AMD PRO A10-8770E vs Intel Core i5-5300U Comparison

The AMD PRO A10-8770E and Intel Core i5-5300U are two processors that land on the same overall benchmark average of 895, placing both in the 24th percentile of all CPUs tracked. Despite this statistical tie in aggregate scores, the head-to-head data reveals a fascinating split: the AMD part dominates Cinebench workloads, while the Intel part counterattacks decisively in Geekbench. This divergence in performance profiles makes the choice between them heavily dependent on the specific application environment, rather than a simple matter of overall capability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the benchmark data is the AMD PRO A10-8770E’s consistent, near-uniform victory across all Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 258 against the Intel’s 230, a 12.2% advantage. That lead remains remarkably stable as the workload scales: Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 12% delta (1075 vs 960), and the single-core variant of R20 shows an 11.9% edge (151 vs 135). This consistency extends to the newer R23 tests, where the AMD part wins multi-core with 2560 versus 2287 (11.9% delta) and single-core with 361 versus 322 (12.1% delta). The fact that the AMD processor maintains a double-digit lead in both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench scenarios suggests that its higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to Intel’s 2.30 GHz and 2.90 GHz, provides a structural advantage in rendering and 3D modeling tasks that rely on sustained CPU throughput.

However, the narrative reverses completely in Geekbench. Here, the Intel Core i5-5300U outperforms the AMD part by a substantial margin. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel chip scores 1540 versus the AMD’s 1291, a 16.2% delta in Intel’s favor. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided: Intel scores 791, while AMD manages only 572, a 27.7% delta. This is a significant divergence — the Intel processor is over a quarter faster in this specific single-threaded test, despite having a lower clock speed. This suggests that the Intel architecture’s efficiency per clock cycle is markedly higher, and that the Geekbench test suite is more sensitive to architectural efficiency (such as instruction-level parallelism and memory latency) than to raw clock frequency. The data shows that the AMD part wins 5 out of 7 head-to-head tests, but the two tests it loses are by a wider margin than any of its wins, which explains why the average benchmark score ends up identical.

Architecture Differences

The underlying architectures explain the performance divergence. The AMD PRO A10-8770E is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Carrizo, using a 28nm process from GlobalFoundries. It features 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a die size of 250 mm² and 3,100 million transistors. Its cache hierarchy consists of 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache present. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-5300U uses the Broadwell architecture, codenamed Broadwell-U, on a 14nm process from Intel. It has 2 physical cores but 4 threads (via Hyper-Threading), with a much smaller die at 82 mm² and 1,300 million transistors. Intel’s cache layout is per-core for L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core), but it adds a 3 MB shared L3 cache, which the AMD part lacks entirely.

Process node differences are stark: 28nm versus 14nm, with Intel’s smaller node contributing to a significantly lower thermal design power (TDP) of 15 watts versus AMD’s 35 watts. The Intel chip is also a mobile part, fitting the BGA 1168 socket, while the AMD is a desktop processor for Socket AM4. Memory support differs, with AMD using DDR4 and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while Intel uses DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. PCIe generation also differs: AMD supports Gen 3, while Intel is limited to Gen 2 with 12 lanes. The integrated graphics are different as well: AMD offers Radeon R7, while Intel has HD 5500. Production status shows AMD’s part as Active, while Intel’s is End-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8770E wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head benchmark tests, while the Intel Core i5-5300U wins 2.

Q: Why does the AMD chip have a higher clock speed but lose in Geekbench?

A: The AMD part has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost of 3.50 GHz, versus Intel’s 2.30/2.90 GHz. However, the Intel architecture demonstrates higher per-clock efficiency in Geekbench, winning single-core by 27.7% and multi-core by 16.2%, indicating that clock speed alone does not determine performance in that test suite.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD processor has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel processor has 2 physical cores but uses Hyper-Threading to achieve 4 threads. In Cinebench multi-core tests, AMD’s extra physical cores yield a consistent 11.9-12.2% lead.

Q: Is there a difference in cache memory?

A: Yes, significant. The AMD part has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, with no L3. The Intel part has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, plus a 3 MB shared L3. This L3 presence may contribute to Intel’s Geekbench advantage.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8770E has a TDP of 35 watts, suitable for desktop use. The Intel Core i5-5300U has a TDP of 15 watts, reflecting its mobile design and more efficient 14nm process.

Q: Are both processors at the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both have an average benchmark score of 895 and sit in the 24th percentile of all CPUs. Their nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium G4600T (same 895 score) and the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U (893, 0.2% delta).

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD PRO A10-8770E | Intel Core i5-5300U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Broadwell |

| Codename | Carrizo | Broadwell-U |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 1,300 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 82 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Intel HD 5500 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | Not specified | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $315 |

| Part Number | AD877BAHM44AB | SR23X |

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear, if nuanced, picture. For workloads centered on Cinebench — which typically reflects 3D rendering, animation, and CPU-intensive content creation — the AMD PRO A10-8770E is the superior choice. It delivers a consistent 11.9% to 12.2% advantage across all Cinebench versions, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core modes. This is a meaningful performance edge that would translate to measurably faster render times. The AMD part’s higher clock speeds and four physical cores provide a tangible benefit in this specific category.

However, for users whose applications align more closely with the Geekbench test methodology — which often reflects general productivity, web browsing, and mixed single-threaded workloads — the Intel Core i5-5300U is decisively better. Its 27.7% single-core and 16.2% multi-core wins are substantial margins that would be noticeable in everyday responsiveness and many legacy or lightly-threaded applications. The Intel chip also offers lower power consumption (15W vs 35W) and a smaller die, making it suitable for compact, battery-conscious mobile systems, though it is now end-of-life.

The data does not favor one processor universally. The AMD part wins more tests (5 vs 2), but the Intel part wins the two tests by larger margins. The choice should be driven by the user’s primary application profile. If the workload is dominated by Cinebench-style rendering, the AMD PRO A10-8770E is the rational pick. If the workload emphasizes Geekbench-style general performance, the Intel Core i5-5300U offers superior results despite its older production status. For a tie in average score, the decision rests entirely on which benchmark suite reflects the user’s real-world usage.