AMD FX-8800P vs Intel Xeon X5492 Comparison

The Intel Xeon X5492 and AMD FX-8800P represent two very different approaches to computing, separated by seven years of silicon evolution. The Xeon is a 150W server/workstation part built on Intel's 45nm Core 2 architecture, while the FX-8800P is a 15W mobile processor on AMD's 28nm Excavator design. Despite their contrasting physical characteristics, benchmark results reveal a surprisingly close performance contest, with the older Xeon maintaining a narrow but consistent edge across all tested workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon X5492, though the margins are remarkably thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 249 against the FX-8800P's 242, a 2.9% advantage. This pattern repeats across every test: R20 multi-core shows 1039 versus 1010 (2.9%), R20 single-core shows 146 versus 142 (2.8%), R23 multi-core shows 2475 versus 2407 (2.8%), and R23 single-core shows 349 versus 339 (2.9%). The consistency of these deltas—all falling between 2.8% and 2.9%—suggests a fundamental per-clock throughput difference rather than workload-specific scaling behavior.

The single-core results are particularly telling. The Xeon's 3.40 GHz base clock (with no boost) edges out the FX-8800P's 2.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost in R20 single-core by 2.8% and in R23 single-core by 2.9%. This indicates that Intel's older Core 2 architecture delivers slightly higher instructions-per-clock than AMD's Excavator design, despite the latter having a smaller process node and more modern feature set. The FX-8800P's integrated Radeon R7 8CU graphics do not influence these CPU-only tests, leaving the comparison purely on compute.

Multi-core performance follows the same trajectory. With both parts offering 4 cores and 4 threads, the 2.9% lead in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests reinforces that the Xeon's advantage scales uniformly across thread counts. The FX-8800P's lower TDP (15W versus 150W) does not translate into a performance deficit as large as one might expect; the power draw difference is substantial, but the actual compute gap is minimal. The Xeon's 5-0 win tally in head-to-head benchmarks is decisive in terms of wins, yet the average margin of under 3% places these processors in the same performance tier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon X5492 has an average benchmark score of 852, compared to the AMD FX-8800P's 843. This places the Xeon at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, while the FX-8800P sits at the 22nd percentile—essentially adjacent in overall standings.

Q: How does the FX-8800P compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The FX-8800P's average score of 843 is exactly matched by the Intel Core i7-3520M (0% delta), and it sits 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-920 and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon X5470. It also leads the Intel Core i5-3380M by 0.6%.

Q: Does the FX-8800P have any benchmark advantage over the Xeon?

A: The head-to-head results show the Xeon winning all five Cinebench tests. However, the FX-8800P has additional Geekbench scores (1234 multi-core, 524 single-core) that were not measured for the Xeon, so a direct Geekbench comparison is not possible from the available data.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth capabilities of each processor?

A: The AMD FX-8800P has a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon X5492 has no memory bandwidth figure listed. Both support dual-channel memory, but the Xeon supports DDR2 and DDR3, whereas the FX-8800P supports only DDR3.

Q: How does the Xeon's nearest rival comparison differ from the FX-8800P's?

A: The Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-5250U, with a delta of -0.4%, meaning the Xeon is slightly behind it. Its other rivals include the AMD Athlon X4 830 (0.4% ahead), Intel Core i5-2500T (-0.5%), and Intel Core i7-4500U (-0.8%). The FX-8800P's closest rivals are Intel parts, with the Core i7-3520M at 0% delta.

Q: Which processor has a higher launch price?

A: The Intel Xeon X5492 has a launch MSRP of $1493. The AMD FX-8800P has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but narrow victory for the Intel Xeon X5492. It wins every head-to-head benchmark with margins between 2.8% and 2.9%, and its average benchmark score of 852 exceeds the FX-8800P's 843 by roughly 1%. The Xeon also holds a higher percentile ranking (23rd versus 22nd). For users prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench workloads, the Xeon is the better choice.

However, the FX-8800P is not without justification. Its 15W TDP compared to the Xeon's 150W represents a tenfold reduction in power draw, and it includes integrated Radeon R7 8CU graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The FX-8800P also supports PCIe Gen 3 (8 lanes) versus the Xeon's Gen 2, and it has a modern 28nm process node versus 45nm. For mobile or low-power applications, the FX-8800P delivers nearly identical performance at a fraction of the power envelope.

The Xeon targets server/workstation deployments where power efficiency is secondary to absolute throughput and ECC memory support. The FX-8800P targets mobile environments where the integrated graphics and low TDP are critical. Neither chip is currently in production, but the Xeon's 2008 release date versus the FX-8800P's 2015 release date shows how far mobile performance has come—a 2015 15W part nearly matches a 2008 150W server chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every physical and feature specification. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 771, while the FX-8800P uses AMD Socket FP4. The Xeon's base clock is 3.40 GHz with no boost capability; the FX-8800P has a 2.10 GHz base and a 3.40 GHz boost. TDP is dramatically different: 150W for the Xeon versus 15W for the FX-8800P.

Memory support diverges as well. The Xeon supports both DDR2 and DDR3 in dual-channel configuration with ECC memory support. The FX-8800P supports only DDR3, also dual-channel, but has no ECC capability. The FX-8800P specifies 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth; the Xeon lists none. PCIe generations differ, with the Xeon at Gen 2 and the FX-8800P at Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the FX-8800P includes Radeon R7 8CU. The Xeon's market segment is Server/Workstation; the FX-8800P targets Mobile. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $1493; the FX-8800P has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these chips is substantial. The Intel Xeon X5492 is built on the Core 2 architecture with the Harpertown codename, using a 45nm process node fabricated by Intel. It contains 820 million transistors across a die size of 2x 107 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core and 6 MB of L2 per die, with no L3 cache.

The AMD FX-8800P uses the Excavator architecture with the Carrizo codename, manufactured on a 28nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors into a 250 mm² die. Its cache configuration is notably different: 320 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per module, again with no L3 cache. The FX-8800P's transistor count is nearly four times higher than the Xeon's, yet it delivers slightly lower performance—evidence of the power efficiency gains of newer process nodes and architecture designs.

The Xeon's Core 2 architecture is a monolithic dual-die design, while the FX-8800P's Excavator uses a module-based layout. The Xeon's ECC memory support and server-oriented feature set contrast with the FX-8800P's integrated Radeon R7 8CU graphics and mobile-focused design. The FX-8800P's PCIe Gen 3 support with 8 CPU-only lanes reflects its mobile positioning, whereas the Xeon's Gen 2 implementation is typical of its 2008 server era. Both processors are end-of-life, but they represent different eras of design philosophy: the Xeon prioritizes raw compute in a power-hungry package, while the FX-8800P emphasizes integration and efficiency at the cost of a slight performance deficit.