CPU Comparison

The benchmark data places the AMD A8-7650K and Intel Xeon W3520 in the same performance tier, with average scores of 860 and 862 respectively, a difference of only 0.2%. However, this near-identical overall average masks a clear and consistent pattern: the AMD A8-7650K wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the data set, taking all five Cinebench tests with margins ranging from 5.1% to 5.4%. The Intel Xeon W3520, despite its workstation pedigree and higher thread count, trails in every measured workload. The verdict is not about raw capability, both are effectively tied, but about the nature of that capability, where AMD’s newer architecture delivers a small but uniform advantage in rendering tasks, while the Xeon offers a feature set aimed at a different class of system.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-7650K wins every benchmark where the two are directly compared. In the Cinebench suite, it leads by 5.3% in R15 multi-core (266 vs 252), 5.3% in R20 multi-core (1111 vs 1052), 5.1% in R20 single-core (156 vs 148), 5.4% in R23 multi-core (2647 vs 2505), and 5.4% in R23 single-core (373 vs 353). This is not a narrow or workload-specific victory; the AMD part is faster across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering tests, indicating a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage. The Intel Xeon W3520’s only path to victory would be through its 8 threads versus the AMD’s 4, but the data shows that advantage is insufficient to overcome the Steamroller core’s superior performance per thread.

The Intel Xeon W3520 does not win any of the five head-to-head benchmarks. Its strengths lie outside of raw Cinebench scores. It supports ECC memory and uses a triple-channel memory bus, while the AMD A8-7650K does not support ECC and uses dual-channel memory. The Xeon also targets the server/workstation segment, whereas the A8-7650K is a desktop part with integrated Radeon R7 graphics. For workloads that rely on error-correcting memory or a specific platform ecosystem, the Xeon is the only choice, but in measured compute performance, the AMD A8-7650K is consistently ahead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W3520 has an average benchmark score of 862, while the AMD A8-7650K scores 860. The difference is 0.2%, with the Xeon nominally ahead, but this is within the margin of error and effectively a tie.

Q: Does the AMD A8-7650K win every head-to-head benchmark?

A: Yes. The AMD A8-7650K wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with delta percentages ranging from -5.1% to -5.4% relative to the Intel Xeon W3520. The largest win is 5.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

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

A: The Intel Xeon W3520 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite having half the thread count, the AMD part still wins in multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W3520 supports ECC memory. The AMD A8-7650K does not support ECC memory, which is a significant difference for reliability-critical workstation use.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD A8-7650K scores 156 versus 148 for the Intel Xeon W3520, a 5.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 373 versus 353, a 5.4% lead.

Q: What are the memory bus configurations?

A: The Intel Xeon W3520 uses a triple-channel memory bus, while the AMD A8-7650K uses a dual-channel bus. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Xeon does not list a bandwidth figure in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD A8-7650K scores 2647 against the Intel Xeon W3520’s 2505, a 5.4% difference. This is notable because the Xeon has 8 threads to the AMD’s 4, yet still loses. The single-core R23 test shows the same 5.4% gap, with scores of 373 and 353. This suggests the AMD’s Steamroller architecture is substantially more efficient per thread than the older Nehalem design.

In the R20 suite, the pattern holds. Multi-core results show the AMD at 1111 versus the Xeon’s 1052, a 5.3% lead. Single-core R20 shows 156 versus 148, a 5.1% lead. The oldest test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, also goes to the AMD with 266 versus 252, again a 5.3% margin. Across all five tests, the AMD’s advantage is remarkably consistent, ranging narrowly between 5.1% and 5.4%. There is no outlier where the Xeon closes the gap or takes a win.

The average benchmark scores for the two parts are nearly identical, 862 for the Xeon and 860 for the AMD, placing them in the same percentile tier at 23% of all CPUs. The nearest rivals list confirms this: the Xeon’s closest competitor is the AMD A8-7650K itself with a 0.2% delta, and the AMD’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-4500U at 0.1% delta. The data indicates these two processors are direct competitors in overall performance, with the AMD holding a small but consistent edge in every measured rendering workload.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ significantly: the Intel Xeon W3520 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.67 GHz for the Intel and 3.30 GHz for the AMD, with boost clocks of 2.93 GHz and 3.80 GHz respectively. The Intel has a 130W TDP, while the AMD is rated at 95W. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 1366, and the AMD uses the AMD Socket FM2+. Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the Xeon uses a triple-channel bus while the AMD uses dual-channel, with the AMD listing a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Intel. PCIe generation differs: the Intel is Gen 2, while the AMD is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics; the Intel has no integrated graphics. The Intel is a server/workstation part, while the AMD is a desktop part. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel does not.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon W3520 is built on the Nehalem architecture with the codename Bloomfield, manufactured on a 45 nm process at Intel’s foundry. It contains 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD A8-7650K uses the Steamroller architecture with the codename Kaveri, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. Its cache is configured as 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. The AMD’s integrated Radeon R7 graphics are a major architectural difference, as the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The Xeon’s ECC memory support and triple-channel memory bus are also architectural features absent from the AMD. The AMD’s unlocked multiplier is a feature for overclocking, while the Xeon’s is locked.

The Verdict

The AMD A8-7650K is the faster processor in every benchmark where they are compared. It leads the Intel Xeon W3520 by 5.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core, by 5.3% in R20 multi-core and R15 multi-core, and by 5.1% in R20 single-core. For users whose primary concern is rendering performance in Cinebench, the AMD is the clear choice, despite having only 4 threads versus the Xeon’s 8. The AMD also offers a lower TDP of 95W versus 130W, a smaller 28 nm process node, integrated graphics, and an unlocked multiplier, making it a more modern and versatile desktop part.

The Intel Xeon W3520 is the right choice only for specific platform requirements. It supports ECC memory, which the AMD does not, and uses a triple-channel memory bus. It is a server/workstation part with a Socket 1366 interface, while the AMD is a desktop part on Socket FM2+. For a system that demands error-correcting memory or a workstation-class motherboard, the Xeon is the only option in this comparison, but it comes with a performance penalty in all measured benchmarks. The data shows that the Xeon’s extra threads and ECC support do not translate into a compute advantage; the AMD A8-7650K is faster across the board. Given the 0.2% difference in average scores, the overall performance tier is identical, but the AMD wins every direct test, making it the superior choice for raw throughput.