AMD A8-9600 vs AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U Comparison

The AMD A8-9600 and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U represent two distinct eras of AMD mobile and desktop design. The data shows a decisive performance gap, with the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U securing the only direct head-to-head victory. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U scores 624 against the A8-9600's 281, a 55% difference in favor of the newer chip. This single benchmark encapsulates the generational leap between the two processors.

Looking at the broader benchmark database, the A8-9600 posts an average score of 962, placing it in the 26th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T and Intel Core i3-4360T, both with an average score of 963, a negligible 0.1% difference. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600 trails by a similar margin at 958, while the Intel Celeron N5100 leads slightly with 966. The A8-9600 essentially sits at parity with these chips, indicating its position as an entry-level desktop part.

The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U, despite a lower average benchmark score of 947, achieves a 25th percentile ranking. Its closest competitors are the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T, Intel Xeon X5560, and AMD Phenom II X6 1045T, all scoring 946 and effectively matching its performance. The Intel Core i3-1110G4 comes in at 945. While the average scores are nearly identical, the Ryzen 5 PRO's performance profile is different, as seen in its specific benchmark results. In Geekbench, it scores 2202 multi-core and 819 single-core, while in Cinebench R15 single-core it manages 142. The A8-9600's single-core scores are lower, with 165 in Cinebench R20 and 394 in Cinebench R23, though direct comparisons are limited by differing test suites.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U in multi-core rendering?

A: In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U scores 624, which is 55% higher than the A8-9600's 281. This is the only benchmark where both processors were tested directly against each other.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score?

A: The data does not provide a direct head-to-head single-core comparison. However, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U records a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 142, while the A8-9600 has a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 165 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 394. These are different test versions, so a direct comparison is not possible.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The A8-9600 has an average benchmark score of 962, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has an average score of 947. This represents a 1.6% difference, with the A8-9600 technically holding a higher average.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The A8-9600's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T, which scores 963, a 0.1% difference. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T, also scoring 946, a 0.1% difference. Both processors are essentially tied with their closest competitors.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has 8 threads, while the AMD A8-9600 has 4 threads. This doubling of threads is a key architectural advantage for the Ryzen part.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The A8-9600 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a TDP of 15 watts. This makes the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U significantly more power-efficient.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the clear winner in multi-threaded performance. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 624 is more than double that of the A8-9600, making it the superior choice for workloads like video encoding, 3D rendering, or running multiple virtual machines. The 8-thread configuration provides a tangible advantage in any task that can utilize parallel processing. The data indicates this is the only direct comparison available, but the result is unambiguous.

The AMD A8-9600, despite losing the head-to-head test, does not have a clear win in any recorded benchmark. Its average benchmark score of 962 is slightly higher than the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U's 947, which could suggest a marginal edge in some mixed-use scenarios. However, this is likely due to the different benchmark suites used for each processor. The A8-9600's higher average is not supported by any specific test victory. Its performance is more comparable to older Intel Pentium and Core i3 parts, indicating it is suited for basic desktop tasks, office productivity, and light web browsing, where the 4-core, 4-thread design is sufficient.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal fundamental differences in their design targets. The A8-9600 is a desktop processor using an AMD Socket AM4, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is a mobile processor using an AMD Socket FP5. The A8-9600 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz, whereas the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U starts at a lower 2.10 GHz but boosts higher to 3.70 GHz. The TDP values are drastically different: 65 watts for the desktop part versus 15 watts for the mobile part.

Memory support is similar, with both using dual-channel DDR4 and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe configuration differs: the A8-9600 lists "Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only)", while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U simply lists "Gen 3". The integrated graphics are also different, with the A8-9600 featuring a Radeon R7 and the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U featuring a Radeon Vega 8. The A8-9600 was released on 2017-07-26, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U was released later on 2019-04-07.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap explains the performance disparity. The A8-9600 is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, using a 28 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It has 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy includes 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. The processor is from the A8 (Bristol Ridge) generation.

In contrast, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, fabricated on a more advanced 12 nm process node, also by GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a smaller 210 mm² die. The cache structure is notably different: it has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is part of the 3000 series, specifically the Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Picasso)) generation.

These architectural differences are substantial. The move from Excavator to Zen+ represents a major IPC improvement, and the addition of a large L3 cache and simultaneous multithreading (8 threads vs 4) allows the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U to handle far more work per clock and per watt. The smaller 12 nm process node also contributes to its significantly lower power draw. The A8-9600, with its older Excavator design, lacks these advanced features, which is why it falls so far behind in the multi-core benchmark. The data clearly shows that the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the more modern and capable processor, despite the A8-9600's slightly higher average benchmark score.