AMD A8-7650K vs Intel Core i5-5200U Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data reveals a sharp split between these two end-of-life processors. The AMD A8-7650K wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-5200U wins only 2. However, the nature of those wins tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The AMD A8-7650K dominates every Cinebench test, from the older R15 multicore (266 vs 214, a 19.5% advantage) to the modern R23 multicore (2647 vs 2125, a 19.7% advantage). Its single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: R23 single-core shows 373 vs 300, a 19.6% edge. This consistency across all Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental throughput advantage in render-style workloads.

The Intel Core i5-5200U, despite being a 15-watt mobile part, strikes back decisively in Geekbench. The multicore score of 1464 versus 1048 represents a 39.7% lead, while the single-core score of 742 versus 421 is a massive 76.2% advantage. These are not marginal differences; they are categorical gaps.

The overall average benchmark scores place the AMD part slightly ahead: 860 versus 838, a 2.6% difference. Both processors sit in similar percentile territory, with the AMD at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs and the Intel at the 22nd. The nearest rivals for each reinforce their positioning: the AMD trades places with the Intel Core i7-4500U (0.1% delta) and Xeon W3520 (0.2% delta), while the Intel i5-5200U sits exactly level with the Core i5-3380M (0% delta) and within 0.3% of the Core i7-920.

Who should pick which? For anyone running Cinebench-style applications, the AMD A8-7650K is the clear choice. For Geekbench-oriented workloads, especially single-threaded tasks, the Intel Core i5-5200U is categorically superior. The data does not support a single universal winner; it supports two different winners for two different workload families.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-5200U is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, using a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD A8-7650K uses Steamroller architecture under the Kaveri codename, fabricated on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries.

Transistor counts and die sizes reflect this process gap. The Intel chip packs 1,300 million transistors into an 82 mm² die. The AMD chip contains 2,411 million transistors across a 245 mm² die. The AMD design is nearly three times larger in die area and carries almost twice the transistor count, yet still trails in several benchmarks, which speaks to architectural efficiency differences.

Core configurations diverge sharply. The Intel chip has 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The AMD chip has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, no simultaneous multithreading. Despite having twice the physical core count, the AMD part only leads by roughly 20% in Cinebench multicore tests, suggesting the Intel architecture extracts more work per thread.

Cache hierarchies differ in structure. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD provides 256 KB of L1 total, 4 MB of L2 total, and no L3 cache at all. The Intel approach dedicates more cache per core, while AMD pools a larger L2 but skips L3 entirely.

Memory bandwidth favors the AMD part: 34.1 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s, both over dual-channel DDR3. PCIe connectivity also differs, with Intel offering Gen 2 with 12 lanes and AMD offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not.

Clock speeds show the AMD part running higher: 3.30 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.20 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost for Intel. The TDP gap is enormous: 95 watts for AMD versus 15 watts for Intel. This is a mobile versus desktop comparison in every sense.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-7650K wins in every Cinebench test recorded. The data shows a consistent 19.2% to 19.7% advantage across all four Cinebench variants, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multicore modes. This suggests the AMD architecture handles the Cinebench workload particularly well, likely due to its higher clock speeds and four physical cores.

The Intel Core i5-5200U wins in both Geekbench tests, and these wins are far larger in magnitude than the AMD's Cinebench wins. The single-core Geekbench advantage is 76.2%, and the multicore advantage is 39.7%. These are decisive margins that dwarf the AMD's 19.7% Cinebench lead.

The use-case split is therefore clear. For rendering, 3D visualization, or any workload that follows Cinebench's pattern, the AMD A8-7650K is the stronger performer. For general-purpose computing, web browsing, office applications, or any workload that follows Geekbench's pattern, the Intel Core i5-5200U is dramatically better, especially in single-threaded scenarios.

The average benchmark score slightly favors AMD at 860 versus 838, but this average obscures the bimodal nature of the results. The Intel chip's enormous Geekbench wins partially offset the AMD's consistent Cinebench victories. A user's choice should depend entirely on which benchmark family better represents their actual workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has an average benchmark score of 860, compared to 838 for the Intel Core i5-5200U, a difference of approximately 2.6%.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The results are contradictory across benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD A8-7650K leads with 373 versus 300, a 19.6% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel Core i5-5200U leads with 742 versus 421, a 76.2% advantage.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-5200U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads. Despite the core count difference, the Intel chip wins Geekbench multicore by 39.7%.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No, both are marked as end-of-life in the database.

Q: What is the TDP difference between them?

A: The Intel Core i5-5200U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD A8-7650K has a TDP of 95 watts. The AMD part consumes over six times the power budget.

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, compared to 25.6 GB/s for the Intel Core i5-5200U. Both use dual-channel DDR3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test sets the pattern for the AMD's wins. The AMD A8-7650K scores 266 against the Intel's 214, a 19.5% delta. This advantage carries into Cinebench R20 multicore, where the AMD scores 1111 against 892, a 19.7% lead. The R23 multicore test shows the same margin: 2647 versus 2125, again 19.7%.

Single-core Cinebench results follow suit. In R20 single-core, the AMD leads 156 to 126, a 19.2% margin. In R23 single-core, the AMD leads 373 to 300, a 19.6% margin. The consistency across all five Cinebench tests, with deltas clustering tightly between 19.2% and 19.7%, suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The Geekbench results tell a completely different story. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i5-5200U scores 1464 against the AMD's 1048, a 39.7% advantage. This is roughly double the AMD's Cinebench lead in percentage terms. The Geekbench single-core test is even more lopsided: Intel scores 742, AMD scores 421, a 76.2% delta.

The head-to-head tally shows AMD winning 5 tests and Intel winning 2. However, the magnitude of Intel's wins (39.7% and 76.2%) far exceeds the magnitude of AMD's wins (all near 19.5%). If a user weights benchmarks equally, AMD wins. If a user weights by margin size, the Intel chip's two victories carry disproportionate weight.

Specification Differences

The core configuration differs fundamentally: Intel has 2 cores and 4 threads, AMD has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for Intel versus 3.30 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 2.70 GHz for Intel versus 3.80 GHz for AMD.

TDP separates them by a factor of more than six: 15 watts for Intel, 95 watts for AMD. The Intel socket is BGA 1168, while AMD uses Socket FM2+. The Intel architecture is Broadwell on a 14 nm process; the AMD is Steamroller on 28 nm. The Intel foundry is Intel, the AMD foundry is GlobalFoundries.

Transistor counts are 1,300 million for Intel versus 2,411 million for AMD. Die sizes are 82 mm² versus 245 mm². Cache configurations differ: Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core with 3 MB shared L3; AMD provides 256 KB total L1 and 4 MB total L2 with no L3.

Memory bandwidth shows AMD at 34.1 GB/s versus Intel at 25.6 GB/s. PCIe support differs: Intel is Gen 2 with 12 lanes, AMD is Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Intel integrated graphics is HD 5500; the AMD is Radeon R7. The Intel multiplier is locked; the AMD multiplier is unlocked. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $281; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.