AMD Athlon X4 950 vs Intel Core i5-2380P Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent across the entire Cinebench suite. The Intel Core i5-2380P wins all five recorded comparisons, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel scores 311 against 306 for the AMD Athlon X4 950, a 1.6% advantage. The same 1.6% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, with scores of 1297 versus 1277. Single-threaded performance tells the same story: in Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel leads 183 to 180, a 1.7% edge, and in R23 single-core it leads 436 to 429, again 1.6%.

The pattern is striking not because of who wins, but because of how uniform the margins are. Every test lands between 1.6% and 1.7% in favor of the Intel chip. This suggests a fundamental performance parity between the two designs, with the Intel part maintaining a small but consistent advantage across both multicore and single-threaded workloads.

Looking at the broader database context, both processors occupy the 29th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel's average benchmark score is 1063, while the AMD sits at 1047. That is a gap of only 16 points, or roughly 1.5%. The nearest rivals for each processor confirm the tight clustering: the Intel Core i5-2380P sits within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon W3580 (1064) and the Intel Core i3-9100HL (1065), while the AMD Athlon X4 950 is equally close to the AMD PRO A10-8770 (1046) and the Intel Core i5-6350HQ (1046). In raw performance terms, these two CPUs are effectively interchangeable for most workloads, with the Intel holding a slight but measurable edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and manufacturing ecosystems. The Intel Core i5-2380P is built on Sandy Bridge, a 32 nm process from Intel's own foundry, featuring 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD Athlon X4 950 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, fabricated on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors spread across a 250 mm² die. The AMD packs nearly three times as many transistors, but the Intel achieves comparable performance with fewer resources, a signal of architectural efficiency.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The AMD offers 320 KB of total L1 and 2 MB of L2, but has no L3 cache at all. This is a substantial difference: the Intel's shared L3 cache provides a large pool of fast storage for frequently accessed data, while the AMD relies entirely on its smaller L2 cache. The Intel's per-core L2 (256 KB per core versus approximately 500 KB per core for the AMD, based on the 2 MB total across four cores) is actually smaller, but the presence of the 6 MB L3 likely compensates in workloads that benefit from shared cache.

Clock speeds tell the opposite story. The AMD Athlon X4 950 runs at a 3.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the Intel runs at 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The AMD has a 400 MHz advantage at base and 400 MHz at boost, yet still loses in every benchmark. This indicates that the Intel's architectural efficiency, particularly its L3 cache and Sandy Bridge design, offsets the AMD's raw clock speed advantage.

The process node difference is notable: 32 nm for Intel versus 28 nm for AMD. Despite the AMD's newer process generation, it produces higher power consumption per unit of performance. Both processors are four-core, four-thread parts, but the Intel uses the LGA1155 socket while the AMD uses AM4. The Intel supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with only 8 lanes, which could matter for GPU bandwidth in some configurations.

Memory support diverges sharply. The Intel uses DDR3 with dual-channel support, while the AMD uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and has a rated memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD's newer memory standard offers greater bandwidth potential, but the benchmark data shows this does not translate into a performance win in Cinebench workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2380P wins every benchmark in this comparison, so the "where each one wins" breakdown is straightforward: the Intel wins across the board. However, the margins are small enough that the AMD is not a clear loser in practical terms. Looking at the specific tests, the Intel's largest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it leads by 1.7%. In all other tests, the margin is 1.6%. These are consistent, but sub-2% differences.

The AMD's only potential advantages lie outside the benchmark suite. It is a 28 nm part with 3,100 million transistors, which suggests it may have different characteristics in other workloads, but the recorded data only covers Cinebench tests. The AMD does offer DDR4 memory support, which is a modern standard, but the Intel is limited to DDR3. For a user building a new system, the AMD's AM4 socket offers a more modern platform, while the Intel's LGA1155 is a legacy socket.

The AMD also has a lower TDP at 65 watts compared to the Intel's 95 watts. This means the AMD could be easier to cool in compact or low-power systems, though the benchmark page does not include thermal or power data. The AMD's higher base and boost clocks (3.50/3.80 GHz vs. 3.10/3.40 GHz) give it a theoretical advantage in clock-sensitive workloads, but the Cinebench results show that advantage does not translate to wins.

The Verdict

Based strictly on recorded benchmark data, the Intel Core i5-2380P is the faster processor. It wins all five Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 1.6% to 1.7%. The Intel's average benchmark score of 1063 is higher than the AMD's 1047, and the Intel ranks at the 29th percentile, identical to the AMD. For users who prioritize raw Cinebench performance, the Intel is the clear choice.

However, the margins are so small that the choice may not matter for most users. A 1.6% difference in multi-core performance is within run-to-run variance for many workloads. The AMD's advantages lie in its platform: DDR4 memory support, a modern AM4 socket, and a lower 65-watt TDP. The Intel's Sandy Bridge platform is older, uses DDR3, and has a higher 95-watt TDP.

For a user building a new system today, the AMD Athlon X4 950 on AM4 offers a more future-proof platform, despite the slight performance deficit. For a user with an existing LGA1155 motherboard, the Intel is a drop-in upgrade. The data shows the Intel is technically faster, but the AMD is not significantly slower. The choice comes down to platform considerations, not performance, because the performance gap is under 2% across the board.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-2380P wins both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 183 versus the AMD's 180, a 1.7% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 436 versus 429, a 1.6% lead.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel leads all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15, the Intel scores 311 versus the AMD's 306, a 1.6% margin. In Cinebench R20, the Intel scores 1297 versus 1277, also 1.6%. In Cinebench R23, the Intel scores 3090 versus 3041, again 1.6%.

Q: Do they have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes. Both processors have 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither has hyper-threading or SMT, so each core handles one thread.

Q: Which processor has a larger cache?

A: The AMD has a larger L1 and L2 cache total: 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2. The Intel has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but it also has a shared 6 MB L3 cache, which the AMD lacks entirely.

Q: What are the clock speeds of each?

A: The Intel runs at 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The AMD runs at 3.50 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The AMD has a 0.4 GHz advantage in both base and boost clocks.

Q: Which processor has a lower power consumption?

A: The AMD has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel has a TDP of 95 watts. The AMD is rated for significantly lower power draw.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2380P | AMD Athlon X4 950 |

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

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Excavator |

| Codename | Sandy Bridge | Bristol Ridge |

| Process node | 32 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,160 million | 3,100 million |

| Die size | 216 mm² | 250 mm² |

| Base clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 320 KB |

| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not specified | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 3, 16 lanes | Gen 3, 8 lanes |

| Release date | January 2012 | July 2017 |

| Production status | Not specified | Active |

| Part number | SR0G2 | AD950XAGM44AB |

| Average benchmark score | 1063 | 1047 |

| Percentile vs. all CPUs | 29th | 29th |