CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon X3460 and AMD A8-7650K are both end-of-life processors that land in the same performance tier, with the AMD chip holding a consistent, narrow lead across every benchmark in this comparison. The Xeon X3460, a 2009 server/workstation part, and the A8-7650K, a 2015 desktop APU, both sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical at 866 and 860 respectively. However, the data shows a clear, if modest, overall winner: the A8-7650K wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 4.5% to 4.9%.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-7650K wins every benchmark in the comparison, making its case straightforward. In multi-core workloads, it consistently outperforms the Xeon X3460 by 4.9% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. For example, the A8-7650K scores 266 versus 253 in Cinebench R15 multicore, and 2647 versus 2518 in Cinebench R23 multicore. The single-core results tell the same story: the A8-7650K leads by 4.5% in R20 single-core (156 versus 149) and by 4.8% in R23 single-core (373 versus 355). This means that for any rendering or heavily threaded task, the AMD part delivers slightly better throughput, and it also holds an edge in lightly threaded applications.

The Intel Xeon X3460 does not win a single head-to-head benchmark in this data set, but it does have one distinct advantage: ECC memory support, which is absent on the AMD chip. That makes the Xeon the only viable choice for systems requiring error-correcting memory, such as a budget server or workstation where data integrity is critical. The Xeon also uses a different platform, Intel Socket 1156 versus AMD Socket FM2+, so the "win" for the AMD part is purely on raw compute, not on ecosystem features like memory reliability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and eras. The Xeon X3460 uses Intel's Nehalem architecture, specifically the Lynnfield codename, built on a 45 nm process with 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. It is a 4-core, 8-thread part with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.47 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a classic server design with a large shared cache and ECC support.

The AMD A8-7650K uses the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Kaveri, on a much newer 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors into a smaller 245 mm² die. It is also a 4-core part, but only 4 threads (no SMT), with a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost of 3.80 GHz. Its cache is simpler: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The AMD chip compensates with a higher memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s for the Intel, and it integrates Radeon R7 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The AMD part is also multiplier-unlocked, while the Xeon is locked, and it supports PCIe Gen 3 versus Gen 2 on the Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is one-sided, but the margins are consistent and small. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the A8-7650K scores 266 against the Xeon's 253, a 4.9% advantage. The same 4.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore: 1111 versus 1057. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the AMD chip scores 2647 against 2518, again 4.9% ahead. These are not dramatic wins, but they are uniform across all rendering tests, indicating that the AMD chip's higher clocks and newer process give it a slight edge in both lightly and heavily threaded workloads.

The single-core tests reinforce this. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the A8-7650K leads 156 to 149, a 4.5% margin. In R23 single-core, it leads 373 to 355, a 4.8% gap. The AMD chip also has additional Geekbench results (1048 multicore, 421 singlecore) that are not present for the Intel part, but these do not affect the head-to-head comparison. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3540M (avg score 867, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Xeon W3520 (avg score 862, delta 0.5%), while the AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-4500U (avg score 859, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-2500T (avg score 856, delta 0.4%). Both processors sit in a crowded field of mid-range parts from their respective eras, but the A8-7650K's 5-0 sweep in this comparison is unambiguous.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD A8-7650K is faster, winning all three multi-core Cinebench tests by 4.9%. It scores 266 versus 253 in R15, 1111 versus 1057 in R20, and 2647 versus 2518 in R23.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon X3460 have any advantage over the AMD A8-7650K?

A: Yes, the Xeon supports ECC memory, while the A8-7650K does not. This makes the Xeon the only option for systems requiring error-correcting memory.

Q: Do the two processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: No. Both have 4 cores, but the Xeon X3460 has 8 threads (due to Hyper-Threading), while the A8-7650K has only 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz versus 2.80 GHz on the Intel, and a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.47 GHz.

Q: Is there a difference in integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The AMD A8-7650K includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Xeon X3460 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. The Xeon X3460 has an average benchmark score of 866, and the A8-7650K has 860, with both sitting at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data is clear: for raw compute performance, the AMD A8-7650K is the better processor. It wins every benchmark in this comparison, with margins between 4.5% and 4.9%, and it does so with a newer architecture, higher clocks, and integrated graphics. Anyone building a desktop system for general use, light rendering, or tasks that benefit from even a small performance edge should choose the A8-7650K. Its unlocked multiplier also allows for additional overclocking, which the locked Xeon cannot offer.

The Intel Xeon X3460 is only the right choice in one specific scenario: when ECC memory is required. For a server or workstation where data corruption is unacceptable, the Xeon's ECC support is a decisive feature that no benchmark score can override. It also uses the Intel Socket 1156 platform, which may be cheaper or more available in certain used markets, but the data shows no performance reason to pick it. The Xeon's 8 threads versus 4 on the AMD part do not translate into a win in any test, as the AMD chip's higher clocks and newer process compensate fully. In short, pick the A8-7650K for speed and flexibility, and the Xeon X3460 only for ECC reliability.

Specification Differences

• Threads: Intel Xeon X3460 has 8 threads; AMD A8-7650K has 4 threads.
• Base Clock: Intel is 2.80 GHz; AMD is 3.30 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Intel is 3.47 GHz; AMD is 3.80 GHz.
• Process Node: Intel is 45 nm; AMD is 28 nm.
• Foundry: Intel uses Intel; AMD uses GlobalFoundries.
• Transistors: Intel has 774 million; AMD has 2,411 million.
• Die Size: Intel is 296 mm²; AMD is 245 mm².
• L1 Cache: Intel has 64 KB per core; AMD has 256 KB total.
• L2 Cache: Intel has 256 KB per core; AMD has 4 MB total.
• L3 Cache: Intel has 8 MB shared; AMD has none.
• Memory Bandwidth: Intel is 21.3 GB/s; AMD is 34.1 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: Intel supports it; AMD does not.
• PCIe: Intel is Gen 2, 16 lanes; AMD is Gen 3, 16 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: Intel has none; AMD has Radeon R7.
• Socket: Intel uses Intel Socket 1156; AMD uses AMD Socket FM2+.
• Market Segment: Intel is Server/Workstation; AMD is Desktop.
• Multiplier Unlocked: Intel is locked; AMD is unlocked.
• Release Date: Intel is 2009-09-07; AMD is 2015-01-06.
• Launch MSRP: Intel is $316; AMD has no listed MSRP.