AMD FX-4320 vs Intel Core i5-4258U Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD FX-4320 and Intel Core i5-4258U occupy different tiers despite their similar aggregate scores. The data shows the FX-4320 as the decisive performer in every recorded Cinebench test, with a 21% advantage across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The i5-4258U counters with a significantly lower 28W TDP versus 95W, making it the clear choice for power-constrained systems, while the FX-4320 targets desktop users who prioritize raw throughput over efficiency.

The FX-4320 sits at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, the i5-4258U at the 24th, a statistical tie in overall standing. However, the FX-4320 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with an average benchmark score of 921 versus 902 for the Intel part. For users who need maximum Cinebench performance from a desktop AM3+ platform, the FX-4320 is the pick. For those who need a mobile processor with integrated graphics and lower power draw, the i5-4258U is the only viable option between these two.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FX-4320 wins in raw compute. In the recorded head-to-head data, it wins all five Cinebench tests. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 269 against 222, a 21.2% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 1124 versus 929, a 21% advantage. Even in single-core tests, where Intel parts typically excel, the FX-4320 leads: R20 single-core 158 versus 131 (20.6%), and R23 single-core 378 versus 312 (21.2%). This consistency across every benchmark iteration indicates a fundamental performance edge, not a workload-specific anomaly.

The Intel Core i5-4258U wins in efficiency. The TDP figures tell the story: 28W for the i5-4258U versus 95W for the FX-4320. The Intel chip also integrates Intel HD 5100 graphics, whereas the AMD part relies on a chipset feature on certain motherboards for display output. For thin-and-light laptops or compact desktops where heat and battery life matter, the i5-4258U is the sensible choice. The FX-4320 cannot match this power profile; it is designed for desktop systems with active cooling and a power supply that can handle a 95W processor.

The FX-4320 also wins on upgradability. It uses AMD Socket AM3+ with an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is possible. The i5-4258U uses Intel BGA 1168, a soldered mobile socket, with a locked multiplier. The FX-4320 is an end-of-life desktop part, but its socket still offers flexibility for users who want to tweak clock speeds. The i5-4258U offers no such adjustment.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and design philosophies. The AMD FX-4320 uses the Piledriver architecture on the Vishera codename, built on a 32nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-4258U uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a much smaller 118 mm² die. The smaller die and more advanced node explain how Intel fits more transistors into less space while consuming far less power.

Core counts differ substantially. The FX-4320 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the i5-4258U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The FX-4320 operates at a 4.00 GHz base clock with a 4.20 GHz boost, far above the i5-4258U's 2.40 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. Despite this clock advantage, the FX-4320's Piledriver cores are less efficient per clock than Haswell cores, which explains why the Intel part remains competitive in aggregate scores despite its lower clock speeds.

Cache configurations also differ. The FX-4320 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 4 MB of L2 cache, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-4258U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part offers more total cache, but the Intel design allocates cache per core, which can benefit single-threaded latency. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode; the FX-4320 lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the i5-4258U does not list a bandwidth figure.

The FX-4320 supports PCIe Gen 2, while the i5-4258U does not list PCIe details in the database. The Intel part includes integrated graphics, the AMD part does not. The FX-4320 was released in October 2012, the i5-4258U in June 2013. The FX-4320 is marked as end-of-life; the i5-4258U has no production status listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The AMD FX-4320 runs at 4.00 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. The Intel Core i5-4258U runs at 2.40 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The FX-4320 is substantially faster in raw clock terms.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-4258U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 5100. The AMD FX-4320 does not have integrated graphics; it relies on a chipset feature on certain motherboards for display output.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The Intel Core i5-4258U has a 28W TDP, while the AMD FX-4320 has a 95W TDP. The Intel part draws significantly less power, making it suitable for mobile or low-power systems.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The AMD FX-4320 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking on its AM3+ socket. The Intel Core i5-4258U has a locked multiplier and uses a BGA 1168 socket, which does not support overclocking.

Q: How do their Cinebench scores compare?

A: The FX-4320 wins every recorded Cinebench test. In R15 multi-core, it scores 269 versus 222. In R20 multi-core, 1124 versus 929. In R23 multi-core, 2677 versus 2213. Single-core results show a similar pattern: R20 158 versus 131, R23 378 versus 312. The FX-4320 leads by approximately 21% in each test.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The FX-4320 has 192 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2, and 4 MB of shared L3. The i5-4258U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The AMD part offers more total cache memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the AMD FX-4320 across all five recorded Cinebench benchmarks. No test favors the Intel Core i5-4258U.

Cinebench R15 Multi-Core: The FX-4320 scores 269, the i5-4258U scores 222. The FX-4320 leads by 21.2%. This is one of the two largest margins in the dataset, tied with R23 single-core. The result reflects the FX-4320's four physical cores running at 4.00 GHz against the i5-4258U's two physical cores with Hyper-Threading at 2.40 GHz.

Cinebench R20 Multi-Core: The FX-4320 scores 1124, the i5-4258U scores 929. The delta is 21%, nearly identical to the R15 result. This consistency across different Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is stable and not an artifact of a specific benchmark iteration.

Cinebench R20 Single-Core: The FX-4320 scores 158, the i5-4258U scores 131. The FX-4320 leads by 20.6%, the smallest margin of the five tests. Even in single-threaded performance, where Haswell's architecture is generally strong, the FX-4320's 4.00 GHz clock advantage overcomes the i5-4258U's superior instructions-per-clock.

Cinebench R23 Multi-Core: The FX-4320 scores 2677, the i5-4258U scores 2213. The delta is 21%. This is the largest absolute score difference in the dataset, a 464-point gap. The FX-4320's multi-core advantage holds steady across R15, R20, and R23 versions.

Cinebench R23 Single-Core: The FX-4320 scores 378, the i5-4258U scores 312. The FX-4320 leads by 21.2%, tying with R15 multi-core for the largest margin. The single-core results are notable because they demonstrate that the FX-4320's clock speed advantage is sufficient to beat the i5-4258U even in workloads where core count does not matter.

The aggregate benchmark data supports this picture. The FX-4320 has an average benchmark score of 921, the i5-4258U has 902. The FX-4320's nearest rivals include the AMD PRO A10-9700E and AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G, both with an average score of 919 (a 0.2% difference), and the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U at 917 (0.4% difference). The Intel Celeron G6900TE scores 925, which is 0.4% higher than the FX-4320. The i5-4258U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-5350U at 903 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i7-940 at 903 (0.2% higher), and the AMD A10-7860K at 904 (0.2% higher). The Intel Core i3-4330T scores 908, which is 0.7% higher than the i5-4258U.

In the database's percentile ranking, the FX-4320 sits at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, the i5-4258U at the 24th. The 1-percentile difference is negligible; both processors sit in the lower quarter of the overall performance distribution. The FX-4320 wins the head-to-head count 5-0, but the i5-4258U remains competitive in aggregate terms due to its single-core efficiency and lower power envelope.