AMD PRO A10-9700 vs Intel Core i3-4360 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably one-sided. Across all five recorded Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i3-4360 wins every single matchup, but the margins are consistently narrow. The largest advantage appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Intel part scores 182 against the AMD PRO A10-9700's 179, a delta of 1.7%. That is the widest gap in the entire head-to-head set, yet it still represents a slim margin in raw performance.

In multi-core workloads, the story does not change much. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the Intel Core i3-4360 at 310 points versus 306 for the AMD PRO A10-9700, a 1.3% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core repeats the pattern with 1294 against 1275, a 1.5% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core produces 3082 for the Intel part and 3037 for the AMD part, again a 1.5% difference. Single-core results in Cinebench R23 follow suit: 435 versus 428, a 1.6% advantage for Intel.

The average benchmark scores confirm the closeness of the pairing. The Intel Core i3-4360 posts an average score of 1061, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 averages 1045. That is a difference of roughly 1.5% in the aggregate, consistent with the individual test deltas. Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier despite their architectural differences.

It is worth remembering the Intel Core i3-4360 accomplishes these wins with only 2 physical cores and 4 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The fact that a dual-core part with Hyper-Threading beats a true quad-core in multi-threaded Cinebench tests highlights how much per-core efficiency matters in these workloads. The AMD chip's extra cores do not translate into a win anywhere in the recorded data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i3-4360 is built on Intel's 22 nm process using the Haswell architecture, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The AMD PRO A10-9700 uses GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process with the Excavator architecture, specifically the Bristol Ridge generation, and packs 3,100 million transistors onto a 250 mm² die.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel part provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, backed by 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD processor lists 320 KB of L1 cache total and 2 MB of L2 cache total, with no L3 cache present. That missing L3 cache is a notable disadvantage for AMD in workloads that benefit from large shared pools of fast memory.

Clock speeds tell a mixed story. The Intel Core i3-4360 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz base clock with no boost capability. The AMD PRO A10-9700 has a 3.50 GHz base clock but boosts to 3.80 GHz, giving it a higher maximum frequency on paper. Despite that boost headroom, the Intel part still wins every benchmark, indicating that architectural efficiency outweighs raw clock speed in these tests.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel chip uses DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, while the AMD chip uses DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Both support dual-channel configurations, and neither supports ECC memory. The AMD part's newer DDR4 interface and higher bandwidth do not yield a performance advantage in the Cinebench suite.

The integrated graphics differ as well: Intel pairs the CPU with HD 4600 graphics, while AMD includes Radeon R7 graphics. PCIe support is Gen 3 on both, though the AMD part specifies 8 lanes for the CPU only, whereas Intel does not list a lane limitation in the data. The AMD PRO A10-9700 carries an unlocked multiplier? No, the data shows multiplierUnlocked is false for both processors.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-4360 wins in every measured category, but the practical significance depends on the workload. In single-threaded tasks, the 1.6% to 1.7% edge in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests suggests slightly snappier responsiveness in lightly threaded applications such as older games, office productivity, and web browsing. The lead is real but small enough that most users would not perceive a difference without instrumentation.

Multi-threaded workloads show a similar pattern. The Intel part leads by 1.3% to 1.5% across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. For rendering, video encoding, or compilation tasks that scale across threads, the Intel Core i3-4360 maintains a consistent, if modest, advantage. The AMD PRO A10-9700's four physical cores do not overcome the Intel part's superior per-thread throughput.

The AMD PRO A10-9700 does not win any of the five recorded benchmarks, so there is no measured workload where it comes out ahead. However, its architecture offers features that may matter outside the Cinebench suite. It supports DDR4 memory with a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, which could benefit memory-intensive applications not represented in these tests. Its Radeon R7 integrated graphics may also provide different driver and feature support compared to Intel HD 4600, though no graphics benchmarks appear in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i3-4360 has 2 cores and 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to match the thread count.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A10-9700 ever beat the Intel Core i3-4360 in the recorded benchmarks?

A: No. The Intel part wins all five head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 1.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core to 1.7% in Cinebench R20 single-core.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-4360 has an average score of 1061, and the AMD PRO A10-9700 has an average score of 1045.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i3-4360 and the AMD PRO A10-9700 have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700 boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-4360 has no boost clock and runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz.

Q: What level of performance percentile do these CPUs occupy?

A: Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i3-4360 uses 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 uses 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are close at 3.70 GHz for Intel and 3.50 GHz for AMD, but only the AMD chip has a boost clock, reaching 3.80 GHz. Thermal design power differs by 11 watts: 54 W for Intel versus 65 W for AMD.

Sockets are incompatible. The Intel part fits Intel Socket 1150, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM4. Architecture and process node diverge completely: Haswell on 22 nm for Intel, Excavator (Bristol Ridge) on 28 nm for AMD. Transistor counts and die sizes also differ, with AMD using more transistors (3,100 million versus 1,400 million) on a larger die (250 mm² versus 177 mm²).

Cache configurations are not comparable in structure. The Intel chip has per-core L1 and L2 caches plus a 4 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip lists total L1 of 320 KB and total L2 of 2 MB, with no L3 cache at all. Memory support moves from DDR3 on Intel to DDR4 on AMD, with the AMD part quoting a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4600 versus AMD Radeon R7. The AMD part specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes for the CPU only, while Intel simply lists Gen 3. Release dates are far apart, with Intel launching in 2014 and AMD in 2017. The AMD processor has a part number listed as AD970BAGM44AB, and its production status is Active, while the Intel part has no production status listed. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, winner. The Intel Core i3-4360 outperforms the AMD PRO A10-9700 in every recorded benchmark, from single-core to multi-core across three Cinebench versions. The margins are small, never exceeding 1.7%, but they are consistent and directionally uniform. Anyone choosing strictly on measured performance in these tests should select the Intel Core i3-4360.

The AMD PRO A10-9700's appeal rests on specifications rather than benchmark results. It offers more physical cores, a higher boost clock, DDR4 memory support with greater bandwidth, and a newer release date with Active production status. These features are real but did not translate into any measured win in the database. The 29th percentile ranking for both chips confirms they occupy the same performance class, so the differences are not dramatic.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the Intel Core i3-4360 is the safer pick. Its wins across all five tests, including multi-threaded workloads where it faces a 4-core opponent, demonstrate superior per-clock efficiency. For users who value modern platform features like DDR4 support, an Active production status, or the larger cache and graphics setup of the Radeon R7, the AMD PRO A10-9700 offers those advantages even if they do not show up as benchmark wins. The verdict from the data is straightforward: Intel wins every head-to-head test, AMD wins on specifications on paper, and neither is priced differently in the recorded data, and both sit at the same percentile among all CPUs, making them performance equals in the aggregate.