AMD PRO A10-8770 vs Intel Pentium G4600 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data paints a clear picture: the Intel Pentium G4600 wins every single head-to-head test in the database. Across five Cinebench workloads, the Pentium takes the top spot each time, from the older R15 multicore test to the newer R23 single-core and multi-core runs. The AMD PRO A10-8770 does not record a single victory in any of the compared tests.

That said, the margins are remarkably thin. The largest advantage for the Intel chip is just 1% in the Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore tests. The single-core results are even closer, with the Pentium leading by 0.6% in R20 single-core and 0.9% in R23 single-core. So while the win tally is one-sided, the actual performance gap is nearly negligible in every workload.

For practical use, this means the Pentium G4600 holds a slight edge in both lightly threaded and fully threaded rendering tasks. The difference is small enough that real-world applications would likely feel identical between the two. Neither chip establishes a meaningful lead in any specific use case, but if forced to choose based on raw benchmark outcomes, the Intel part is the consistent winner across all recorded tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Pentium G4600 is built on Kaby Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It is a dual-core part with four threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach that thread count. The AMD PRO A10-8770, in contrast, uses the older Excavator architecture under the Carrizo codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It has four physical cores and four threads, with no SMT equivalent.

The cache layouts differ substantially. The Pentium G4600 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 320 KB of total L1 and 2 MB of total L2, and no L3 cache at all. That missing L3 cache is a notable architectural difference, as the Intel chip can rely on a shared pool of third-level cache for frequently accessed data.

Process node and transistor counts also separate the two. The AMD chip uses 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, reflecting its older 28 nm fabrication. The Intel part has no transistor or die size figures recorded in the database. The 14 nm node gives Intel a density and efficiency advantage on paper, though the benchmark results do not show a dramatic performance payoff from that newer node.

Both processors support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with identical 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. The Pentium G4600 uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD part uses the AMD Socket AM4. PCIe support differs slightly: the Intel chip lists "Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only)", while the AMD part simply lists "Gen 3" without a lane count. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Intel HD 630 on the Pentium versus Radeon R7 on the AMD part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test opens the comparison with the Pentium G4600 scoring 309 against the PRO A10-8770's 306. That is a 1% difference in favor of Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the Pentium scores 1289 versus 1276, again a 1% lead. The R23 multicore test shows 3070 for the Intel part and 3040 for the AMD part, another 1% margin.

Single-core results follow the same pattern but with even smaller gaps. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium G4600 records 181 points against 180 for the AMD chip, a 0.6% advantage. The R23 single-core test shows 433 versus 429, a 0.9% lead for Intel. Across all five tests, the average benchmark score in the database is 1056 for the Pentium and 1046 for the AMD part, a difference of about 1%.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context for these scores. The Pentium G4600 sits alongside the Intel Core i7-2760QM (avg score 1057, delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (1058, -0.2%), the Intel Core i3-4350 (1058, -0.2%), and the AMD FX-8320E (1059, -0.3%). The AMD PRO A10-8770 is bracketed by the Intel Core i5-6350HQ (1046, 0%), the AMD Athlon X4 950 (1047, -0.1%), the AMD PRO A10-9700 (1045, 0.1%), and the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 (1045, 0.1%). Both chips land in the 29th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they are closely matched not just against each other but against a broad range of other processors.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is core count. The Pentium G4600 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite having twice the physical cores, the AMD part cannot translate that into a benchmark advantage.

Base clocks are nearly identical: 3.60 GHz for the Intel part versus 3.50 GHz for the AMD part. The AMD chip has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Pentium has no boost clock recorded, meaning it runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz. TDP differs as well, with the Intel part rated at 51 watts and the AMD part at 65 watts. The AMD chip consumes more power while delivering slightly lower performance in the recorded tests.

Socket compatibility is completely different. The Pentium G4600 fits Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM4. These are not interchangeable platforms, so motherboard choice will be dictated by which CPU is selected. Process node also differs, with 14 nm for Intel and 28 nm for AMD.

The cache hierarchy shows notable differences. The Pentium has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. The AMD part has 320 KB total L1, 2 MB total L2, and no L3. The AMD chip has more total L1 and L2 cache, but the Intel chip gains a significant L3 cache that AMD lacks entirely.

Integrated graphics differ, with Intel HD 630 on the Pentium versus Radeon R7 on the AMD part. Both support DDR4 dual-channel memory with identical 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Neither has ECC support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part has a recorded release date of January 2017, while the AMD part has no release date in the database. The Intel part number is SR35F, and the AMD part number is AD877BAGM44AB.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8770 has 4 cores, while the Intel Pentium G4600 has 2 cores. Both have 4 threads, meaning the Intel chip relies on Hyper-Threading while the AMD part uses only its physical cores.

Q: Is the Intel Pentium G4600 faster in single-core tests?

A: Yes, marginally. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium scores 181 versus 180 for the AMD PRO A10-8770, a 0.6% difference. In R23 single-core, the Pentium scores 433 versus 429, a 0.9% lead.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A10-8770 have an L3 cache?

A: No. The AMD part has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, but no L3 cache. The Intel Pentium G4600 has 3 MB of shared L3 cache in addition to its per-core L1 and L2.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 is rated at 51 watts, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 is rated at 65 watts. The AMD part uses more power despite having a lower base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.60 GHz for the Intel chip.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 has an average benchmark score of 1056, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 scores 1046. The Intel part is about 1% higher on average.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The Intel Pentium G4600 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 uses AMD Socket AM4. They require entirely different motherboards and platforms.

The Verdict

The data does not support a dramatic conclusion. The Intel Pentium G4600 wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are consistently around 1% or less. In the R20 single-core test, the difference is just 0.6%, which is within the range of run-to-run variance for most benchmark suites. The R23 single-core margin is 0.9%, and the multicore margins are all exactly 1%.

The AMD PRO A10-8770 has a theoretical advantage in physical core count, with 4 cores versus 2, but it cannot convert that into a performance lead in any recorded test. The older Excavator architecture on a 28 nm node, combined with the lack of L3 cache, appears to hold it back despite having twice the physical cores. The AMD part also consumes more power, with a 65 watt TDP versus 51 watts for the Intel chip.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the decision should come down to platform preference rather than performance. The Pentium G4600 offers a slight edge in every benchmark, a lower TDP, and a newer 14 nm process. The AMD PRO A10-8770 offers four physical cores and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, but none of that shows up in the recorded results. The integrated graphics differ, with Intel HD 630 versus Radeon R7, but no graphics benchmarks are included in the database to compare them.

Both processors sit at the 29th percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals are a mix of older Intel mobile parts, low-end AMD desktop chips, and entry-level Pentium Gold models. Neither chip is positioned as a high-performance option. The Pentium G4600 is the safer pick based on the recorded data, but the real-world difference is likely imperceptible. If the platform or motherboard availability matters more, choosing the AMD part costs almost nothing in measured performance.