AMD A8-9600 vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD A8-9600 is the clear performance winner in this comparison. Across every single benchmark recorded in the database, the AMD A8-9600 beats the Intel Core i7-5500U by a consistent margin of roughly 17%. If the priority is raw computational output, the A8-9600 is the only choice.

The Intel Core i7-5500U is not without purpose, but its strength lies outside of pure compute. It is an end-of-life mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, making it suited for low-power, portable designs where efficiency matters more than speed. The AMD A8-9600 draws 65 W and is a desktop part.

The data shows that the A8-9600 wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, with a 17.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core being its largest margin. The i7-5500U wins zero benchmarks. However, the i7-5500U has a higher 25th percentile rank (25th vs 26th for AMD) and a lower average score deficit (953 vs 962), meaning the performance gap is not massive. The i7-5500U is the choice for users prioritizing a low-power, compact, or battery-powered system; the AMD is for those who need the extra performance and can accept the higher power draw and desktop form factor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and purposes. The AMD A8-9600 is built on the Excavator architecture, using the Bristol Ridge codename, and is manufactured on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It features 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is a 320 KB L1 and a 2 MB L2. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The chip is designed for the desktop segment, uses an AMD Socket AM4, and draws a 65 W TDP. It has 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die.

In contrast, the Intel Core i7-5500U uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-U, on a 14 nm process fabricated by Intel. It is a mobile processor with 2 physical cores and 4 threads (via Hyper-Threading). Base clock is 2.40 GHz, boost is 3.00 GHz. Its cache layout differs: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a 4 MB shared L3 cache. The memory support is DDR3, dual-channel, with a lower memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. It uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, has a TDP of only 15 W, and is marked as end-of-life. The die is 82 mm² and contains 1,300 million transistors.

The key differences are clear: the AMD is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop chip on a 28 nm node with DDR4 support, while Intel offers a 2-core, 4-thread mobile chip on a 14 nm node with DDR3 support. The AMD chip has a higher TDP and a larger die, reflecting its desktop orientation and older process.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A8-9600 wins every direct comparison in the database. The results are consistent, with the AMD chip holding a near-uniform lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 281 versus the Intel's 240, a 17.1% advantage. That same pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core: 1174 for AMD versus 1000 for Intel, a 17.4% delta.

The single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD scores 165 versus Intel's 141, a 17% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 394 versus Intel's 336, a 17.3% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows AMD at 2797 versus Intel at 2381, the largest raw point gap at 416 points and a 17.5% delta.

The Intel i7-5500U does have one advantage in the data: it has a Geekbench multi-core score of 1689 and a Geekbench single-core score of 881. The AMD A8-9600 does not have any Geekbench entry in the recorded data. This means the Intel part offers performance in that specific test, but it is not enough to overturn the Cinebench sweep. The A8-9600 wins 5 out of 5 head-to-head tests.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD A8-9600 is faster in all recorded multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2797 versus Intel's 2381, a 17.5% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it leads 281 to 240.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-5500U have any single-core advantage?

A: No. The AMD A8-9600 wins the single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 394 versus Intel's 336, a 17.3% lead.

Q: What is the main difference in power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i7-5500U has a 15 W TDP, while the AMD A8-9600 has a 65 W TDP. The Intel chip is designed for mobile use with much lower power draw.

Q: Which processor is better for a desktop build?

A: The AMD A8-9600 is the desktop part, using AMD Socket AM4 and supporting DDR4 memory. The Intel i7-5500U is a mobile part using BGA 1168 and DDR3.

Q: Which chip has more cores?

A: The AMD A8-9600 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-5500U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance percentile of each chip?

A: The AMD A8-9600 is in the 26th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core i7-5500U is in the 25th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-9600 is the winner in every benchmark category that was recorded. It takes the top score in Cinebench R15 multi-core (281), R20 multi-core (1174), R20 single-core (165), R23 multi-core (2797), and R23 single-core (394). Therefore, for any workload that relies on CPU rendering, compilation, or general multi-threaded computation, the AMD chip is the better performer.

The Intel Core i7-5500U does not win a single head-to-head test. Its only recorded advantages are its low 15 W TDP and its availability of Geekbench scores, which are not present for the AMD chip. It is the chip to choose for a low-power mobile device where battery life and cooling are the primary constraints. The Intel chip is also the only one with a recorded launch MSRP of $393, but that is a market detail.

In practical terms, the AMD is for a desktop that needs the highest performance per the recorded data. The Intel is for a portable system where the 65 W TDP of the AMD is not acceptable, and where the 15 W TDP is a feature.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the AMD A8-9600 and the Intel Core i7-5500U:

• Cores: AMD has 4 cores, Intel has 2.
• Threads: AMD has 4 threads, Intel has 4 threads (same).
• Base Clock: AMD 3.10 GHz, Intel 2.40 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD 3.40 GHz, Intel 3.00 GHz.
• TDP: AMD 65 W, Intel 15 W.
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4, Intel BGA 1168.
• Architecture: Excavator, Broadwell.
• Codename: Bristol Ridge, Broadwell-U.
• Generation: A8 (Bristol Ridge), Core i7 (Broadwell-U).
• Process Node: 28 nm, 14 nm.
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries, Intel.
• Transistors: 3,100 million, 1,300 million.
• Die Size: 250 mm², 82 mm².
• L1 Cache: 320 KB total (AMD), 64 KB per core (Intel).
• L2 Cache: 2 MB total (AMD), 256 KB per core (Intel).
• L3 Cache: None (AMD), 4 MB shared (Intel).
• Memory Support: DDR4, DDR3.
• Memory Bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s, 25.6 GB/s.
• PCIe: Gen 3, 8 Lanes (AMD), Gen 2, 12 Lanes (Intel).
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon R7, Intel HD 5500.
• Market Segment: Desktop, Mobile.
• Production Status: Active, End-of-life.
• Release Date: 2017-07-26, 2015-02-28.
• Launch MSRP: None recorded, $393 (Intel only).
• Part Number: AD9600AGABBOXAD9600AGM44AB, SR23W.
• Average Benchmark Score: 962, 953.
• Percentile: 26th, 25th.