AMD Athlon X4 830 vs Intel Core i5-3380M Comparison

The AMD Athlon X4 830 and Intel Core i5-3380M are two aging processors from different design philosophies, and the benchmark data shows a surprisingly consistent, though narrow, victory for the Intel chip. Across every single head-to-head Cinebench test, the Intel Core i5-3380M edges out the AMD Athlon X4 830 by roughly 1.4% to 1.6%. While neither processor is a performance powerhouse today — the Athlon sits at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, and the i5 at the 22nd — the Intel part takes the win in all five recorded benchmarks. The AMD chip fights back with more physical cores and a desktop-oriented design, but the data is clear: if you are choosing strictly on benchmark results, the Intel Core i5-3380M is the faster processor in every measured workload.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Core i5-3380M as the stronger performer in this matchup. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, including both multi-core and single-core tests. The margins are slim but consistent: in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5 scores 252 against the Athlon's 248, a 1.6% difference. That pattern holds across Cinebench R20 and R23, where the Intel chip leads by 1.5% and 1.6% in multi-core tests, respectively. The single-core results are equally tight, with the i5 ahead by 1.4% in both R20 and R23.

The AMD Athlon X4 830 is not without its merits. It has four physical cores versus the Intel's two, and it comes with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, a feature the locked Intel chip lacks. However, the performance data shows that the Intel's architectural efficiency — running on a 22nm process compared to AMD's 28nm — more than compensates for having fewer physical cores. The Athlon's average benchmark score of 848 is slightly higher than the i5's 838, but that average includes a Geekbench result that only the Intel part has, skewing the comparison. When directly compared on the same Cinebench tests, the Intel chip wins every time.

For a user choosing between these two today, the Intel Core i5-3380M is the pick if raw benchmark performance is the only criterion. Its lower 35W TDP also makes it a better fit for constrained thermal environments. The AMD Athlon X4 830, with its desktop socket, unlocked multiplier, and four cores, might appeal to someone planning to overclock or build a compact desktop system, but the data does not show any performance scenario where it beats the Intel part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Athlon X4 830 does not win a single recorded benchmark in this comparison. The Intel Core i5-3380M takes all five Cinebench tests. That said, the AMD chip has structural advantages that do not show up in Cinebench scores. It uses the AMD Socket FM2+ platform, which is a desktop socket, whereas the Intel i5-3380M uses the mobile Intel Socket G2 (988B). The Athlon also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, a feature not listed for the Intel part. For a builder, this could mean the AMD chip fits into a traditional desktop motherboard with a dedicated GPU, while the Intel chip is designed for a laptop or a compact mobile board.

The Intel processor's wins are consistent but narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it wins by 1.6%. In R20 multi-core, it wins by 1.5%. In R23 multi-core, it wins by 1.6%. The single-core results are similar: 1.4% ahead in both R20 and R23. The Intel chip also has a significant feature advantage in its integrated graphics — it includes Intel HD 4000, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 has no integrated graphics listed. For a system without a discrete GPU, that makes the Intel part a more complete solution out of the box.

The AMD chip does hold a few specification-level wins. It has twice the L2 cache (4 MB total versus 256 KB per core on the Intel), and it has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz compared to 2.90 GHz. It also has a listed memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel part's memory bandwidth is not provided. But none of these translate into a benchmark victory.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The AMD Athlon X4 830 is built on the Steamroller architecture, part of the Kaveri generation, using a 28nm process from GlobalFoundries. It has four cores and four threads, a straightforward configuration with no simultaneous multithreading. The chip integrates 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, which is substantial for a quad-core part.

The Intel Core i5-3380M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, built on Intel's 22nm process. It has two physical cores but four threads, using Hyper-Threading to double the logical core count. The die size is 118 mm², roughly half the area of the AMD chip, and the process node is more advanced, which helps explain its efficiency despite lower core count. The Intel part's cache arrangement is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip has 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, but no L3 cache at all.

The memory support is similar — both use dual-channel DDR3 — but the AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel part does not have a bandwidth figure in the data. The TDP difference is significant: the AMD Athlon X4 830 is rated at 65W, while the Intel Core i5-3380M is rated at just 35W. This makes the Intel part a much more power-efficient choice for mobile or small-form-factor systems. The Intel chip also includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), which the AMD chip lacks entirely.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3380M wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 252 in R15 versus 248 for the AMD Athlon X4 830, 1051 in R20 versus 1035, and 2504 in R23 versus 2465. The margins are between 1.5% and 1.6% in favor of the Intel chip.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon X4 830 have any benchmark wins?

A: No. In the head-to-head data, the AMD chip loses all five Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i5-3380M wins every recorded benchmark, including both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: Is the Intel processor more power-efficient?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-3380M has a 35W TDP, while the AMD Athlon X4 830 is rated at 65W. That makes the Intel part more suitable for systems where power draw and heat output are concerns.

Q: Can the AMD processor be overclocked?

A: The AMD Athlon X4 830 has an unlocked multiplier, which allows for overclocking. The Intel Core i5-3380M has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked in the same way.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-3380M has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 4000. The AMD Athlon X4 830 does not list any integrated graphics, meaning a system with that chip would require a discrete GPU.

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

A: The AMD Athlon X4 830 has an average benchmark score of 848, placing it near the Intel Xeon X5492 (852, 0.4% faster) and the Intel Core i5-5250U (856, 0.9% faster). The Intel Core i5-3380M averages 838, sitting alongside the Intel Core i5-5200U (838, 0.1% faster) and the Intel Xeon X3450 (837, 0.1% slower).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most telling result is the consistency of the Intel's victory. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-3380M scores 252 against the AMD Athlon X4 830's 248. That is a 1.6% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 1051 versus 1035, a 1.5% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same pattern: 2504 for Intel versus 2465 for AMD, a 1.6% margin. These are not large differences, but they are uniform — the Intel part does not lose a single test.

The single-core results follow the same trend. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel chip scores 148 versus 146 for the AMD, a 1.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 353 versus 348, again a 1.4% margin. This is notable because the AMD chip has a higher base clock (3.00 GHz versus 2.90 GHz) and more physical cores. The Intel chip's boost clock is higher at 3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, which likely contributes to its single-core edge.

The benchmark data also includes a Geekbench result for the Intel Core i5-3380M — 1055 multi-core and 505 single-core — but there is no corresponding Geekbench score for the AMD Athlon X4 830. This absence is worth noting because it means the AMD chip's average benchmark score of 848 is calculated from fewer data points than the Intel's 838 average. When comparing only the shared Cinebench tests, the Intel chip is ahead across the board.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Athlon X4 830 has four cores and four threads, while the Intel Core i5-3380M has two cores and four threads. The AMD chip's base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 3.40 GHz; the Intel chip runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The TDP difference is stark: 65W for AMD versus 35W for Intel.

The manufacturing process separates them further. The AMD chip uses a 28nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the Intel chip uses a 22nm process from Intel. The AMD chip has a much larger die at 245 mm² with 2,411 million transistors; the Intel chip is just 118 mm² with no transistor count listed. The cache configurations also differ: the AMD chip has 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2 with no L3, while the Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3.

The sockets are not compatible: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FM2+, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket G2 (988B). The AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, a feature not listed for the Intel part. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip is locked. The AMD chip has no integrated graphics; the Intel chip includes Intel HD 4000. Both support dual-channel DDR3 memory, but only the AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The AMD chip is marked as end-of-life production, while the Intel chip has a release date of late 2012 and no production status listed.