workloads that are sensitive to memory latency and cache capacity. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2172, while not directly comparable to the AMD part's Geekbench results, suggests that the Intel chip can hold its own in sustained multi-threaded rendering tasks. The Intel processor also consumes less power, with a 95 W TDP versus the AMD part's 100 W TDP, making it the more power-conscious choice for systems where thermal headroom is a concern.

For single-threaded tasks, the data is less clear due to different benchmark suites. The AMD A8-6600K's Geekbench single-core score of 451 and the Intel Core i5-750's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 306 both indicate competent single-thread performance, but without overlapping tests, a definitive verdict is not possible. The database suggests both processors are near the 20th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers in the current landscape, but each has its niche: the AMD part for clock-sensitive and graphics-inclusive builds, the Intel part for cache-heavy and power-efficient builds.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A8-6600K is built on the Piledriver architecture, specifically the Richland codename, and is manufactured on a 32 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 1,303 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-750 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Lynnfield, fabricated on a 45 nm process at Intel. Its transistor count is 774 million on a larger 296 mm² die. The smaller process node gives AMD a density advantage, but the older Nehalem design still manages competitive performance through its architectural efficiency.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD part has a 192 KB L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache present. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The presence of a large L3 cache on the Intel chip is a key architectural differentiator, as it allows frequently accessed data to be shared across all four cores without resorting to slower memory accesses. The AMD chip's reliance on a larger L2 cache and no L3 is a design choice that favors lower latency for some workloads but can struggle with memory-bound tasks that would benefit from a shared cache pool.

Both processors support DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the AMD A8-6600K has a specified memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-750 has no recorded memory bandwidth figure. The AMD chip also includes integrated Radeon HD 8570D graphics, a feature entirely absent from the Intel part, which requires a discrete GPU for any display output. Both use PCIe Gen 2, with the Intel part specifying 16 lanes for CPU-only usage. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor is locked, limiting overclocking on the Intel side.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The AMD A8-6600K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i5-750's 2.67 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The AMD part has a TDP of 100 W, while the Intel part draws 95 W. AMD uses Socket FM2, and Intel uses Socket 1156. The AMD processor is built on a 32 nm node, the Intel on 45 nm. Transistor counts are 1,303 million for AMD and 774 million for Intel. Die sizes are 246 mm² for AMD and 296 mm² for Intel.

Cache hierarchies are markedly different: AMD has 192 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3, while Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s for AMD, with no figure recorded for Intel. The AMD chip includes Radeon HD 8570D integrated graphics, while the Intel chip has no integrated graphics. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not. Release dates differ by nearly four years, with AMD launching on 2013-05-31 and Intel on 2009-09-07. Both are end-of-life desktop parts, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A8-6600K has an average benchmark score of 764, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-750's average of 747.

Q: Does the AMD A8-6600K include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD A8-6600K includes Radeon HD 8570D integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i5-750 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD A8-6600K has no L3 cache at all.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, only the AMD A8-6600K has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i5-750 has a locked multiplier.

Q: When was each processor released?

A: The AMD A8-6600K was released on 2013-05-31, and the Intel Core i5-750 was released on 2009-09-07.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD A8-6600K has a TDP of 100 W, while the Intel Core i5-750 has a TDP of 95 W, making the Intel part slightly more power-efficient.