AMD PRO A10-8750B vs Intel Core i7-5550U Comparison

The AMD PRO A10-8750B and Intel Core i7-5550U represent two fundamentally different approaches to computing from the same era, yet their benchmark results land them in the same performance tier. The AMD chip, a 95W desktop part built on a 28nm process, and the Intel chip, a 15W mobile part built on a 14nm process, both achieve a 22nd percentile ranking among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 821 for the AMD part versus 813 for the Intel part — but the data reveals a clear pattern of wins for the AMD processor across every shared benchmark. This analysis breaks down where each processor excels, what separates them architecturally, and what those differences mean for real-world usage.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A10-8750B wins all five head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i7-5550U. The AMD part's victories span both multi-core and single-core tests, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In multi-core workloads, the margin is consistent, with the AMD chip leading by 6.7% in Cinebench R15 (254 vs 238) and by 6.9% in both Cinebench R20 (1060 vs 992) and Cinebench R23 (2525 vs 2363). Single-core performance shows a similar pattern, with the AMD part ahead by 7.2% in Cinebench R20 (149 vs 139) and by 6.9% in Cinebench R23 (356 vs 333).

The Intel Core i7-5550U does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. However, the data shows that the Intel part is competitive despite its lower scores. The average score gap between the two is just 8 points (821 vs 813), and the Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 with an identical average score of 813. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5540 with an average score of 820, a mere 0.1% behind, and the AMD A10 PRO-7850B at 828, which is 0.8% ahead. These figures indicate that both processors sit in a tightly packed performance cluster, where the benchmark wins by the AMD chip translate to a modest but consistent edge.

For use-case segmentation, the AMD PRO A10-8750B is the pick for any workload that benefits from its edge in both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, as measured by Cinebench. The Intel Core i7-5550U, while behind in every test, offers a much lower thermal envelope and is designed for mobile platforms, which the benchmark scores alone do not capture. The data suggests the AMD part wins on raw throughput, while the Intel part's strengths lie in efficiency and form factor, though those are not directly quantified in the benchmark results.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The AMD PRO A10-8750B uses the Steamroller architecture under the Godaveri codename, built on a 28nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors into a 245 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-5550U uses the Broadwell architecture under the Broadwell-U codename, built on a 14nm process at Intel, with 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. The Intel part is significantly denser, fitting fewer transistors into a much smaller area, which explains its dramatically lower 15W TDP versus the AMD part's 95W TDP.

Core configuration differs as well. The AMD part has 4 physical cores with 4 threads, while the Intel part has 2 physical cores with 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count. L1 and L2 cache structures are reported differently: the AMD part lists 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, while the Intel part lists 64 KB per core L1 and 256 KB per core L2, plus a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The AMD part has no L3 cache listed. The AMD chip has a 3.60 GHz base clock and 4.00 GHz boost clock, while the Intel chip has a 2000.00 MHz base clock (2.00 GHz) and 3.00 GHz boost clock — a substantial clock speed advantage for the AMD part.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, with dual-channel buses, but the AMD part has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s for Intel. PCIe support differs: the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ, with the AMD part featuring Radeon R7 and the Intel part featuring Intel HD 6000. The market segments are opposite — the AMD part is Desktop, the Intel part is Mobile — and their sockets reflect this: AMD Socket FM2+ for the former, Intel BGA 1168 for the latter. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are end-of-life products with locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test sets the tone: the AMD PRO A10-8750B scores 254 against the Intel Core i7-5550U's 238, a 6.7% advantage. This is the smallest margin of victory in the dataset, yet it is still a clear win for the AMD part. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 1060 versus 992, widening the gap slightly to 6.9%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the scores are 2525 and 2363, again a 6.9% difference. The consistency of the multi-core margin across all three Cinebench versions suggests a stable performance advantage for the AMD part in threaded workloads.

Single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD PRO A10-8750B scores 149 against the Intel part's 139, a 7.2% lead — the largest percentage advantage in the entire head-to-head set. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip scores 356 versus 333, a 6.9% edge. The fact that the AMD part wins single-core by roughly the same margin as multi-core is notable, because the Intel part's higher per-core architecture (Broadwell on 14nm) might be expected to close the gap. Instead, the AMD part's higher clock speeds — 4.00 GHz boost versus 3.00 GHz boost — appear to carry the day. The 7.2% single-core win in R20 is the standout result, showing that the AMD part's advantage is not merely a function of having more physical cores.

The Geekbench results for the AMD part are 985 multi-core and 416 single-core, but no comparable Geekbench scores exist for the Intel part in the head-to-head data, so those numbers cannot be directly compared. The Cinebench results alone are sufficient to establish the pattern: the AMD PRO A10-8750B wins every shared benchmark, with margins ranging from 6.7% to 7.2%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B has an average benchmark score of 821, while the Intel Core i7-5550U has an average score of 813, a difference of 8 points.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B scores 2525, which is 6.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-5550U's score of 2363.

Q: What is the largest percentage win in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B's 7.2% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core (149 vs 139) is the largest margin of victory in the dataset.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 threads, but the AMD part achieves this with 4 physical cores, while the Intel part uses 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i7-5550U's boost clock of 3.00 GHz.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are in the 22nd percentile among all CPUs, and their average scores are within 8 points of each other.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The AMD PRO A10-8750B has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5550U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz for AMD versus 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) for Intel. Boost clocks are 4.00 GHz versus 3.00 GHz. TDP is 95W for AMD versus 15W for Intel. Sockets are AMD Socket FM2+ versus Intel BGA 1168. Architecture is Steamroller versus Broadwell, with codenames Godaveri and Broadwell-U respectively. Process nodes are 28nm versus 14nm, with foundries GlobalFoundries versus Intel. Transistor counts are 2,411 million versus 1,900 million, and die sizes are 245 mm² versus 133 mm².

Cache configurations are not directly comparable: the AMD part lists 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3, while the Intel part lists 64 KB per core L1, 256 KB per core L2, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for AMD versus 29.9 GB/s for Intel. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes for AMD versus Gen 2 with 12 lanes for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon R7 versus Intel HD 6000. Market segments are Desktop versus Mobile. Release dates are 2015-09-28 for AMD versus 2015-02-28 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $426, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. Part numbers are AD875BYBI44JC for AMD and SR26A for Intel.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for raw performance: the AMD PRO A10-8750B is the faster processor. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with margins between 6.7% and 7.2% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. Its higher base and boost clocks, combined with two additional physical cores, give it a consistent edge that the Intel part cannot overcome despite its smaller process node and newer architecture. The AMD chip's 4.00 GHz boost clock versus 3.00 GHz for Intel is the most likely driver of the single-core wins, while the 4-core versus 2-core configuration explains the multi-core advantage.

However, the Intel Core i7-5550U is not a poor performer in absolute terms. Its average score of 813 places it within 8 points of the AMD part, and both sit at the 22nd percentile. The Intel chip's 15W TDP versus 95W is a massive efficiency gap, and its BGA 1168 socket and Mobile market segment make it suitable for compact systems where the AMD part's Desktop socket and higher power draw would be inappropriate. Users who need a mobile processor or have strict thermal limits should choose the Intel part, as the benchmark data cannot compensate for a form factor mismatch. Users who need the best possible Cinebench scores and have a Desktop platform should choose the AMD part, as it wins every measured test. The verdict from the data is clear: the AMD PRO A10-8750B wins on performance, while the Intel Core i7-5550U wins on efficiency and mobility.