AMD A8-7650K vs Intel Core i5-5250U Comparison

The AMD A8-7650K and Intel Core i5-5250U are two end-of-life processors from 2015 that target completely different market segments. The AMD chip is a desktop part with four physical cores and an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is a mobile part with two cores and four threads. Despite their differences in form factor and power, both land at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — the AMD A8-7650K averages 860, while the Intel Core i5-5250U averages 856. The data shows a fascinating split: the AMD part wins five of seven head-to-head benchmarks, but the Intel part wins the two Geekbench tests by massive margins.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-7650K dominates in Cinebench across every version and workload type. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 266 versus 209 for the Intel part. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore (1111 vs 873) and Cinebench R23 multicore (2647 vs 2079). Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the AMD part wins, posting 156 in R20 single-core versus 123, and 373 in R23 single-core versus 293. That is a clean sweep of all five Cinebench tests, with the AMD part consistently ahead by roughly 27% in each.

The Intel Core i5-5250U takes a different path to victory. Its wins come exclusively in Geekbench, where the results are dramatically reversed. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel part scores 1587 against 1048 for the AMD part — a 34% deficit for the AMD chip. The single-core Geekbench test is even more lopsided: Intel scores 825 versus 421, meaning the AMD part trails by 49%. This is not a marginal difference; the Intel part nearly doubles the AMD score in that test.

The benchmark split suggests the AMD A8-7650K is better suited for rendering and CPU-intensive compute workloads, as measured by Cinebench's rendering engine. The Intel Core i5-5250U, on the other hand, shows superior performance in the Geekbench suite, which may reflect different memory latency characteristics or IPC strengths. Users should weigh which benchmark suite better represents their target applications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and nodes. The AMD A8-7650K uses the Steamroller architecture on the Kaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i5-5250U uses the Broadwell architecture on the Broadwell-U codename, built on a 14 nm process at Intel. The node difference is significant: 28 nm versus 14 nm, which helps explain the massive TDP gap between the two parts.

The AMD chip has a TDP of 95 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 15 watts. That is a six-fold difference in power envelope. The AMD part's transistor count is 2,411 million across a die size of 245 mm². The Intel part has 1,900 million transistors on a much smaller 133 mm² die. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory, but the AMD part has a higher memory bandwidth at 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s.

Core configurations differ substantially. The AMD A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel Core i5-5250U has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 1600.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. Cache layouts are also distinct. The AMD part has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

Connectivity differs as well. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes. The AMD socket is FM2+, and the Intel socket is BGA 1168. Integrated graphics are present on both: Radeon R7 on the AMD side, Intel HD 6000 on the Intel side. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, whereas the Intel part is locked. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $315; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are the AMD A8-7650K's strongest showing. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 266 against 209 for the Intel part, a 27.3% advantage. Cinebench R20 multicore shows the same 27.3% delta, with scores of 1111 and 873. The single-core tests follow suit: Cinebench R20 single-core gives the AMD part a 26.8% lead (156 vs 123), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 27.3% lead (373 vs 293). The consistency of the delta across every Cinebench test suggests a stable performance advantage in that workload.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i5-5250U scores 1587, while the AMD A8-7650K scores 1048. That is a 34% deficit for the AMD part. Geekbench single-core is even more brutal for AMD: 825 for Intel versus 421 for AMD, a 49% gap. The Intel part's advantage in single-core Geekbench is more than double the AMD part's score, which is a striking result given that the AMD part has a higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs 1600.00 MHz) and a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz vs 2.70 GHz).

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the AMD A8-7650K's average score of 860 places it within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-2500T (856), 0.1% above the Intel Core i7-4500U (859), and 0.2% above the Intel Xeon W3520 (862). The Intel Core i5-5250U's average score of 856 is exactly even with the Intel Core i5-2500T, 0.4% below the Intel Core i7-4500U, and 0.5% above the Intel Xeon X5492. Both parts sit in a tight cluster of comparable CPUs from that era.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the workload. The AMD A8-7650K is the clear winner for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, winning all five Cinebench tests by roughly 27% each. It also offers more physical cores, a higher clock speed, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. That makes it the more capable desktop compute chip for multi-threaded rendering tasks.

The Intel Core i5-5250U wins decisively in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance where it nearly doubles the AMD part's score. It also consumes far less power — 15 watts versus 95 watts — which reflects its mobile design. The Intel part's 14 nm node and 3 MB of shared L3 cache may contribute to its Geekbench advantage, though the data does not isolate the cause.

For a desktop user prioritizing rendering performance and overclocking headroom, the AMD A8-7650K is the pick. For a mobile or low-power build where Geekbench-style performance matters and efficiency is paramount, the Intel Core i5-5250U is the answer. Both parts are end-of-life and land at the 23rd percentile, so neither is a high-performance option by modern standards. The Intel part's launch MSRP was $315, which is worth noting for historical context.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-5250U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning it relies on hyper-threading to reach 4 threads.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD A8-7650K scores 2647 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 27.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-5250U's score of 2079.

Q: What is the single biggest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i5-5250U scores 825 versus 421 for the AMD A8-7650K, giving the Intel part a 49% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both the AMD A8-7650K and the Intel Core i5-5250U support DDR3 memory with dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part has a higher memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Are either of these processors overclockable?

A: Only the AMD A8-7650K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The Intel Core i5-5250U has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has an average benchmark score of 860, while the Intel Core i5-5250U has an average score of 856. The AMD part is 0.5% ahead of the Intel part in the nearestRivals data.