AMD A8-7670K vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD A8-7670K in the five shared Cinebench tests. The AMD part wins every single benchmark, with the margin staying consistently in the 13% range. This is an unusual pattern; most head-to-head comparisons show at least one test where the architecture flips the result, but here the AMD processor is uniformly ahead.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD A8-7670K scores 276 against the Intel Core i7-5500U's 240, a 13% advantage. The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where AMD posts 1152 versus Intel's 1000, a 13.2% lead. The single-core tests tell the same story: in Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD scores 162 to Intel's 141, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 387 to Intel's 336. Both are 13% and 13.2% deltas respectively. The largest percentage gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD's 2745 versus Intel's 2381 represents a 13.3% difference.

The consistency of these margins is notable. The Intel chip cannot claim a single win in any recorded shared benchmark. Even where Intel's architecture might normally shine, such as single-threaded workloads, the AMD part holds a comfortable, uniform edge. The average benchmark score reflects this: Intel sits at 953, AMD at 944, a difference of less than 1%, but the head-to-head tests show a more decisive pattern than the averages suggest.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context, the Intel Core i7-5500U's average score of 953 places it within a hair of the Intel Xeon W3570 (955, delta -0.2%), the Intel Celeron N5105 (955, delta -0.2%), and the AMD A10-9700E (951, delta 0.3%). The AMD A8-7670K, with an average of 944, is similarly clustered around the Intel Core i3-1110G4 (945, delta -0.1%), the AMD Athlon X4 860K (943, delta 0.1%), and the AMD Phenom II X6 1045T (946, delta -0.2%). Both CPUs occupy the 25th percentile among all recorded CPUs, meaning they sit at the same relative position in the overall distribution, despite their different strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD A8-7670K scores 387, which is 13.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-5500U's 336. The AMD part wins every single-core test in the shared benchmark set.

Q: What is the multi-core performance difference in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD A8-7670K scores 276, while the Intel Core i7-5500U scores 240. This gives AMD a 13% lead in that specific test.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-5500U has an average benchmark score of 953, while the AMD A8-7670K averages 944. The Intel chip edges out AMD by about 1% in the overall average, despite losing every head-to-head test.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory. However, the AMD A8-7670K has a higher memory bandwidth at 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Core i7-5500U is rated at 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A8-7670K has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i7-5500U has 2 physical cores with 4 threads. Both CPUs present 4 threads to the operating system.

Q: Is the AMD A8-7670K's lead in single-core tests surprising given the Intel chip's architecture?

A: The data shows a uniform 13% to 13.2% lead for AMD across all shared tests, including single-core. The Intel part's boost clock is 3.00 GHz compared to AMD's 3.90 GHz, which aligns with the observed performance gap.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-7670K wins every shared benchmark in the database. There is no test in the head-to-head set where the Intel Core i7-5500U comes out ahead. This makes the use-case split straightforward: for any workload represented by Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, the AMD part is the faster choice. The margins are consistent, ranging from 13% to 13.3%, so the AMD chip wins by a similar amount across single-core and multi-core tasks.

The Intel Core i7-5500U does have one statistical advantage: its average benchmark score of 953 is slightly higher than AMD's 944. This suggests that in a broader benchmark suite, the Intel chip may perform closer to parity or even better in tests not captured in the head-to-head list. However, based strictly on the recorded shared tests, the Intel part has zero wins and the AMD part has five wins.

For workloads that are sensitive to raw Cinebench performance, the AMD A8-7670K is the clear pick. This includes rendering tasks, which Cinebench simulates. The AMD chip's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to Intel's 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, likely explains the consistent advantage. The Intel chip's lower TDP of 15 watts versus AMD's 95 watts indicates a different design goal, but in pure benchmark performance, the desktop-oriented AMD part dominates.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-5500U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD A8-7670K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Both present 4 threads to software, but the physical core count differs. The Intel chip runs at a base clock of 2.40 GHz with a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the AMD chip runs at 3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, giving AMD a 1.20 GHz base advantage and 0.90 GHz boost advantage.

The thermal design power tells a stark story: Intel is rated at 15 watts, AMD at 95 watts. This reflects their different market segments, with Intel targeting mobile and AMD targeting desktop. The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1168, AMD uses Socket FM2+. Both support DDR3 memory and dual-channel configurations, but AMD's memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s versus Intel's 25.6 GB/s. The PCIe support differs as well: Intel offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes, while AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ: Intel has HD 5500, AMD has Radeon R7. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier status of false, while the AMD chip is multiplier unlocked. Production status is end-of-life for both. Release dates are close, with Intel launching on February 28, 2015, and AMD on July 19, 2015. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $393, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is significant. The Intel Core i7-5500U uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. The AMD A8-7670K uses the Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm process node, fabricated by GlobalFoundries. The transistor counts reflect the process difference: Intel packs 1,300 million transistors into an 82 mm² die, while AMD uses 2,411 million transistors across a 245 mm² die. The Intel die is roughly one-third the area of the AMD die, consistent with the more advanced 14 nm node.

Cache structures differ substantially. Intel has a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB, per-core L2 of 256 KB, and a shared L3 cache of 4 MB. AMD has a total L1 of 256 KB and L2 of 4 MB, with no L3 cache listed. The absence of L3 cache on the AMD part is notable; it relies entirely on L1 and L2. The Intel chip's L3 cache may help in certain workloads, but the benchmark data does not show an advantage from it in the shared tests.

Codename and generation also differ: Intel is "Broadwell-U" from the Core i7 (Broadwell-U) generation, while AMD is "Godaveri" from the A8 (Godaveri) generation. The Intel part number is SR23W, while the AMD part number is a longer string. Both are end-of-life products, so neither represents a current purchase option. The architecture differences explain the clock speed and power disparities, but the benchmark results show that the AMD design, despite older 28 nm lithography, delivers higher performance in the tested workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the AMD A8-7670K outperforms the Intel Core i7-5500U in every shared benchmark test. The AMD chip leads by 13% to 13.3% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes. Anyone selecting a CPU strictly on the basis of these Cinebench results should choose the AMD part.

The Intel Core i7-5500U does have a slightly higher average benchmark score of 953 versus 944, which indicates that in a broader test suite, the Intel chip might perform closer to parity. However, the database's head-to-head results show zero wins for Intel and five wins for AMD. The Intel chip's mobile orientation, with its 15 watt TDP and BGA socket, makes it unsuitable for desktop builds where the AMD part, with its 95 watt TDP and FM2+ socket, would be the natural fit.

For builders assembling a desktop system with an FM2+ motherboard, the AMD A8-7670K offers better Cinebench performance and a higher clock speed. For a mobile or low-power application, the Intel chip's 15 watt TDP is a clear advantage, but the benchmark scores are lower. The AMD part also has a higher memory bandwidth and Gen 3 PCIe support, while Intel offers Gen 2. The verdict is straightforward: the AMD A8-7670K wins on raw performance, while the Intel Core i7-5500U wins on power efficiency and a smaller physical footprint. Based on the recorded measurements, the AMD part is the faster CPU in every head-to-head comparison available.