CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon X5570 and AMD A8-9600 are two processors from different eras and market segments, yet their benchmark scores place them in a remarkably tight contest. The Xeon X5570, a server-grade Nehalem part from 2009, and the A8-9600, a desktop Excavator chip from 2017, end up with nearly identical average benchmark scores (967 vs. 962). The data shows the Xeon X5570 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, but by razor-thin margins of 0.5% to 0.7%. The verdict is not about speed, but about platform features, power efficiency, and intended use case.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate these two CPUs are performance equivalents in multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, with the Intel Xeon X5570 holding a marginal but consistent lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 283 against the A8-9600's 281, a 0.7% advantage. The gap narrows to 0.5% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1180 vs. 1174) and R23 multi-core (2810 vs. 2797). Single-core results follow the same pattern: the Xeon leads 166 vs. 165 in R20 and 396 vs. 394 in R23.

For a user building or upgrading a system today, the AMD A8-9600 is the more sensible choice. It is an active, in-production desktop part with a 65W TDP, whereas the Xeon X5570 is end-of-life, carries a 95W TDP, and requires the legacy Intel Socket 1366 platform. The A8-9600 also includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, a feature entirely absent from the Xeon. The Xeon's only decisive advantages are its support for ECC memory, triple-channel DDR3, and its server/workstation heritage, which matters only for legacy systems requiring those specific features. The data does not support choosing the Xeon for raw speed; it wins by fractions of a percent. The A8-9600 is the pick for a modern, low-power desktop build, while the Xeon X5570 is only relevant for someone maintaining a vintage 2009-era server platform.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 has an average benchmark score of 967, while the AMD A8-9600 scores 962. The difference is 5 points, placing both in the 26th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, scores 968, a delta of -0.1%, while the A8-9600's nearest rival, the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T, scores 963, also a delta of -0.1%.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 has 4 cores and 8 threads, thanks to Hyper-Threading. The AMD A8-9600 also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multi-threading. Despite the Xeon's thread advantage, its multi-core benchmark wins are minimal, at 0.5% to 0.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes for the Xeon, no for the A8-9600. The Intel Xeon X5570 supports ECC memory with a triple-channel DDR3 memory bus. The AMD A8-9600 does not support ECC memory and uses a dual-channel DDR4 bus. This makes the Xeon a potential choice for error-correcting server workloads, despite its age.

Q: What are the integrated graphics capabilities?

A: The AMD A8-9600 includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics. The Intel Xeon X5570 has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. This is a critical distinction for building a system without a separate graphics card.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The AMD A8-9600 has a TDP of 65W, compared to the Intel Xeon X5570's 95W TDP. The A8-9600 also uses a smaller 28 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, versus the Xeon's 45 nm Intel node. The A8-9600 delivers nearly identical performance while consuming 30W less under the thermal design power.

Q: What is the launch price of these CPUs?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 had a launch MSRP of $1386. The AMD A8-9600 does not have a launch MSRP listed in the data. This reflects their different market positions: the Xeon was a premium server/workstation part, while the A8-9600 targets the mainstream desktop segment.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial, reflecting an eight-year split in design philosophies. The Intel Xeon X5570 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Gainestown, built on a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry. It integrates 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, backed by a large 8 MB shared L3 cache. The memory controller supports triple-channel DDR3, yielding a theoretical memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s.

The AMD A8-9600 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This is a much denser design, packing 3,100 million transistors on a slightly smaller 250 mm² die. The cache layout is simpler: 320 KB of L1 total and 2 MB of L2 total, with no L3 cache at all. It uses a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus with a higher theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The A8-9600 also integrates Radeon R7 graphics directly on the package, a feature the server-oriented Xeon lacks entirely. The Xeon supports ECC memory, while the A8-9600 does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Intel Xeon X5570 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD A8-9600 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are close: the Xeon runs at 2.93 GHz with a boost to 3.33 GHz, while the A8-9600 runs at 3.10 GHz with a boost to 3.40 GHz. The A8-9600 holds a slight clock advantage, but the Xeon's extra threads compensate.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator: the Xeon is rated at 95W, the A8-9600 at 65W. The Xeon uses the legacy Intel Socket 1366, whereas the A8-9600 uses the modern AMD Socket AM4. Memory support differs fundamentally: the Xeon uses triple-channel DDR3 with ECC support, while the A8-9600 uses dual-channel DDR4 without ECC. The A8-9600 offers higher memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus the Xeon's 32.0 GB/s. PCIe support also differs: the Xeon has PCIe Gen 2, while the A8-9600 has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon has no integrated graphics; the A8-9600 has Radeon R7. The Xeon is end-of-life with a launch MSRP of $1386; the A8-9600 is active with no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are a study in near-total parity. Across all five Cinebench tests, the Intel Xeon X5570 wins every round, but the deltas are so small they fall within typical run-to-run variance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 283 against the A8-9600's 281, a 0.7% lead, the largest margin of any test. This is the Xeon's best showing, likely reflecting its 8-thread advantage in an older benchmark that scales well with threads.

Cinebench R20 multi-core narrows the gap to 0.5%, with the Xeon at 1180 and the A8-9600 at 1174. The trend continues in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2810 vs. 2797, again a 0.5% lead. The single-core results are even tighter. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 166 vs. 165, a 0.6% edge. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon leads 396 vs. 394, a 0.5% margin.

The A8-9600's higher boost clock of 3.40 GHz (vs. 3.33 GHz) and newer architecture are not enough to overcome the Xeon's Hyper-Threading advantage in multi-core tests, nor its older but efficient single-core design. The data shows the Xeon's wins are consistent but negligible in real-world terms. The A8-9600 matches the Xeon's performance while drawing 30W less power and offering a modern platform with DDR4 and integrated graphics. For any new build, the A8-9600 is the logical choice; the Xeon's wins are statistical footnotes.