AMD A8-7650K vs Intel Core i3-5157U Comparison

The Verdict

The data splits this comparison cleanly across benchmark families. The AMD A8-7650K wins 5 of 7 recorded head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench iteration, with margins between 16.5% and 16.8%. The Intel Core i3-5157U counters with two decisive Geekbench victories, leading by 49.6% in multi-core and 84.8% in single-core.

For Cinebench workloads, the AMD A8-7650K is the clear choice. Its four physical cores at a 3.30 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost produce consistently higher scores across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-threaded and single-threaded. The Intel part, despite its Hyper-Threading (2 cores, 4 threads), trails by roughly one-sixth in every Cinebench test.

For Geekbench, the Intel Core i3-5157U dominates. The 84.8% single-core advantage is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and the 49.6% multi-core lead reverses the Cinebench outcome entirely. Users running Geekbench-sensitive applications should pick Intel without hesitation.

Both processors sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their divergent strengths. The AMD A8-7650K has a slightly higher average benchmark score (860 vs. 877 for Intel, a difference of 1.9%), but this aggregate hides the split personality of the matchup.

The practical verdict: choose AMD for rendering and content creation tasks that mimic Cinebench, choose Intel for general productivity and single-thread-heavy workloads that resemble Geekbench. The AMD part also offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. Neither chip is current; both are end-of-life products.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-5157U is a Broadwell-U mobile chip built on Intel's 14 nm process with 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. The AMD A8-7650K is a Steamroller-based Kaveri desktop part fabricated by GlobalFoundries on 28 nm, packing 2,411 million transistors into a 245 mm² die.

Core counts differ: Intel provides 2 cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, while AMD offers 4 physical cores with 4 threads and no SMT. The Intel base clock of 2.50 GHz has no boost capability, whereas the AMD runs at 3.30 GHz base and boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Cache hierarchies reflect their origins. Intel uses 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a shared 3 MB L3. AMD uses a unified 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3 cache at all. This structural difference helps explain the benchmark split: AMD's larger L2 serves its four cores, while Intel's L3 benefits its two cores with four threads.

Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 34.1 GB/s versus Intel's 29.9 GB/s, both using dual-channel DDR3. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, Intel only Gen 2 with 12 lanes. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not.

Integrated graphics diverge as well. Intel pairs Iris 6100, while AMD uses Radeon R7. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1168 for mobile, AMD Socket FM2+ for desktop. The Intel chip launched on 2015-02-28 with a launch MSRP of $315; the AMD part launched earlier on 2015-01-06 with no recorded MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

AMD A8-7650K wins in Cinebench rendering workloads. The data shows a consistent 16.5% to 16.8% lead across all five Cinebench tests. This spans the R15 multicore (266 vs. 222), R20 multicore (1111 vs. 925), R20 singlecore (156 vs. 130), R23 multicore (2647 vs. 2203), and R23 singlecore (373 vs. 311). The AMD's higher clock speeds and four physical cores likely drive this advantage, though the recorded data does not isolate the cause.

Intel Core i3-5157U wins in Geekbench workloads. The Geekbench multicore score of 1568 versus 1048 gives Intel a 49.6% advantage, while the singlecore score of 778 versus 421 produces an 84.8% lead. These are the largest margins in the entire comparison, suggesting Intel's architecture handles Geekbench's workload pattern far more efficiently.

Use-case split: For Cinebench-style tasks such as 3D rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales with Cinebench's rendering engine, the AMD A8-7650K is the stronger performer. For Geekbench-style tasks like office productivity, web browsing, and general application responsiveness, the Intel Core i3-5157U delivers substantially better results. The AMD part also suits overclocking enthusiasts due to its unlocked multiplier, a feature the Intel lacks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-5157U averages 877 across all recorded benchmarks, while the AMD A8-7650K averages 860. This is a 1.9% difference, placing both at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: How does the AMD A8-7650K perform in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: It scores 2647, which is 16.8% ahead of the Intel Core i3-5157U's 2203. This is the AMD's largest Cinebench advantage.

Q: What is the Intel Core i3-5157U's best benchmark result relative to the AMD?

A: The Intel wins Geekbench singlecore with 778 versus 421, an 84.8% margin. This is the largest single delta in the head-to-head results.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses. However, the AMD A8-7650K has higher memory bandwidth at 34.1 GB/s compared to Intel's 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No. Both are marked as end-of-life products. The Intel Core i3-5157U is a mobile segment chip, while the AMD A8-7650K is a desktop segment chip.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-5157U has 2 cores with 4 threads. Both present 4 threads to the operating system, but the core counts differ.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results form a remarkably consistent block. In R15 multicore, the AMD A8-7650K scores 266 against Intel's 222, a 16.5% lead. R20 multicore shows 1111 versus 925, a 16.7% advantage. R20 singlecore repeats the pattern at 156 versus 130, again 16.7%. R23 multicore delivers 2647 versus 2203, a 16.8% margin, and R23 singlecore closes the Cinebench set at 373 versus 311, a 16.6% gap. The AMD wins every Cinebench test by nearly identical proportions, indicating a stable performance advantage across generations of the Cinebench benchmark.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i3-5157U scores 1568 against AMD's 1048, a 49.6% lead. The Geekbench singlecore test amplifies this: Intel scores 778, AMD scores 421, producing an 84.8% delta. These two wins for Intel are not merely victories; they are overwhelming reversals of the Cinebench pattern.

The overall win count favors AMD at 5 wins to 2. However, the magnitude of Intel's Geekbench victories (49.6% and 84.8%) far exceeds any single Cinebench margin (max 16.8%). The average benchmark score slightly favors Intel (877 vs. 860), suggesting that the Geekbench results carry more weight in the aggregate.

Nearest rival data places the Intel Core i3-5157U alongside the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U (delta -0.3%), AMD PRO A12-8870E (-0.4%), Intel Core i3-1000NG4 (-0.4%), and AMD Phenom II X6 1035T (-0.5%). The AMD A8-7650K sits near the Intel Core i7-4500U (+0.1%), Intel Xeon W3520 (-0.2%), Intel Core i5-3470T (-0.4%), and Intel Core i5-2500T (+0.4%). These rival comparisons show both chips competing with similar-tier processors from different eras.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-5157U | AMD A8-7650K |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Steamroller |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Kaveri |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 245 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 256 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2015-01-06 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $315 | Not recorded |

The two chips share DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory buses, and no ECC support. All other recorded specifications differ. The AMD part uses more power (95 W vs. 28 W), which aligns with its desktop orientation and higher clock speeds. The Intel part is far more efficient per watt given its mobile design and 14 nm process. The transistor counts and die sizes reflect the process node gap: Intel packs 1,900 million transistors into 133 mm², while AMD uses 2,411 million across 245 mm².