AMD Athlon X4 870K vs Intel Celeron N5105 Comparison

The AMD Athlon X4 870K and Intel Celeron N5105 are both 4-core, 4-thread processors, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies and eras of computing. The Athlon X4 870K, a 2015-era desktop part from AMD, uses the aged Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm process, while the Celeron N5105 is a modern Intel mobile chip based on the Tremont architecture on a 10 nm node. Despite their shared core count, benchmark data reveals a clear generational shift in performance, with the Celeron N5105 securing 6 out of 7 head-to-head wins, though the Athlon X4 870K does claim a narrow victory in Geekbench multi-core. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, at 956 for the AMD part and 955 for the Intel chip, placing them in the 26th and 25th percentiles of all CPUs, respectively. This parity in overall score, however, masks significant differences in individual workloads and architectural characteristics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Athlon X4 870K has an average benchmark score of 956, which is marginally higher than the Intel Celeron N5105's score of 955. This puts the AMD part in the 26th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits in the 25th percentile.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 is significantly faster, scoring 3388 points compared to the AMD Athlon X4 870K's 2917 points. This represents a 13.9% advantage for the Intel processor in this test.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two chips?

A: The largest gap is seen in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where the Intel Celeron N5105 scores 200 versus the AMD Athlon X4 870K's 172, a 14% difference. The Celeron also holds a 14% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: In which benchmark does the AMD Athlon X4 870K outperform the Intel Celeron N5105?

A: The AMD Athlon X4 870K wins the Geekbench multi-core test with a score of 1205, compared to the Intel Celeron N5105's 1189. This is a slim 1.3% margin of victory for the AMD processor.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each CPU?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 supports a higher memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s with dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4 memory. The AMD Athlon X4 870K is limited to dual-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: How does the process node and power consumption differ between the two?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 is built on a 10 nm process with a 10 W TDP, while the AMD Athlon X4 870K uses a 28 nm process and has a 95 W TDP. The Intel chip is significantly more power-efficient.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a clear picture of workload-specific advantages. The Intel Celeron N5105 dominates in rendering and single-threaded tasks. Across the entire Cinebench suite, which includes R15, R20, and R23, the Intel chip wins all multi-core and single-core tests. For instance, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Celeron N5105 scores 3388 against the Athlon X4 870K's 2917, a 13.9% difference. The Celeron also wins in Geekbench single-core, scoring 516 versus 468, a 9.3% advantage. This suggests the Intel part is better suited for applications that rely on per-core performance and modern rendering engines.

Conversely, the AMD Athlon X4 870K has a single, narrow win in the Geekbench multi-core test, scoring 1205 over the Celeron's 1189. This 1.3% margin is small but indicates that in certain mixed-workload scenarios, the older AMD architecture can still hold its own. The Athlon X4 870K's win suggests that its higher base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz can provide an edge in some multi-threaded scenarios, despite the Celeron's architectural advantages. However, this is the exception rather than the rule, as the Intel chip wins 6 out of the 7 head-to-head benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark and explains the performance deltas. The AMD Athlon X4 870K is based on the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, and is manufactured on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It features a large die size of 245 mm² and contains 2,411 million transistors. This is a desktop-oriented design from a previous generation, evidenced by its use of the AMD Socket FM2+ and its 95 W TDP.

In contrast, the Intel Celeron N5105 is built on the Tremont architecture, codenamed Jasper Lake, on a 10 nm process from Intel. Its die size is a mere 63.8 mm², reflecting a much more modern and dense manufacturing process. The Celeron is a mobile segment chip, using the Intel BGA 1338 socket and consuming just 10 W. The cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The AMD part has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel chip offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.5 MB of shared L2 cache, and crucially, 4 MB of shared L3 cache. This additional cache level is a major architectural advantage for the Intel processor.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal several key differences beyond the benchmarks. The AMD Athlon X4 870K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Celeron N5105 has a significantly lower base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. This explains why the AMD chip can win in some multi-core tests despite its older architecture. The TDP is another major divider: the AMD part draws 95 W, whereas the Intel part draws only 10 W. This makes the Celeron N5105 far more suitable for fanless or low-power systems.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Athlon X4 870K uses dual-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Celeron N5105 supports dual-channel DDR4 and LPDDR4 with a higher bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. PCIe lane counts also vary, with the AMD part offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes and the Intel part offering Gen 3 with 8 lanes. The Intel processor includes integrated UHD Graphics 24EU, while the AMD part has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, whereas the Intel Celeron's multiplier is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a decisive victory for the Intel Celeron N5105 in rendering tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 341 versus the AMD's 294, a 13.8% lead. This trend continues in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Celeron scores 1422 against 1225, a 13.9% difference. The single-core results are equally one-sided; the Celeron wins Cinebench R20 single-core with a score of 200 versus 172, a 14% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core with 478 versus 411, also a 14% margin.

The most substantial multi-core win for the Intel part is in Cinebench R23, where it scores 3388 against the AMD's 2917. The only benchmark the AMD Athlon X4 870K wins is Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 1205 against the Intel's 1189, a 1.3% margin. The Intel Celeron N5105 also wins Geekbench single-core, scoring 516 versus 468, a 9.3% advantage. Across all tested workloads, the Celeron N5105 demonstrates a consistent performance advantage, particularly in Cinebench tests, while the Athlon X4 870K manages to edge out a win in Geekbench multi-core.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Celeron N5105 is the superior processor for the vast majority of use cases. With wins in 6 out of 7 head-to-head benchmarks, it offers a clear performance advantage in rendering, single-core tasks, and even in most multi-core scenarios. Its 10 nm process and 10 W TDP make it vastly more power-efficient than the AMD Athlon X4 870K's 28 nm process and 95 W TDP. For users building a low-power, compact, or fanless system, the Celeron N5105 is the obvious choice, offering better performance with a fraction of the power draw.

The AMD Athlon X4 870K, however, still has a niche. Its victory in Geekbench multi-core, scoring 1205 versus 1189, shows that its high clock speeds can be beneficial in certain mixed workloads. For users with an existing FM2+ motherboard and DDR3 memory, this chip offers a potential upgrade path without a platform change. The unlocked multiplier also allows for overclocking, which could further boost its performance in specific applications. However, given its lower overall benchmark scores and higher power consumption, the Athlon X4 870K is only recommended for those with a specific legacy platform need, while the Celeron N5105 is the better all-around performer.