AMD A8-9600 vs Intel Core i5-5257U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably consistent picture: the AMD A8-9600 wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison, and by nearly identical margins. Across five Cinebench tests, the AMD part leads by roughly 14% in every instance, with delta percentages of -13.9% or -14.0% depending on the specific test. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-dependent.

Starting with multi-core rendering, the A8-9600 scores 281 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, against 242 for the Core i5-5257U, a 13.9% advantage. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD chip posts 1174 versus 1010 for Intel, a 14% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the same story: 2797 for AMD, 2406 for Intel, again 14% apart. These are not marginal victories; they are consistent, reproducible leads across three generations of the Cinebench suite.

Single-core results tell the same tale. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the A8-9600 scores 165, while the i5-5257U manages 142, a 13.9% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 394 for AMD against 339 for Intel, a 14% gap. The fact that the delta is nearly identical in single-core and multi-core tests is notable: it implies the AMD architecture wins per-thread performance too, not just through raw core count.

The i5-5257U has no head-to-head wins in the database. Of the five recorded comparisons, AMD takes all five. The Intel part's average benchmark score across all tests is 976, while the AMD part averages 962, meaning the overall averages are nearly identical despite the head-to-head sweep. This apparent contradiction resolves when considering that the Intel part has Geekbench scores in its record (1773 multi-core, 922 single-core), which pull its average up, while the AMD part lacks Geekbench entries and relies solely on Cinebench scores.

Both CPUs sit at the 26th percentile among all processors in the database, placing them in the same performance tier despite the consistent Cinebench deltas. The nearest rivals for the i5-5257U include the Intel Core i3-4150T, Core i3-4130, AMD Athlon X4 840, and AMD A10-7870K, all with average scores of 975 and delta percentages of 0.1%. For the A8-9600, its nearest neighbors are the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T (963, -0.1%), Intel Core i3-4360T (963, -0.1%), AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600 (958, 0.4%), and Intel Celeron N5100 (966, -0.5%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i5-5257U is built on Broadwell, specifically Broadwell-U, using Intel's 14 nm process with 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. It is a mobile part, socketed into Intel BGA 1168, designed for thin-and-light laptops. The AMD A8-9600 uses Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process with 3,100 million transistors across a 250 mm² die. It is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4.

The transistor counts and die sizes tell a story of different integration strategies. AMD packs 3,100 million transistors into 250 mm², while Intel fits 1,900 million into 133 mm². The 14 nm node gives Intel a density advantage, but the AMD design uses its larger die for four physical cores versus Intel's two. The core counts differ: 2 cores and 4 threads for Intel, 4 cores and 4 threads for AMD. Notably, AMD's four cores do not use simultaneous multithreading, while Intel's two cores each support two threads.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3 cache. AMD provides 320 KB total L1, 2 MB total L2, and no L3 cache at all. The absence of L3 on the AMD part is a major architectural difference, yet the benchmark results show AMD still wins by 14% consistently, suggesting the Excavator design compensates through other means, possibly higher clock speeds and memory bandwidth.

Memory support differs by generation. The Intel part supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The AMD part supports DDR4, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. That 8.5 GB/s bandwidth advantage could be part of why AMD wins despite lacking L3 cache. The PCIe implementations also differ: Intel offers Gen 2 with 12 CPU lanes, while AMD offers Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes. AMD's newer PCIe generation provides higher per-lane throughput, though fewer lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel pairs with Iris 6100, AMD with Radeon R7. The manufacturing timeline shows the Intel part released on 2015-02-28, while the AMD part arrived 2017-07-26, over two years later. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part remains in active production.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the AMD A8-9600 for anyone prioritizing raw CPU compute in Cinebench-style workloads. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with a consistent 14% margin across single-core and multi-core scenarios. The AMD part also carries a higher base clock (3.10 GHz versus 2.70 GHz) and higher boost clock (3.40 GHz versus 3.10 GHz), which likely explains the uniform single-core advantage.

However, the overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 976 for Intel versus 962 for AMD. The Intel part's Geekbench results, which are not present for AMD, boost its average. This means the Intel i5-5257U may hold an advantage in Geekbench-style workloads, though no direct head-to-head Geekbench comparison exists in the database.

The Intel part has a lower TDP of 28 watts against AMD's 65 watts, making it far more power-efficient for mobile use. The Intel part is also smaller (133 mm² versus 250 mm²) and uses a more advanced 14 nm process. For a laptop scenario, the Intel part is the only viable choice given its mobile socket and lower power draw. For a desktop where power is less constrained, the AMD part offers better Cinebench performance.

The launch MSRP for the Intel part is $315, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Both CPUs sit at the 26th percentile globally, meaning neither is a high-performance part by modern standards; they occupy the entry-to-mid range.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-5257U | AMD A8-9600 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Excavator |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Bristol Ridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | 3,100 million |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 250 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB per core | 320 KB total |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB per core | 2 MB total |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB shared | None |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes | Gen 3, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2017-07-26 |

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head tests?

A: The AMD A8-9600 wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core modes.

Q: How big is the performance gap between the two?

A: The AMD A8-9600 leads by approximately 14% in every head-to-head test, with delta percentages of -13.9% or -14.0% depending on the specific test.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-5257U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD A8-9600 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which CPU has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD A8-9600 has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.40 GHz, compared to 2.70 GHz and 3.10 GHz for the Intel part.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel part supports DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs in the database, despite the AMD part winning all head-to-head Cinebench tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-9600 wins in every measured Cinebench workload. The data shows a 13.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, a 14% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core, a 13.9% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core, a 14% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and a 14% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. The consistency of these margins suggests the AMD part has a fundamental per-clock and per-core advantage in rendering-style workloads. The higher base and boost clocks, plus the additional two physical cores, contribute to this sweep.

The Intel Core i5-5257U wins in scenarios not covered by the head-to-head benchmarks but visible in its own record. The Geekbench multi-core score of 1773 and single-core score of 922 indicate that the Intel part has competitive performance in Geekbench-style tests, though no direct AMD comparison exists in the database. The Intel part also wins on power efficiency: 28 W TDP versus 65 W, making it suitable for battery-powered mobile devices. Its smaller die size and 14 nm process suggest better thermal characteristics for constrained chassis. The Intel part's 3 MB L3 cache, absent on the AMD part, may benefit workloads with high cache reuse.

For desktop users with power headroom, the AMD A8-9600 is the clear choice based on the recorded data. It is the only one of the two with an active production status and uses the modern AM4 socket, which offers a path for future upgrades. For mobile users, the Intel part is the only option given its BGA 1168 socket and 28 W TDP, and its Geekbench scores indicate it is not without merit. The database shows both parts at the 26th percentile, so neither is a high-performance option; the choice hinges on platform and workload profile rather than outright capability.