AMD A8-6600K vs Intel Pentium G4520 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the Intel Pentium G4520 and the AMD A8-6600K?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 has an average benchmark score of 778, while the AMD A8-6600K scores 764. The Pentium G4520 is ahead by about 1.8% in this aggregate metric.

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

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 demonstrates superior single-core results. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 133, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, it reaches 319. The AMD A8-6600K's Geekbench single-core score is 451, but direct comparison is limited by the different test suites used.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the AMD A8-6600K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD part offers double the physical cores and threads.

Q: What are the base clock speeds of these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz with no boost clock. The AMD A8-6600K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz.

Q: What integrated graphics do these processors include?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 includes Intel HD 530 graphics, while the AMD A8-6600K includes Radeon HD 8570D graphics.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 is marked as Active in production, while the AMD A8-6600K is marked as End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies from their respective manufacturers. The Intel Pentium G4520 is built on the Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It contains 1,400 million transistors on a die size of 150 mm². In contrast, the AMD A8-6600K uses the Piledriver architecture, specifically the Richland codename, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 32 nm process. This older process node results in a larger die size of 246 mm² while housing 1,303 million transistors.

The cache structures differ significantly between the two. The Intel Pentium G4520 features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The AMD A8-6600K has a total of 192 KB L1 cache and 4 MB L2 cache, with no L3 cache present. This L3 cache absence on the AMD side is notable, as the Intel part can rely on its shared L3 to feed data to the cores more efficiently.

Memory support marks another architectural divergence. The Intel Pentium G4520 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory through a dual-channel interface, delivering a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The AMD A8-6600K only supports DDR3, also dual-channel, with a slightly lower memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The PCIe implementation also differs: Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides only Gen 2 support.

The sockets are entirely incompatible. The Intel Pentium G4520 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD A8-6600K uses AMD Socket FM2. The Intel part is unlocked in terms of multiplier? No, it is locked. The AMD A8-6600K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking. The production statuses also differ, with the Intel part listed as Active and the AMD part as End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data available for these two processors comes from different test suites, which limits direct side-by-side comparisons. The Intel Pentium G4520 has results from Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, while the AMD A8-6600K has results from Geekbench. Despite this, the average benchmark scores provide a useful aggregate comparison.

The Intel Pentium G4520 achieves an average benchmark score of 778, placing it at the 21st percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD A10-5800K with an identical average score of 778 and a delta of 0%, the AMD Athlon X4 760K at 777 with a delta of 0.2%, and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 at 776 with a delta of 0.3%. The Intel Core i3-7100 sits slightly higher at 781, giving the Pentium G4520 a delta of -0.4% relative to that part.

The AMD A8-6600K records an average benchmark score of 764, placing it at the 20th percentile. Its nearest rivals show a different competitive landscape. The Intel Core i7-3537U scores 766, giving the A8-6600K a delta of -0.3%. The Intel Core i3-3240 scores 761, with a delta of 0.5%. The Intel Core i5-3210M scores 758, with a delta of 0.8%. The Intel Core i3-5020U scores 757, with a delta of 0.9%.

Looking at the Intel Pentium G4520's individual Cinebench results, it scores 227 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 949 in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 133 in Cinebench R20 single-core. In the newer Cinebench R23 tests, it scores 2261 in multicore and 319 in single-core. These numbers show a processor that scales reasonably in multi-threaded workloads given its 2-core, 2-thread configuration.

The AMD A8-6600K's Geekbench results show 1076 in multicore and 451 in single-core. The multicore score benefits from the 4-core, 4-thread design, but the single-core score reflects the older Piledriver architecture's relative weakness in per-thread performance. When interpreting these scores, the Intel part's advantage in single-threaded tasks is clear, while the AMD part leverages its additional cores for multi-threaded work.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Pentium G4520 and the AMD A8-6600K:

• Cores: Intel has 2, AMD has 4
• Threads: Intel has 2, AMD has 4
• Base Clock: Intel at 3.60 GHz, AMD at 3.90 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel has none, AMD has 4.20 GHz
• TDP: Intel at 51 W, AMD at 100 W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 vs AMD Socket FM2
• Architecture: Skylake vs Piledriver
• Codename: Skylake vs Richland
• Process Node: 14 nm vs 32 nm
• Foundry: Intel vs GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: 1,400 million vs 1,303 million
• Die Size: 150 mm² vs 246 mm²
• L1 Cache: 64 KB (per core) vs 192 KB total
• L2 Cache: 256 KB (per core) vs 4 MB total
• L3 Cache: 4 MB (shared) vs none
• Memory Support: DDR3, DDR4 vs DDR3 only
• Memory Bandwidth: 34.1 GB/s vs 29.9 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 2
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 530 vs Radeon HD 8570D
• Production Status: Active vs End-of-life
• Release Date: 2015-08-31 vs 2013-05-31
• Multiplier Unlocked: No vs Yes
• Part Number: SR2HM vs AD660KWOHLBOXAD660KWOA44HL

These differences highlight the generational gap between the two parts. The Intel processor benefits from a more modern process node, smaller die, and additional L3 cache, while the AMD processor offers more cores, higher clocks, and an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Pentium G4520 wins in scenarios that favor single-threaded performance and energy efficiency. Its 14 nm Skylake architecture delivers strong per-core performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 319. The lower TDP of 51 W compared to the AMD part's 100 W makes it suitable for systems where power consumption is a concern. The support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory provides flexibility in platform choice. The Intel part also includes a newer PCIe Gen 3 interface, which can benefit storage and expansion devices. Its Active production status means continued availability.

The AMD A8-6600K wins in multi-threaded workloads that can utilize its 4 cores and 4 threads. The higher base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz give it a raw frequency advantage. The unlocked multiplier allows enthusiasts to push clocks higher, potentially extending performance beyond stock settings. The Radeon HD 8570D integrated graphics may offer different capabilities compared to Intel HD 530, depending on the workload. The larger L1 and L2 cache totals provide more onboard data storage for the additional cores.

For users running lightly-threaded applications, such as older games or basic office tasks, the Intel Pentium G4520's superior single-core performance will likely deliver snappier responsiveness. The benchmark data shows its single-core scores are competitive with parts scoring higher in the aggregate. For users running heavily-threaded applications, such as video encoding or compilation tasks, the AMD A8-6600K's additional cores provide an advantage, though the lack of L3 cache may limit some workloads.

The average benchmark scores place the Intel part at 778 versus 764 for the AMD part, a difference of 14 points or roughly 1.8%. Both processors sit in similar percentile ranges, 21st and 20th respectively, indicating they occupy a comparable performance tier overall. The choice between them depends on the specific workload mix and platform requirements, as the architectural differences are substantial despite the similar aggregate scores.