AMD PRO A10-9700 vs Intel Pentium G4600 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 wins all recorded single-core tests. It scores 181 versus 179 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 433 versus 428 in Cinebench R23 single-core, a margin of 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A10-9700 ever win a benchmark in the database?

A: No. Across the five head-to-head Cinebench tests, the AMD PRO A10-9700 wins zero. The Intel Pentium G4600 wins all five, with deltas ranging from 1.0% to 1.2%.

Q: How do these two compare on multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 leads by a small but consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core it scores 309 versus 306, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core it scores 3070 versus 3037, a 1.1% difference.

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

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 has an average benchmark score of 1056, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 averages 1045. Both sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes. Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both have a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each processor according to the database?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600 sits near the Intel Core i7-2760QM (average score 1057, delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (1058, -0.2%), and the Intel Core i3-4350 (1058, -0.2%). The AMD PRO A10-9700 is tied with the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 (1045, 0%) and the Intel Core i5-6350HQ (1046, 0%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and process nodes. The Intel Pentium G4600 is built on Kaby Lake architecture at Intel's 14 nm process node. It uses a 2-core, 4-thread configuration with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and no boost clock. The AMD PRO A10-9700 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. That chip has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Intel Pentium G4600 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD PRO A10-9700 has a total of 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The AMD part also lists explicit transistor and die size figures: 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Both processors use DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with identical 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, but their PCIe configurations differ. The Intel Pentium G4600 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 provides PCIe Gen 3 with only 8 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel HD 630 on the Pentium versus Radeon R7 on the AMD part.

The production status for both is listed as active. The Intel part was released in January 2017, while the AMD part followed in July 2017. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part number is SR35F, and the AMD part number is AD970BAGM44AB.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Pentium G4600 wins every benchmark recorded in the database. This makes the use-case split straightforward: if the workload is Cinebench rendering, the Intel part is ahead in all five tests. The largest advantage is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Pentium leads by 1.2%. The remaining tests show a 1.0% to 1.1% lead for Intel.

That said, the margins are small. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the difference is just 3 points (309 versus 306). In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it is 14 points (1289 versus 1275). In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it is 33 points (3070 versus 3037). None of these deltas exceed 1.2%, so the AMD part is never far behind.

The AMD PRO A10-9700 does have a physical core count advantage at 4 cores versus 2, but that does not translate into a benchmark win. The Intel part's higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) and its 4 threads likely compensate for the core deficit. The AMD chip does have a boost clock up to 3.80 GHz, but the recorded scores still land behind Intel.

For a builder deciding between these two, the data says the Intel Pentium G4600 is the safer pick for Cinebench-style multi-threaded rendering and for single-threaded responsiveness. The AMD part would only be chosen if the extra two physical cores matter for a non-Cinebench workload that is not represented in this database, but the recorded benchmarks do not support that choice.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. Core count: the Intel Pentium G4600 has 2 cores, the AMD PRO A10-9700 has 4 cores. Thread count: both have 4 threads, so the Intel part uses Hyper-Threading while the AMD part does not. Base clock: Intel at 3.60 GHz, AMD at 3.50 GHz. Boost clock: the Intel part has none, the AMD part boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Thermal design power differs: the Intel part is rated at 51 W, the AMD part at 65 W. Socket and platform differ as well: the Intel uses Socket 1151, the AMD uses Socket AM4. Architecture and process node differ completely: Kaby Lake on 14 nm for Intel, Excavator on 28 nm for AMD. The foundry is Intel for the Pentium, GlobalFoundries for the AMD part.

Cache structures are different. The Intel part has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. The AMD part has 320 KB total L1 and 2 MB total L2, with no L3. Transistor count and die size are recorded only for AMD: 3,100 million transistors and 250 mm². The Intel part has no recorded values for those fields.

PCIe lanes from the CPU differ: 16 lanes for Intel versus 8 lanes for AMD, both Gen 3. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 630 versus AMD Radeon R7. Release dates differ: Intel in January 2017, AMD in July 2017. Part numbers differ: SR35F for Intel, AD970BAGM44AB for AMD.

The two chips share several traits: DDR4 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, no ECC support, desktop market segment, active production status, and locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five Cinebench comparisons between these two processors, and the Intel Pentium G4600 wins all of them. The closest result is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Pentium scores 309 and the AMD PRO A10-9700 scores 306, a 1.0% delta. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Pentium scores 1289 against 1275, a 1.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Pentium scores 3070 against 3037, again a 1.1% lead.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium scores 181 versus 179, a 1.1% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Pentium scores 433 versus 428, a 1.2% margin. That last test is the biggest percentage win for the Intel part.

Looking at the average benchmark scores tells a broader story. The Intel Pentium G4600 has an average score of 1056, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 has an average of 1045. That is an 11-point gap. Both chips sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are in the same performance tier overall.

The nearest rivals listed in the database reinforce this positioning. The Intel part's closest competitors include the Intel Core i7-2760QM at 1057 (delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U at 1058 (delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core i3-4350 at 1058 (delta -0.2%). The AMD part's closest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 at 1045 (0% delta), followed by the Intel Core i5-6350HQ at 1046 (0%) and the AMD PRO A10-8770 at 1046 (-0.1%).

The head-to-head data shows that the AMD PRO A10-9700 never closes the gap. Even with 4 physical cores and a boost clock, it trails the 2-core Intel part in every recorded test. The margins are small, but they are consistent across all five Cinebench versions.

The Verdict

The Intel Pentium G4600 is the winner in this comparison. It takes all five head-to-head benchmarks, has a higher average benchmark score (1056 versus 1045), and achieves these results with a lower TDP (51 W versus 65 W). The AMD PRO A10-9700's 4-core design does not deliver any recorded advantage over the Intel part's 2-core, 4-thread setup.

For single-threaded workloads, the choice is clearly Intel. The Pentium leads by 1.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core and by 1.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core. For multi-threaded rendering, the Intel part also leads, with a 1.0% margin in R15 multi-core and 1.1% margins in R20 and R23 multi-core. The AMD part's extra two cores do not translate into a win in any Cinebench test.

The AMD PRO A10-9700 does offer a boost clock up to 3.80 GHz, a larger physical core count, and Radeon R7 integrated graphics, but the recorded data does not show those features producing better benchmark scores. The Intel part also has double the PCIe lanes from the CPU (16 versus 8), which could matter for expansion in a desktop build.

The database places both processors at the same 29th percentile overall, so neither is a high-performance part. The Intel Pentium G4600 is simply the faster of the two in every recorded metric. A builder choosing between these should pick the Intel part for Cinebench workloads and for lower power draw. The AMD part would only make sense if the AM4 platform or the higher core count matters outside the tested workloads, but within the recorded data, the Intel Pentium G4600 is the clear winner.