AMD FX-9800P vs Intel Core i5-750 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear, consistent picture: the Intel Core i5-750 wins every recorded head-to-head comparison against the AMD FX-9800P. The margins are modest but uniform, with the Intel part leading by roughly 4% across all tested workloads.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-750 scores 218 against the AMD FX-9800P's 210, a 3.8% advantage. The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Intel chip posts 912 versus 876, a 4.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test follows the same pattern: 2172 for Intel against 2088 for AMD, a 4% difference.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel Core i5-750 scores 128 against 123 for the AMD FX-9800P, another 4.1% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 306 versus 294, again a 4.1% advantage for Intel. The consistency of these margins across both single-core and multi-core tests suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 747 for the Intel Core i5-750 and 745 for the AMD FX-9800P. In the nearest rival data, the Intel part is listed with a 0.2% delta against the AMD FX-9800P, while the AMD chip shows a -0.3% delta against the Intel part. These figures place both processors in the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating they occupy the same performance tier despite the Intel part's sweep of the direct comparisons.

Neither chip escapes this performance class. The nearest rivals for both include the AMD A10 PRO-7800B and Intel Core i5-4200U, both with average scores of 746, and the Intel Xeon E5520 at 742. The Intel Core i5-750 sits fractionally above these, while the AMD FX-9800P sits fractionally below, but the entire cluster spans less than 1% difference in average score.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-750 wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database. This includes all variants of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. The AMD FX-9800P has zero recorded wins in the head-to-head comparison.

However, the AMD FX-9800P does hold one advantage that the Intel chip cannot match: it has recorded Geekbench scores, while the Intel Core i5-750 has none in the database. The AMD part scores 1127 in Geekbench multi-core and 498 in Geekbench single-core. These results are not part of a direct comparison, but their presence in the database indicates the AMD chip has been tested in a broader range of benchmark suites.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench-class workloads, the Intel Core i5-750 is the consistent winner. For users who need a processor with a documented Geekbench performance profile, the AMD FX-9800P is the only one of the two with that data available. The practical differences in the shared benchmarks are small, all under 5%, so real-world perception of speed would likely be similar in most tasks.

The AMD FX-9800P also brings an integrated graphics solution, the Radeon R7 8CU, which the Intel Core i5-750 lacks entirely. This is not reflected in the CPU benchmark scores but is a functional difference: systems built around the AMD chip can output video without a discrete graphics card, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics capability.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i5-750 is built on the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Lynnfield, using a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD FX-9800P uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, fabricated on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The process difference is substantial: 45 nm versus 28 nm, which contributes to the dramatic difference in power consumption.

Transistor counts tell an interesting story. The Intel chip contains 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The AMD chip packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The AMD part squeezes roughly four times as many transistors into a smaller area, a direct consequence of its denser manufacturing process.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The Intel Core i5-750 has a three-level hierarchy: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD FX-9800P has no L3 cache at all. Its L1 is 320 KB total, and its L2 is 1 MB per module. The Intel design's shared L3 cache gives it a sizable pooled cache resource, while the AMD design relies on per-module L2 and lacks the higher-level shared cache entirely.

Clock speeds favor the AMD chip on paper. The AMD FX-9800P has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The Intel Core i5-750 runs at 2.67 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Despite the AMD part's higher clock rates, the Intel chip still wins every shared benchmark, indicating that architectural efficiency and the larger cache hierarchy offset the clock disadvantage.

Memory support also differs. The Intel chip supports DDR3 memory, while the AMD FX-9800P supports DDR4 and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses. PCIe support favors AMD as well: the FX-9800P has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes, while the Intel Core i5-750 has PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes.

Power consumption is the most dramatic difference. The Intel Core i5-750 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD FX-9800P has a TDP of just 15 watts. That is a six-fold difference in rated thermal envelope. The AMD chip is also classified as a mobile part, while the Intel chip is a desktop part. The Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1156, the AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP4.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for raw CPU performance: the Intel Core i5-750 is the faster processor in every shared benchmark. It leads by 3.8% to 4.1% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. For anyone building a system where those workloads matter, the Intel part is the better choice from a pure performance standpoint.

But the AMD FX-9800P is not without reasons to be selected. Its 15 watt TDP versus 95 watts for the Intel chip makes it dramatically more power-efficient. It integrates Radeon R7 graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic systems. It supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3. It is a mobile-class part, suitable for laptops and compact designs, while the Intel chip is a desktop part from an earlier era.

The performance gap is real but small. A 4% difference in Cinebench scores is unlikely to be perceptible in most daily tasks. The average benchmark scores are 747 versus 745, a 0.2% difference in the database's overall metric. Both processors sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs, placing them in the same performance class.

The choice comes down to context. For desktop users who already have or are willing to use DDR3 and PCIe Gen 2, and who want the marginally faster Cinebench performer, the Intel Core i5-750 is the data-backed pick. For users who prioritize power efficiency, integrated graphics, DDR4 support, or mobile form factors, the AMD FX-9800P offers capabilities the Intel part simply does not have, even if it loses every direct CPU benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 wins all 5 recorded head-to-head comparisons against the AMD FX-9800P, with deltas ranging from 3.8% to 4.1%.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 has an average benchmark score of 747, while the AMD FX-9800P scores 745. The Intel part is 0.2% ahead of the AMD part in the nearest rivals data.

Q: Does the AMD FX-9800P have any benchmark results the Intel chip lacks?

A: Yes, the AMD FX-9800P has Geekbench scores of 1127 multi-core and 498 single-core. The Intel Core i5-750 has no Geekbench results in the database.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD FX-9800P has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The AMD FX-9800P includes Radeon R7 8CU integrated graphics. The Intel Core i5-750 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: Which processor has L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-750 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD FX-9800P has no L3 cache, with only 320 KB of L1 and 1 MB per module L2 cache.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-750 | AMD FX-9800P |

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

| Base Clock | 2.67 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1156 | AMD Socket FP4 |

| Architecture | Nehalem | Excavator |

| Codename | Lynnfield | Bristol Ridge |

| Process Node | 45 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 774 million | 3,100 million |

| Die Size | 296 mm² | 250 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB shared | None |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 16 lanes | Gen 3, 8 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon R7 8CU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2009-09-07 | 2016-05-30 |

| Part Number | SLBLC | FM980PADY44AB |