CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-2500T and AMD FX-8800P are both end-of-life quad-core processors, but they target fundamentally different platforms and use cases. The i5-2500T is a desktop Sandy Bridge chip from 2011, while the FX-8800P is a mobile Carrizo APU from 2015. Benchmark data shows the Intel part edges out the AMD chip in every single measured test, though the margins are consistently narrow. The i5-2500T holds a 3.3% to 3.5% lead across all Cinebench runs, which translates to a modest but definitive performance advantage in CPU-bound workloads. The FX-8800P counters with a vastly lower 15W TDP and a more modern feature set, making this a contest between raw compute consistency and platform efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform across all five Cinebench comparisons. The Intel Core i5-2500T wins every single test, with deltas locked between 3.3% and 3.5%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-2500T scores 250 against the FX-8800P's 242, a 3.3% advantage. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Intel chip posts 1045 versus 1010, a 3.5% margin. The single-core results tell the same story: the i5-2500T delivers 147 in Cinebench R20 single-core against 142 for the FX-8800P, again 3.5% ahead. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 2489 for Intel and 2407 for AMD, a 3.4% gap, while the R23 single-core run has the i5-2500T at 351 and the FX-8800P at 339, another 3.5% lead.

These numbers indicate a consistent, if not overwhelming, performance edge for the older desktop part. A 3.5% delta is within the range of run-to-run variation for many systems, but the fact that it appears in all five benchmarks suggests it is a genuine architectural difference rather than noise. The FX-8800P does have additional Geekbench results in its individual benchmark suite, 1234 multicore and 524 single-core, but no comparable Geekbench data exists for the i5-2500T in this dataset, so those cannot be used for direct comparison. The average benchmark score reinforces the pattern: the i5-2500T averages 856, while the FX-8800P averages 843, a 13-point difference that places the Intel chip at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs and the AMD part at the 22nd percentile.

The nearest rivals for each chip provide context for where these processors sit in the broader landscape. The i5-2500T's closest competitor is the Intel Core i5-5250U at a 0.1% delta, followed by the Core i7-4500U at -0.4% and the AMD A8-7650K at -0.5%. The FX-8800P's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-3520M with a 0.0% delta, then the Core i7-920 at 0.3%, and the Xeon X5470 at 0.4%. This places both chips in the same performance tier, despite the i5-2500T being four years older. The FX-8800P's competition includes a first-generation Core i7 from 2008, which underscores that its 15W power envelope comes at a significant compute cost.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-2500T wins every CPU benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so its strengths are straightforward: it is consistently faster in multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench workloads. The 3.5% lead in single-core tests is particularly relevant for older applications and lightly-threaded tasks that depend on per-core performance. The i5-2500T also has a higher base clock at 2.30 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, though the FX-8800P boosts slightly higher at 3.40 GHz against 3.30 GHz. In sustained all-core workloads, the i5-2500T's higher base clock and 45W TDP allow it to maintain its advantage, as evidenced by the R15 and R20 multicore results.

The AMD FX-8800P wins in areas not covered by the CPU benchmark suite. Its 15W TDP is exactly one-third of the i5-2500T's 45W TDP, making it dramatically more power-efficient. The FX-8800P also integrates a Radeon R7 8CU graphics solution, whereas the i5-2500T relies on Intel HD 2000. While no GPU benchmarks are provided, the presence of a more capable integrated graphics unit is an inherent advantage for systems without a discrete card. The FX-8800P also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes, matching the i5-2500T's PCIe Gen 3 but with fewer lanes, the Intel part offers 16 lanes. The AMD chip's memory bandwidth is listed at 34.1 GB/s, a figure absent for the i5-2500T, indicating a potential advantage in memory-heavy tasks. However, in pure CPU compute, the FX-8800P has zero wins across the five head-to-head benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial, reflecting four years of semiconductor evolution. The i5-2500T uses Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process node, manufactured by Intel itself. It packs 1,160 million transistors onto a 216 mm² die. The FX-8800P uses AMD's Excavator architecture on a 28 nm node from GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors spread across a 250 mm² die. The AMD chip has nearly three times the transistor count and a larger die, but that extra silicon is largely dedicated to the integrated Radeon graphics and other SoC features rather than CPU cores.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The i5-2500T has a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB and per-core L2 of 256 KB, plus a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The FX-8800P has a 320 KB L1 cache and 1 MB L2 per module, with no L3 cache at all. The lack of L3 on the FX-8800P is a notable disadvantage in workloads that benefit from a large shared cache, though the Excavator design's module-based layout uses the larger L2 to compensate. Both processors support dual-channel DDR3 memory, and neither supports ECC. The i5-2500T uses Intel Socket 1155, while the FX-8800P uses AMD Socket FP4, meaning they are not interchangeable in any platform.

