AMD PRO A10-8850B vs Intel Xeon E5630 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across all five Cinebench workloads: the Intel Xeon E5630 wins every single head-to-head matchup, though by margins that are uniformly narrow. The largest advantage appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon E5630 scores 3226 against the AMD PRO A10-8850B's 3189, a delta of 1.2%. That is the widest gap in the entire comparison, and it is still a slim margin.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Intel part at 324 versus 321 for the AMD, a 0.9% advantage. The Cinebench R20 multi-core run gives the Intel a 1354 to 1339 win, a 1.1% delta. In single-core workloads, the pattern repeats. Cinebench R20 single-core sees Intel ahead at 191 versus 189, again a 1.1% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core records 455 for Intel and 450 for AMD, a 1.1% delta.

What does this mean in context? The average benchmark scores place these two parts nearly side by side in the database. The Intel Xeon E5630 carries an average score of 1110, while the AMD PRO A10-8850B sits at 1098. That is a 12-point difference, which corresponds to a roughly 1.1% gap. In percentile terms, both processors occupy the exact same spot: the 31st percentile among all CPUs tracked. The nearest rivals for the Intel include the Intel Core i7-5557U at 1110 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 at 1109 (0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-4570T at 1108 (0.2%). The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 at 1098 (0%), the Intel Pentium 6805 at 1099 (-0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-3450S at 1099 (-0.1%).

Benchmark results indicate a competitive pairing, with the Intel chip holding a slight but consistent edge. The data shows no test where the AMD PRO A10-8850B takes the lead, and the margins are small enough that they would likely be imperceptible in everyday use. Yet the consistency matters: five out of five wins, all in the same direction, suggests the Intel architecture has a small but real performance advantage across both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench loads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different worlds in terms of design philosophy and production timeline. The Intel Xeon E5630 is built on the Westmere-EP architecture, a 32 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It packs 1,170 million transistors onto a 239 mm² die. The AMD PRO A10-8850B uses the Steamroller architecture, codename Godaveri, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. AMD's chip contains 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The transistor count is more than double on the AMD side, though the die is only slightly larger.

Core and thread counts present a key structural difference. The Intel part provides 4 cores with 8 threads, meaning it supports Hyper-Threading (or its Xeon equivalent) to process two threads per core. The AMD part offers 4 cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multi-threading capability. This gives the Intel a 2:1 thread advantage in highly parallel workloads, which helps explain its narrow but consistent multi-core wins despite a much lower clock speed.

Clock speeds tell a complementary story. The Intel Xeon E5630 runs at a base clock of 2.53 GHz with a boost to 2.80 GHz. The AMD PRO A10-8850B runs at a base of 3.90 GHz and a boost of 4.10 GHz. The AMD has a substantial raw clock advantage, roughly 1.3 to 1.4 GHz higher, yet it still loses in Cinebench. That indicates the Intel's per-clock efficiency, architectural design, and thread advantages overcome the clock deficit.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. The Intel Xeon E5630 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD PRO A10-8850B lists 256 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2, and no L3 cache. The Intel offers substantially more aggregate cache, and its L3 is shared across all cores, which can benefit workloads with shared data.

Memory support also diverges. Both pair with DDR3 memory, but the Intel uses a triple-channel memory bus, while the AMD uses a dual-channel bus. The AMD datasheet lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel does not have a recorded bandwidth figure. The Intel supports ECC memory; the AMD does not. The Intel supports PCIe Gen 2; the AMD supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD also includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, whereas the Intel Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher raw clock speeds?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8850B has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5630 has a base clock of 2.53 GHz and a boost of 2.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests in the head-to-head data. It scores 324 in R15 (versus 321), 1354 in R20 (versus 1339), and 3226 in R23 (versus 3189). The Intel also has 8 threads compared to the AMD's 4.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5630 supports ECC memory. The AMD PRO A10-8850B does not.

Q: Which one has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8850B includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5630 does not have integrated graphics.

Q: How much cache does each chip have?

A: The Intel has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD has a total of 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, but no L3 cache.

Q: How do they rank against other CPUs?

