AMD PRO A10-8850B vs Intel Core i7-5557U Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. Across every recorded benchmark, the AMD PRO A10-8850B outperforms the Intel Core i7-5557U. The AMD processor wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 15.9% to 16.4%. The Intel part does not claim a single victory in the measured workloads. For any user prioritizing raw compute performance in the tested applications, the AMD PRO A10-8850B is the clear choice based strictly on the recorded scores.

However, the context matters. The Intel Core i7-5557U is a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, while the AMD PRO A10-8850B is a desktop part with a 95 W TDP. The AMD chip's higher power envelope likely contributes to its performance lead. The Intel part, despite its lower scores, offers a more power-efficient profile for portable systems. The database shows both processors sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither is a top-tier performer in the broader market. The AMD chip's average benchmark score is 1098, while the Intel chip scores 1110, a difference of roughly 1.1% in favor of Intel when averaging across all recorded tests, despite losing every individual head-to-head matchup. This discrepancy arises because the Intel part has additional Geekbench scores in its record, which are not present in the AMD data.

For a desktop user who needs maximum multi-threaded throughput in Cinebench workloads, the AMD PRO A10-8850B is the recommended pick. For a laptop user or anyone constrained by power and heat, the Intel Core i7-5557U offers a functional alternative with a much lower TDP, though it sacrifices measurable performance in every tested scenario.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A10-8850B wins every single benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head comparison. This includes both multi-core and single-core tests across three different Cinebench versions. The Intel Core i7-5557U does not win any of the five head-to-head tests. The AMD part leads by 15.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core, and Cinebench R23 multi-core. The margin is slightly larger in single-core tests, at 16.4% in Cinebench R20 single-core and 16% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The Intel chip does have one area of relative strength: its average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 1110 compared to 1098 for AMD. This is driven by the Intel part's Geekbench scores, which are not part of the AMD benchmark record. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel chip scores 2099, and in single-core it scores 1060. These results are not available for the AMD processor, so a direct comparison in Geekbench is impossible from the data. Still, for the tests where both processors have recorded scores, the AMD part is consistently and significantly faster.

The use-case split is therefore clear. The AMD PRO A10-8850B is the better choice for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, both single-threaded and multi-threaded. The Intel Core i7-5557U is the only option for a mobile form factor, as it uses a laptop-oriented socket and has a much lower TDP. The data does not support any scenario where the Intel chip outperforms the AMD chip in the measured benchmarks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-5557U uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach that thread count. The AMD PRO A10-8850B uses the Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm process node, fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with 4 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multi-threading.

The transistor counts and die sizes differ substantially. The Intel chip packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die. The AMD chip has 2,411 million transistors on a much larger 245 mm² die. The larger process node and die size explain the AMD part's higher TDP of 95 W versus 28 W for Intel.

Cache configurations also diverge. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, totaling 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 256 KB of L1 cache total and 4 MB of L2 cache total, with no L3 cache present in the data. This is a notable architectural difference: the AMD part relies entirely on its L2 cache for on-die storage, while the Intel part uses a larger shared L3 pool.

Memory support is similar in some respects. Both support DDR3 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. The memory bandwidth figures differ: the Intel chip delivers 29.9 GB/s, while the AMD chip delivers 34.1 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCI Express support is another differentiator. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This gives the AMD part a more modern and wider PCIe interface, which can matter for discrete graphics and high-speed storage.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel chip features Intel Iris 6100, while the AMD chip includes Radeon R7. The production status for both is end-of-life. The Intel chip was released in February 2015, while the AMD chip came later in September 2015. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $426, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8850B scores 3189 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 15.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-5557U's score of 2682.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-5557U has zero wins, while the AMD PRO A10-8850B wins all five recorded head-to-head tests.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-5557U has a TDP of 28 W, while the AMD PRO A10-8850B has a TDP of 95 W. This is a 67 W difference, which reflects the AMD part's desktop orientation and larger power draw.

Q: How do their core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel chip has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads. Both support 4 threads total, but the Intel chip relies on Hyper-Threading to achieve that number.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8850B has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel Core i7-5557U has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The AMD chip is faster in both metrics.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel chip's average score is higher?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i7-5557U has an average benchmark score of 1110, while the AMD PRO A10-8850B has an average score of 1098. This is because the Intel chip has Geekbench scores recorded in the database, which the AMD chip lacks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD PRO A10-8850B scores 321 against the Intel Core i7-5557U's 270, a delta of 15.9%. The same 15.9% margin appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD chip scores 1339 and the Intel chip scores 1126. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the exact same pattern: AMD scores 3189, Intel scores 2682, again a 15.9% lead for AMD.

The single-core tests show a slightly larger gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD chip scores 189 against Intel's 158, a 16.4% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 16% lead, with AMD scoring 450 and Intel scoring 378. These margins are nearly identical across all five tests, suggesting a consistent per-clock performance difference rather than a workload-specific advantage.

The AMD chip's clock advantage is likely a major factor. With a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost of 4.10 GHz, the AMD part runs significantly faster than the Intel chip's 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The Intel chip's 14 nm process and smaller die size do not compensate for this clock deficit in the tested workloads. The AMD chip also has four physical cores versus Intel's two, which explains the multi-core performance lead, though the single-core lead indicates the AMD architecture is also competitive on a per-thread basis.

Interestingly, the Intel chip's Geekbench scores, while not directly comparable due to missing AMD data, show a different performance profile. The Intel chip scores 2099 in Geekbench multi-core and 1060 in single-core. These are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but they contribute to the Intel chip's higher average benchmark score of 1110 versus AMD's 1098. This suggests the Intel chip may perform relatively better in Geekbench-type workloads, though no direct comparison is possible from the recorded data.

Specification Differences

The specification tables reveal several key differences between the two processors. The Intel Core i7-5557U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-8850B has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 3.10 GHz for Intel and 3.90 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 3.40 GHz for Intel and 4.10 GHz for AMD. The TDP differs dramatically: 28 W for Intel versus 95 W for AMD.

The process nodes are different: Intel uses 14 nm, AMD uses 28 nm. The foundries also differ: Intel fabricates its own chips, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries. Transistor counts are 1,900 million for Intel and 2,411 million for AMD. Die sizes are 133 mm² for Intel and 245 mm² for AMD.

Cache layouts are not directly comparable. Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. AMD has 256 KB total L1 and 4 MB total L2, with no L3. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s for Intel and 34.1 GB/s for AMD, both using dual-channel DDR3.

PCIe support differs: Intel offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes, AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1168 (mobile), while AMD uses Socket FM2+ (desktop). Market segments reflect this: Intel is mobile, AMD is desktop. The integrated graphics are Intel Iris 6100 versus Radeon R7.

Release dates differ by about seven months: Intel launched in February 2015, AMD in September 2015. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $426, while no MSRP is recorded for AMD. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. Both support DDR3 memory and neither supports ECC. The Intel part number is SR26E, while the AMD part number is AD885BXBI44JC. Both are end-of-life products, and both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs in the database.