CPU Comparison

# Intel Core i5-2400S vs AMD A8-9600

The AMD A8-9600 wins every benchmark in this comparison, though the margins are consistently narrow. Across five Cinebench tests, the AMD part leads by 6.7% to 7.0%, which puts both processors in the same performance class. The Intel Core i5-2400S and AMD A8-9600 both sit at the 26th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are 968 and 962 respectively, a difference of less than 1%. These are closely matched parts, but the AMD chip edges ahead in every measured workload.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-9600 is the outright winner in all five head-to-head benchmarks. It takes the Cinebench R15 multicore test with 281 points against the Intel's 262, a 6.8% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multicore, AMD scores 1174 versus 1092, a 7% lead. The single-core tests follow the same pattern: AMD wins R20 single-core 165 to 154 (6.7% ahead) and R23 single-core 394 to 367 (6.9% ahead). The largest gap comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where AMD's 2797 beats Intel's 2601 by exactly 7%.

There is no benchmark where the Intel Core i5-2400S comes out ahead. However, the Intel chip's closest rival comparison shows it performs nearly identically to the AMD PRO A8-9600, which is the same Bristol Ridge architecture as the consumer A8-9600; that rival scores 971 with a delta of -0.3%. The Intel part also matches the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U at 968 points and the Intel Xeon X5570 at 967 points. The AMD A8-9600, meanwhile, trades blows with the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T (963, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i3-4360T (963, -0.1% delta).

The practical takeaway: if you need the fastest chip in this pairing, the A8-9600 is the pick for every workload tested. But the differences are small enough that real-world tasks would feel similar. The AMD chip's wins are consistent but not dominant, a 7% edge is meaningful in benchmarks but not transformative in daily use.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from completely different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i5-2400S uses Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm architecture built by Intel with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. It features 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost of 3.30 GHz. Its cache layout is per-core: 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The Intel part supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Its integrated graphics is the Intel HD 2000.

The AMD A8-9600 uses Excavator, a 28 nm architecture from GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. It also has 4 cores and 4 threads, but runs at higher clocks: 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. Its cache is organized differently, 320 KB L1 total and 2 MB L2 total, with no L3 cache at all. The AMD chip supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. Its integrated graphics is the Radeon R7.

The transistor counts tell a striking story: AMD packs nearly three times as many transistors (3,100 million vs 1,160 million) on a slightly larger die (250 mm² vs 216 mm²), yet the Intel part achieves comparable performance. This reflects the architectural efficiency of Sandy Bridge versus the older Excavator design. The AMD chip's lack of L3 cache is a major structural difference, Intel's 6 MB shared L3 gives it a caching advantage, though AMD compensates with higher clock speeds and faster DDR4 memory support. The A8-9600 also uses a modern AM4 socket versus Intel's Socket 1155, meaning the AMD platform offers a much more recent upgrade path.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The AMD A8-9600 wins all single-core tests. It scores 165 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus Intel's 154 (6.7% ahead) and 394 in R23 single-core versus 367 (6.9% ahead).

Q: Do these CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither supports simultaneous multithreading.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel Core i5-2400S supports DDR3, while the AMD A8-9600 supports DDR4 with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Are these chips still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-2400S is end-of-life and was released on January 8, 2011. The AMD A8-9600 is still active in production, having launched on July 26, 2017.

Q: Which CPU has a better integrated GPU?

A: The AMD A8-9600 comes with Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Core i5-2400S has Intel HD 2000. The AMD part's graphics are from a much newer generation.

Q: How do these chips compare to other CPUs in the database?

A: Both sit at the 26th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part's average benchmark score is 968, matching the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, while the AMD A8-9600's average of 962 is closest to the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2400S | AMD A8-9600 |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Excavator |

| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Bristol Ridge |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 3,100 million |

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 250 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 320 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | 16 (Gen 3, CPU only) | 8 (Gen 3, CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Radeon R7 |

| Release Date | January 8, 2011 | July 26, 2017 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Part Number | SR00S | AD9600AGABBOXAD9600AGM44AB |

The most consequential differences are the memory type (DDR3 vs DDR4), the presence of L3 cache on Intel versus none on AMD, and the separate foundries and process nodes. The AMD chip has higher clocks on both base and boost, but the Intel part counters with a larger cache hierarchy and more PCIe lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A8-9600 sweeps all five head-to-head tests, but the margins tell the full story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, AMD scores 281 against Intel's 262, a 6.8% win. This is the oldest benchmark in the set, and it already favors AMD. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the gap widens slightly to 7%, with AMD at 1174 and Intel at 1092.

Single-core results are equally one-sided. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD leads 165 to 154, a 6.7% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is 6.9% with AMD scoring 394 versus 367. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where AMD's 2797 beats Intel's 2601 by exactly 7%.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Every test lands between 6.7% and 7.0%, suggesting a fixed performance differential rather than workload-specific strengths. The AMD chip's higher base clock (3.10 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and boost clock (3.40 GHz vs 3.30 GHz) likely explain this uniform advantage. Even though Intel has a 6 MB L3 cache and AMD has none, the raw clock speed advantage appears to outweigh the cache deficit in these Cinebench workloads.

The Intel chip's benchmark profile shows it scores 1709 in Geekbench multicore and 593 in single-core, while the AMD part lacks Geekbench results in this data. The Intel chip also has a Cinebench R15 score of 262 and R20 scores of 1092 (multicore) and 154 (single-core). The AMD part's full benchmark list covers only the five Cinebench tests, all of which it wins.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD A8-9600 is the faster processor in every benchmark measured. If you are choosing between these two for a new build, the AMD chip wins on raw performance, with a 6.7% to 7% lead across all Cinebench tests. It also offers modern advantages that the Intel part lacks, DDR4 memory support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, a newer AM4 socket, active production status, and Radeon R7 integrated graphics.

The Intel Core i5-2400S is not without merit. It matches the AMD chip's average benchmark score almost exactly (968 vs 962) and holds its own against modern rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U and Intel Xeon X5570. Its 6 MB shared L3 cache and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are structural advantages, and its 32 nm process from Intel is more transistor-efficient per die area. But none of that translates to a benchmark win in this comparison.

For a builder prioritizing maximum performance in this pairing, the AMD A8-9600 is the straightforward choice. It wins every test, supports newer memory, and remains an active product. The Intel chip's only real argument is platform familiarity or existing Socket 1155 infrastructure, but on pure benchmark results, the AMD A8-9600 is the faster CPU, and that is the whole story.