A: Both processors fall in the 31st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel's average score is 1110, and the AMD's average score is 1098.

Specification Differences

Each processor differs in several core specifications. The Intel Xeon E5630 has 4 cores / 8 threads; the AMD PRO A10-8850B has 4 cores / 4 threads. The Intel's base clock is 2.53 GHz, boost 2.80 GHz; the AMD's base is 3.90 GHz, boost 4.10 GHz. TDP is 80 watts for the Intel, 95 watts for the AMD.

The socket differs: Intel uses Socket 1366, AMD uses Socket FM2+. The architecture is Westmere (codename Westmere-EP) for Intel, versus Steamroller (Godaveri) for AMD. The process node is 32 nm for Intel, 28 nm for AMD. Transistors are 1,170 million (Intel) versus 2,411 million (AMD); die size is 239 mm² versus 245 mm².

Cache differs as described: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 12 MB L3 shared (Intel); 256 KB L1, 4 MB L2, no L3 (AMD). Memory bus is triple-channel (Intel) versus dual-channel (AMD). The AMD lists memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s; the Intel does not. ECC support is present on the Intel, absent on the AMD.

PCIe generations differ: Gen 2 for Intel, Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for AMD. Integrated graphics: none for Intel, Radeon R7 for AMD. Market segment: Server/Workstation (Intel) versus Desktop (AMD). Release dates: Intel 2010-03-15, AMD 2015-09-28. Part numbers: SLBVB (Intel), AD885BXBI44JC (AMD).

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E5630 wins in all five head-to-head Cinebench tests: R15 multi-core (324 vs 321), R20 multi-core (1354 vs 1339), R20 single-core (191 vs 189), R23 multi-core (3226 vs 3189), and R23 single-core (455 vs 450). That is a clean sweep of the benchmark suite. The Intel also has the advantages of ECC memory support, a triple-channel memory bus, and 8 threads, which make it a stronger candidate for server or workstation duty.

The AMD PRO A10-8850B, while losing in Cinebench, has wins in other areas that matter depending on use case. It offers integrated Radeon R7 graphics, meaning no separate graphics card is required for basic display output. It has a significantly higher clock speed (4.10 GHz boost versus 2.80 GHz), which can help in single-threaded legacy software where the Cinebench scores show only a slight disadvantage. It supports PCIe Gen 3, which allows for faster data transfer to compatible devices. It also has a larger transistor count and a newer process node (28 nm versus 32 nm). The AMD is marked as a desktop part, so it is positioned for consumer builds, while the Intel is a server/workstation part.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5630 is the faster processor in every test recorded. The margins are tight, but the direction is consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel leads by 0.9%; in R20 multi-core, by 1.1%; in R20 single-core, by 1.1%; in R23 multi-core, by 1.2%; and in R23 single-core, by 1.1%. The Intel also offers twice the thread count, a much larger L3 cache, ECC memory support, and a triple-channel memory bus. For server, workstation, or any multi-threaded productivity environment, the Intel is the choice.

However, the AMD PRO A10-8850B should not be dismissed. It has a massive clock advantage, integrated Radeon R7 graphics, and PCIe Gen 3 support. For a desktop system with no discrete GPU, the AMD provides a more complete platform. Its higher clock speed can be a draw for latency-sensitive workloads, even if the Cinebench scores show the Intel slightly ahead. The AMD also has a newer release date (2015-09-28 versus 2010-03-15), a smaller process node (28 nm versus 32 nm), and more than twice the transistor count.

The data show both parts at the 31st percentile of all CPUs, with average scores of 1110 and 1098, respectively. The gap between them is 12 points, or about 1.1%, which is within the margin of a single benchmark run. The effective difference in real-world performance is likely to be minimal. The deciding factor should be the rest of the system: if the build requires ECC memory, a server socket, or a triple-channel memory bus, the Intel is the only option. If the build needs integrated graphics, a higher clock speed, or a desktop FM2+ socket, the AMD is the one. The data shows the Intel winning the raw benchmark battle, but the AMD has enough architectural features to claim the win in specific desktop scenarios.