AMD FX-8800P vs Intel Core i5-5200U Comparison

The AMD FX-8800P and Intel Core i5-5200U are both 15-watt mobile processors from 2015, yet benchmark results reveal they excel in completely different workloads. The AMD part dominates Cinebench tests across all versions, while the Intel chip counters decisively in Geekbench. This split suggests the two CPUs have fundamentally different strengths that go beyond simple core counts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the total sweep of the Cinebench suite by the AMD FX-8800P. Starting with Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 242 against Intel’s 214, a 13.1% advantage. The margin holds remarkably consistent across every Cinebench iteration: R20 multicore shows 1010 vs 892 (13.2% delta), R23 multicore shows 2407 vs 2125 (13.3% delta). Even single-core Cinebench tests, which typically favor Intel architectures, go to AMD — R20 single-core is 142 vs 126 (12.7%), and R23 single-core is 339 vs 300 (13.0%). This uniformity across test generations suggests the AMD's advantage is structural, not workload-specific.

However, the Geekbench results tell a completely different story. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i5-5200U scores 1464 against AMD’s 1234, a 15.7% deficit for the FX-8800P. The single-core gap widens dramatically: Intel scores 742 versus AMD’s 524, meaning the i5-5200U is 29.4% faster. This is a massive inversion from the Cinebench results, indicating that the two benchmarks stress very different aspects of the processors. Cinebench appears to reward the AMD's higher boost clock and 4 physical cores, while Geekbench seems to favor the Intel's per-core efficiency and architecture.

Examining the average benchmark scores, the two processors land almost identically: the FX-8800P averages 843 points while the i5-5200U averages 838. This places them in the same performance tier overall, with the AMD chip just 0.6% ahead on aggregate. Both sit at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals confirm the parity — the FX-8800P matches the Intel Core i7-3520M exactly (0% delta), while the i5-5200U matches the Intel Core i5-3380M exactly (0% delta). The head-to-head win count favors AMD at 5 wins versus Intel’s 2, but the magnitude of Intel’s Geekbench victories outweighs the narrow Cinebench margins.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD FX-8800P wins in every Cinebench scenario, which makes it the stronger choice for rendering and 3D content creation workloads. The consistent 13% lead across R15, R20, and R23 suggests this advantage scales with workload duration and complexity. For users running CPU-based rendering tasks in applications like Cinema 4D, the FX-8800P’s four physical cores at a 3.40 GHz boost clock provide a tangible benefit over the i5-5200U’s two cores at 2.70 GHz boost.

The Intel Core i5-5200U wins decisively in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance where its 29.4% lead is enormous. This translates to better responsiveness in everyday applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance — web browsing, office productivity, and light coding. The Geekbench multicore result (15.7% lead for Intel) also suggests that the i5-5200U handles multi-threaded workloads more efficiently than raw core counts would suggest, likely due to its superior per-thread throughput. For mobile users prioritizing snappy system feel over rendering throughput, the Intel part is clearly superior.

The benchmark split creates a clear use-case delineation: choose the FX-8800P for batch rendering and CPU-bound creative work, choose the i5-5200U for general productivity and single-threaded tasks. Notably, neither chip has a decisive victory in both benchmark families, meaning the choice depends entirely on the target application profile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD FX-8800P uses the Excavator architecture on a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core i5-5200U employs Broadwell on Intel’s 14 nm node. This process gap — 28 nm versus 14 nm — explains much of the performance divergence. Intel’s smaller transistor size (1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die) versus AMD’s larger 3,100 million transistors on 250 mm² shows how the i5 packs more efficiency into less silicon.

Core configuration differs sharply: the FX-8800P has 4 physical cores with 4 threads, while the i5-5200U has 2 physical cores but 4 threads through Hyper-Threading. Despite having half the physical cores, the Intel chip manages to beat AMD in Geekbench multicore by 15.7%, demonstrating the power of its per-core architecture. Cache hierarchies also diverge: AMD offers 320 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per module, while Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The FX-8800P has no L3 cache at all, which may contribute to its Geekbench deficit.

Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 34.1 GB/s versus Intel’s 25.6 GB/s, both on dual-channel DDR3. The PCIe implementation differs significantly: AMD offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while Intel provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ — AMD uses Radeon R7 8CU, Intel uses HD 5500 — though neither benchmark in the data measures GPU performance. The socket and platform are incompatible: AMD Socket FP4 versus Intel BGA 1168, meaning no motherboard interchangeability.

The release dates are close (Intel in February 2015, AMD in June 2015), and both are now end-of-life products. Notably, the Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $281, while the AMD part has no listed launch price. Both are mobile segment parts with locked multipliers, and neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster overall?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — the AMD FX-8800P averages 843 points versus 838 for the Intel Core i5-5200U, a 0.6% difference. Both rank at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, so they are statistically equivalent in aggregate performance.

Q: Why does AMD win Cinebench but lose Geekbench?

A: The FX-8800P wins all five Cinebench tests with margins between 12.7% and 13.3%, while the i5-5200U wins Geekbench multicore by 15.7% and single-core by 29.4%. This suggests Cinebench workloads favor the AMD’s 4 physical cores and 3.40 GHz boost clock, while Geekbench rewards Intel’s superior per-core efficiency and 14 nm architecture.

Q: Does the Intel chip have more cores?

A: No, the opposite is true. The AMD FX-8800P has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-5200U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite this, Intel wins Geekbench multicore, indicating its Hyper-Threading implementation and architectural efficiency overcome the core count disadvantage.

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

A: The FX-8800P matches the Intel Core i7-3520M exactly (0% delta) and is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-920. The i5-5200U matches the Intel Core i5-3380M exactly (0% delta) and is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon X3450. Both chips sit in the same performance neighborhood as older desktop i7 parts.

Q: What memory bandwidth do they support?

A: The AMD FX-8800P supports 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-5200U supports 25.6 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR3 memory, but AMD’s higher bandwidth may help in memory-intensive workloads, though it does not translate into a Geekbench win.

Q: Are these processors still relevant today?

A: Both are end-of-life products with 22nd percentile rankings among all CPUs, meaning they fall in the lower performance tier by modern standards. They remain comparable to each other, but users should expect them to lag behind contemporary processors significantly.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD FX-8800P | Intel Core i5-5200U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP4 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Broadwell |

| Codename | Carrizo | Broadwell-U |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 1,300 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 82 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | None | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes | Gen 2, 12 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 8CU | Intel HD 5500 |

| Release Date | 2015-06-01 | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $281 |

| Part Number | FM880PAAY43KAFM880PAAY43KAD | SR23Y |

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced recommendation. For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the AMD FX-8800P is the definitive choice — it leads every single Cinebench test by roughly 13%, and its four physical cores at a higher boost clock make it better suited for sustained multi-threaded rendering. The 28 nm Excavator architecture, despite being larger and less efficient, delivers tangible performance where it counts for creative professionals.

For general-purpose mobile computing, the Intel Core i5-5200U is the superior pick. Its 29.4% single-core Geekbench advantage translates to snappier everyday performance, and its 15.7% multicore Geekbench win demonstrates that architectural efficiency can overcome a core deficit. The 14 nm Broadwell design with 3 MB L3 cache provides better per-thread throughput, which is what most applications actually use. The Intel chip also has a listed launch MSRP of $281, providing a reference point for its market positioning.

The aggregate scores are too close to declare an overall winner — 843 versus 838 average points is effectively a tie. The decision hinges entirely on workload profile. If rendering throughput is the priority, the FX-8800P’s consistent Cinebench dominance is compelling. If responsive everyday computing and single-threaded performance matter more, the i5-5200U’s Geekbench superiority is decisive. The 22nd percentile ranking for both chips means neither is a performance leader, but within their shared tier, each excels at what the other cannot match.