The integrated graphics also differ by generation. The i5-2500T ships with Intel HD 2000, a basic desktop iGPU from 2011. The FX-8800P includes Radeon R7 8CU, a more modern mobile GPU solution. The FX-8800P's market segment is listed as Mobile, while the i5-2500T is Desktop, which explains the TDP disparity. The FX-8800P's release date is 2015-06-01, while the i5-2500T launched on 2011-01-08. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both are marked as end-of-life. The FX-8800P's part number is listed twice in the data, suggesting a possible packaging variant, but no functional difference is noted.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Core i5-2500T is the faster processor. It wins all five head-to-head tests with margins between 3.3% and 3.5%, and its average benchmark score of 856 exceeds the FX-8800P's 843. Anyone building a system where CPU compute is the sole priority should choose the i5-2500T, provided the 45W TDP and desktop socket are acceptable. The i5-2500T's 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes also give it more room for discrete GPUs or expansion cards compared to the FX-8800P's 8 lanes.

The AMD FX-8800P is the better choice for mobile or low-power systems. Its 15W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops or fanless designs where the i5-2500T's 45W draw would be prohibitive. The FX-8800P also integrates a more capable Radeon R7 8CU, which is preferable for systems relying solely on integrated graphics. The 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth is an additional asset for memory-sensitive applications. However, in raw CPU performance, the FX-8800P trails the i5-2500T in every measurable test. The 3.5% single-core deficit means even legacy applications will run slightly slower on the AMD part.

The percentile rankings place both chips near the bottom of the current CPU landscape, 23rd and 22nd percentiles, respectively, so neither is a high-performance option by modern standards. The i5-2500T's nearest rival, the Core i5-5250U, matches its average score almost exactly, while the FX-8800P ties the Core i7-3520M. This suggests both chips are functionally equivalent in general-purpose tasks, with the i5-2500T's edge being too small to notice outside synthetic benchmarks. The decision ultimately comes down to platform: desktop users with a Socket 1155 board should stick with the i5-2500T, while mobile users needing low power should accept the FX-8800P's minor compute penalty.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-2500T wins all multi-core tests. It scores 250 versus 242 in Cinebench R15, 1045 versus 1010 in R20, and 2489 versus 2407 in R23. The deltas range from 3.3% to 3.5%.

Q: Does the AMD FX-8800P have any performance advantage?

A: No CPU benchmark advantage exists. The FX-8800P wins zero of the five head-to-head tests. Its advantages are power efficiency at 15W TDP versus 45W, and a more modern Radeon R7 8CU integrated GPU compared to Intel HD 2000.

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

A: The i5-2500T averages 856, matching the Core i5-5250U within 0.1% and trailing the Core i7-4500U by 0.4%. The FX-8800P averages 843, exactly matching the Core i7-3520M and trailing the Core i7-920 by 0.3%.

Q: What are the cache differences between the two?

A: The i5-2500T has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus 6 MB shared L3. The FX-8800P has a 320 KB total L1 and 1 MB L2 per module, with no L3 cache.

Q: Can both processors use the same motherboard?

A: No. The i5-2500T uses Intel Socket 1155, while the FX-8800P uses AMD Socket FP4. They are incompatible with each other's platforms.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The FX-8800P features Radeon R7 8CU, while the i5-2500T has Intel HD 2000. The AMD solution is from a later generation and is designed for mobile use, making it the stronger integrated option.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-2500T | AMD FX-8800P |

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

| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | AMD Socket FP4 |

| Architecture | Sandy Bridge | Excavator |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

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

| Die Size | 216 mm² | 250 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per module) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 3, 8 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 | Radeon R7 8CU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2011-01-08 | 2015-06-01 |

| Part Number | SR00A | FM880PAAY43KAFM880PAAY43KAD |