AMD A8-7650K vs Intel Core i5-3470T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T has an average benchmark score of 863, while the AMD A8-7650K scores 860. The difference is only 0.3%, placing them within a negligible margin of each other.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD A8-7650K scores 2647 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-3470T scores 2547. The AMD part leads by 3.8% in this test.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T dominates Geekbench single-core with a score of 560 versus the AMD A8-7650K's 421. This represents a 33% advantage for Intel.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470T has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Both support 4 threads total, but AMD achieves this with physically more cores.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has a TDP of 95W, substantially higher than the Intel Core i5-3470T's 35W. The Intel chip draws less than half the power envelope.

Q: Are both processors from the same generation or process node?

A: No. Intel's Core i5-3470T uses the 22 nm Ivy Bridge process, while AMD's A8-7650K uses the 28 nm Steamroller architecture (Kaveri). The Intel chip has a smaller process node.

The Verdict

The data presents two chips with nearly identical average scores (863 vs 860), but their performance profiles diverge sharply by workload. For users prioritizing single-threaded performance, especially in Geekbench, the Intel Core i5-3470T is the clear choice — its 33% lead in that metric is the largest gap in any benchmark. Conversely, the AMD A8-7650K wins all five Cinebench tests, with a consistent 3.8% margin across R15, R20, and R23 variants in both single and multi-core modes.

The Intel chip is better suited for applications that reward high per-core throughput, such as older games or lightly-threaded productivity tasks. The AMD chip, with its four physical cores, offers a slight edge in sustained multi-threaded workloads like video encoding or rendering, as reflected in its Cinebench wins. However, the margins are small — never exceeding 3.8% in AMD's favor — making the Intel part's 33% Geekbench single-core dominance the more decisive differentiator.

Both processors sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers by modern standards. The Intel Core i5-3470T also carries a massive power efficiency advantage at 35W versus 95W, which favors compact builds or systems with limited cooling. The AMD A8-7650K compensates with an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking potential that the locked Intel chip cannot match.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results split into two clear camps. AMD's A8-7650K claims victory in all five Cinebench tests, while Intel's Core i5-3470T wins both Geekbench tests. The Cinebench wins for AMD are uniform: every test — R15 multi-core (266 vs 256), R20 multi-core (1111 vs 1069), R20 single-core (156 vs 150), R23 multi-core (2647 vs 2547), and R23 single-core (373 vs 359) — shows the same 3.8% delta. This consistency suggests a steady architectural advantage in Cinebench's workload, regardless of thread count or render complexity.

Intel's Geekbench results tell a different story. The multi-core score of 1102 versus AMD's 1048 gives Intel a 5.2% edge, reversing AMD's Cinebench trend. The single-core Geekbench result is even more striking: 560 versus 421, a 33% lead for Intel. This is the single largest performance gap between the two processors in any test, and it highlights a fundamental difference in how each chip handles Geekbench's specific instruction mix.

The overall win count favors AMD at 5 wins to Intel's 2, but raw win totals obscure the magnitude. AMD's wins are all narrow (3.8%), while Intel's single-core Geekbench win is nearly nine times larger. When averaging across all benchmarks, the two chips land within 0.3% of each other, confirming that neither has a universal performance advantage. The data suggests that the choice between them should hinge on workload type: Cinebench-style rendering tilts toward AMD, while Geekbench-style mixed workloads tilt toward Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every physical and electrical specification. The Intel Core i5-3470T uses 2 cores with 4 threads, while the AMD A8-7650K uses 4 cores with 4 threads — same total thread count, different core allocation. Base clocks favor AMD at 3.30 GHz versus Intel's 2.90 GHz, and boost clocks favor AMD at 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: Intel draws 35W, AMD draws 95W, a 60W gap that has thermal and power-supply implications.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1155, AMD uses Socket FM2+. The Intel chip is built on Intel's 22 nm process with a die size of 93.6 mm², while AMD's chip uses GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process with a substantially larger 245 mm² die and 2,411 million transistors. Cache hierarchies differ as well: Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3; AMD offers 256 KB L1 total and 4 MB L2, with no L3 cache.

Memory support is identical in type (DDR3) and bus (dual-channel), but AMD specifies a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s while Intel's figure is not listed. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and neither supports ECC memory. Integrated graphics differ, with Intel's HD 2500 versus AMD's Radeon R7. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. Release dates are nearly three years apart: Intel launched on 2012-05-31, AMD on 2015-01-06. AMD's production status is listed as end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. Intel's Core i5-3470T uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm node, a die-shrink of the earlier Sandy Bridge design. AMD's A8-7650K uses the Steamroller architecture (codenamed Kaveri) on a 28 nm node from GlobalFoundries. These represent fundamentally different design philosophies: Intel favors fewer, wider cores with a shared L3 cache, while AMD's Steamroller is a module-based design with four compact cores and no L3.

The cache layouts reflect this divergence. Intel's per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) are supplemented by a 3 MB shared L3, which helps mitigate the impact of having only two physical cores. AMD's larger 4 MB L2 and 256 KB total L1 compensate for the absence of L3, but the lack of shared cache can be a disadvantage in certain multi-threaded scenarios. The transistor counts are not directly comparable — Intel's figure is not listed, while AMD's 2,411 million transistors are packed into a 245 mm² die, yielding a lower density than Intel's 93.6 mm² die at 22 nm.

The integrated graphics also represent different generations. Intel's HD 2500 is a modest IGP from the Ivy Bridge era, while AMD's Radeon R7 is a more capable integrated GPU that leverages the Kaveri's heterogeneous system architecture. This is a meaningful difference for users who plan to rely on integrated graphics, though the benchmark data in this pack does not include GPU performance metrics.

Power efficiency is another architectural consequence. Intel's 35W TDP on a 22 nm process reflects a design optimized for low power consumption. AMD's 95W TDP on 28 nm indicates a higher-power design, which is consistent with its larger die and four-core layout. The unlocked multiplier on the AMD chip suggests it was designed with enthusiast overclocking in mind, whereas Intel's locked multiplier targets a more conservative, power-conscious market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3470T wins decisively in Geekbench single-core performance, with a 33% margin over the AMD A8-7650K. This makes it the better choice for applications that are lightly threaded or that depend heavily on per-core instruction throughput. Legacy software, many older games, and single-threaded productivity tools would likely benefit from Intel's advantage in this area. The Intel chip's multi-core Geekbench score is also higher by 5.2%, indicating that even in mixed-thread workloads, Intel's architecture can hold its own.

The AMD A8-7650K wins in every Cinebench test, with a uniform 3.8% lead across R15, R20, and R23 in both single and multi-core modes. This suggests a consistent advantage in rendering workloads that are characteristic of Cinebench's testing methodology. For users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or other heavily multi-threaded tasks, the AMD chip's four physical cores provide a measurable, if modest, benefit. The consistency of the 3.8% delta across all Cinebench variants indicates that this advantage is stable regardless of render complexity or test version.

The AMD chip also offers an unlocked multiplier, enabling manual overclocking that could widen its lead in favorable conditions. However, the Intel chip's 35W TDP makes it the better fit for low-power or thermally constrained builds, where its 60W lower power draw compared to AMD's 95W could be decisive. For users who prioritize raw single-threaded performance or power efficiency, the Intel Core i5-3470T is the data-supported choice. For users who prioritize consistent multi-threaded rendering performance and are willing to accept higher power consumption, the AMD A8-7650K wins on the strength of its five Cinebench victories.