AMD PRO A10-8750B vs Intel Core i5-5200U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-5200U and AMD PRO A10-8750B present a classic study in divergent design priorities. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the AMD part dominates every Cinebench iteration, while the Intel chip wins decisively in Geekbench. With the Intel part holding an average benchmark score of 838 versus 821 for the AMD, and both sitting at the 22nd percentile, the overall performance is close, but the workloads that favor each are sharply defined.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the total dominance of the AMD PRO A10-8750B across all Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 254 against Intel’s 214, a margin of -15.7% when viewed from Intel’s perspective. This advantage persists across newer versions of the test: in Cinebench R20 multicore, the AMD leads 1060 to 892 (-15.8%), and in Cinebench R23 multicore, it wins 2525 to 2125 (-15.8%). The consistency of this ~15.7-15.8% deficit for Intel is remarkable, indicating a stable performance gap that does not fluctuate with the test version.

The single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story. The AMD PRO A10-8750B posts a score of 149 in Cinebench R20 single-core, compared to 126 for the Intel Core i5-5200U, a -15.4% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD again wins with 356 versus 300, a -15.7% gap. This uniformity across both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench tests suggests the AMD’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost of 4.00 GHz provides a fundamental advantage in this specific rendering workload.

However, the Geekbench results reverse the narrative entirely. The Intel Core i5-5200U wins the Geekbench multicore test with a score of 1464, against 985 for the AMD, representing a massive 48.6% advantage. The single-core Geekbench results are even more lopsided: Intel scores 742, AMD scores 416, giving Intel a 78.4% lead. This is not a marginal victory; it is a near-doubling of the score. The data indicates that the Intel architecture is vastly more efficient in the types of operations Geekbench measures, which often include memory latency, encryption, and integer performance.

The head-to-head tally shows AMD winning 5 of the 7 benchmark comparisons, with Intel winning the remaining 2. Despite the AMD’s higher number of wins, the magnitude of Intel’s Geekbench victories is so large that it pulls the average benchmark scores much closer together. The Intel part’s average score of 838 is only 2.0% higher than the AMD’s 821. This suggests that the choice between these two processors depends entirely on which benchmark suite is more representative of the target workload.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is fundamental. The Intel Core i5-5200U is built on a 14 nm process node by Intel, featuring 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. It uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-U, and is designed for the mobile segment with a TDP of just 15 watts. It has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

In contrast, the AMD PRO A10-8750B is a desktop part built on a larger 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors onto a 245 mm² die, nearly triple the transistor count and triple the die size of the Intel. It uses the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, and has a TDP of 95 watts — more than six times that of the Intel chip. It offers 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The cache configuration is different as well: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache present.

The memory support shows both use DDR3 with dual-channel buses, but the AMD has a higher memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s compared to Intel’s 25.6 GB/s. PCIe support also differs, with the AMD offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Intel only provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes. Both have integrated graphics — Intel HD 5500 versus Radeon R7 — and neither supports ECC memory. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life products.

The most telling difference is the TDP. The Intel chip consumes 15 watts, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, while the AMD consumes 95 watts, requiring a desktop cooling solution. This explains why the AMD can run at higher clock speeds, but it also means the comparison is not strictly apples-to-apples. The Intel part is a low-power mobile chip, while the AMD is a full-power desktop processor. The process node difference (14 nm versus 28 nm) is a major factor in why Intel achieves its performance with so much less power.

The Verdict

The data provides a clear, workload-specific verdict. For users running Cinebench-based rendering tasks, the AMD PRO A10-8750B is the superior choice, consistently outperforming the Intel Core i5-5200U by approximately 15.7% across all versions of the test. Its four physical cores and higher clock speeds deliver measurable wins in this specific benchmark. The AMD also has a higher memory bandwidth and more PCIe lanes, which could benefit other memory-intensive desktop workloads.

For users running Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel Core i5-5200U is the definitive winner. Its lead of 48.6% in multicore and 78.4% in single-core Geekbench scores is overwhelming. This indicates superior instruction-level efficiency and memory handling that the AMD’s higher clock speed cannot overcome. The Intel chip achieves this performance while consuming only 15 watts, making it dramatically more power-efficient.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (838 vs 821), placing both processors at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Core i5-3380M (0% delta), Intel Xeon X3450 (0.1%), and Intel Xeon X5470 (-0.2%). The AMD’s nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5540 (0.1%), Intel Core i5-L16G7 (0.6%), and AMD A10 PRO-7850B (-0.8%). This places both in the same performance tier, but with vastly different characteristics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B scores 2525, while the Intel Core i5-5200U scores 2125, giving AMD a -15.8% advantage over Intel.

Q: How much does the Intel Core i5-5200U lead in Geekbench single-core?

A: The Intel scores 742 versus AMD’s 416, resulting in a 78.4% lead for Intel in that specific test.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core i5-5200U nor the AMD PRO A10-8750B supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-5200U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD PRO A10-8750B has a TDP of 95 watts.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B has 4 physical cores, whereas the Intel Core i5-5200U has 2 physical cores (with 4 threads).

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-5200U has an average benchmark score of 838, and the AMD PRO A10-8750B has an average score of 821.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A10-8750B wins in all Cinebench tests. This includes Cinebench R15 multicore (254 vs 214), Cinebench R20 multicore (1060 vs 892), Cinebench R20 single-core (149 vs 126), Cinebench R23 multicore (2525 vs 2125), and Cinebench R23 single-core (356 vs 300). These wins are consistent at roughly 15.4-15.8% across the board, indicating a uniform advantage in rendering workloads. The AMD also offers a higher memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s) and newer PCIe generation (Gen 3 vs Gen 2), which are qualitative advantages for desktop expansion.

The Intel Core i5-5200U wins decisively in Geekbench tests. The multicore score of 1464 versus 985 gives Intel a 48.6% edge, while the single-core score of 742 versus 416 yields a 78.4% edge. These wins are so substantial that they outweigh the AMD’s five benchmark victories when calculating the average score. The Intel chip’s wins are concentrated in a synthetic benchmark that heavily weights integer performance, memory access patterns, and cryptographic operations, suggesting it has a more efficient core design per clock cycle.

The use-case split is therefore stark. The AMD PRO A10-8750B is the pick for any workload that resembles Cinebench — CPU-based rendering, 3D modeling, and video encoding that scales with cores and raw clock speed. The Intel Core i5-5200U is the pick for general desktop responsiveness, office productivity, and any application whose performance correlates with Geekbench scores. The Intel part also wins on power efficiency by a massive margin, consuming 15 watts versus 95 watts, making it the only viable option for battery-powered devices.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-5200U | AMD PRO A10-8750B |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Steamroller |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Godaveri |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 82 mm² | 245 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 256 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB |

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

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

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2015-09-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $281 | None |

The table highlights the fundamental differences. The AMD has double the cores, higher clocks, more cache, higher memory bandwidth, and a newer PCIe interface. The Intel has a more advanced 14 nm process, a smaller die, a much lower TDP, and an L3 cache. The launch MSRP for the Intel is $281, while the AMD has no listed launch MSRP. These differences explain the benchmark results: the AMD’s raw resources drive its Cinebench wins, while the Intel’s architectural efficiency drives its Geekbench wins.