AMD PRO A10-9700E vs Intel Core i5-4258U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a surprisingly split picture between these two processors. In the Cinebench suite, the AMD PRO A10-9700E is the decisive winner across all four recorded tests. The margin is consistent, hovering around 16% in each case. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 259 against Intel's 222, a 16.7% advantage. The R20 multi-threaded test shows a similar pattern, with AMD at 1081 points versus Intel's 929, a 16.4% lead. Even in single-threaded workloads, where Intel typically holds an advantage, the AMD part wins. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD scores 152 against Intel's 131, a 16% difference. The R23 results echo this, with AMD winning by 16.3% in both multi-core (2574 vs 2213) and single-core (363 vs 312) tests.

However, the story flips completely in the Geekbench suite. Here, the Intel Core i5-4258U takes a commanding lead. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel scores 1664 against AMD's 1430, a 14.1% advantage. The single-core Geekbench result is even more lopsided, with Intel scoring 844 versus 577, a massive 31.6% lead. This stark contrast between the two benchmark suites is notable. The data suggests the Cinebench tests favor the AMD's architecture and core configuration, while Geekbench responds much better to the Intel's design. The final tally shows AMD winning 5 of the 7 head-to-head tests, but the magnitude of Intel's Geekbench wins, particularly the 31.6% single-core margin, indicates that the overall performance picture is not a simple one-sided victory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors explains the divergent benchmark results. The AMD PRO A10-9700E is built on the Excavator architecture, using the Bristol Ridge codename, and is fabricated on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i5-4258U uses the older Haswell architecture, on a 22 nm process at Intel. AMD's design integrates 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while Intel's Haswell die is smaller at 118 mm² and contains 1,400 million transistors.

Core configuration also differs substantially. The AMD is a 4-core, 4-thread part, while the Intel is a 2-core, 4-thread part. This likely explains the AMD's consistent wins in the multi-threaded Cinebench tests. The AMD's base clock is 3.00 GHz, boosting to 3.50 GHz. The Intel's base clock is lower at 2.40 GHz, boosting to 2.90 GHz. Cache hierarchies diverge as well. AMD offers 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a 3 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel's lower clock speeds, but shared L3, reflect a different tuning philosophy.

Memory support is a key differentiator. The AMD PRO A10-9700E supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a peak bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-4255U supports the older DDR3 standard, and the database does not list a memory bus width or bandwidth figure. The AMD also has a distinct PCIe specification: Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only). The Intel's PCIe configuration is not recorded. The AMD is a desktop part, while the Intel is mobile. This is reflected in their sockets: the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel uses Intel BGA 1168. The AMD's TDP is 35 watts, while the Intel's is 28 watts. The AMD's integrated graphics are the Radeon R7, whereas the Intel uses the integrated HD 5100.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A10-9700E is the clear winner for compute-heavy, multi-threaded rendering tasks. Its Cinebench scores, which are often used as a proxy for 3D rendering workloads, are all in its favor. The 16.7% lead in R15 multi-core and the 16.4% lead in R20 multi-core demonstrate that the additional two physical cores give it a decisive edge in workloads that can use them. The single-threaded Cinebench wins, while smaller, also point to the AMD's higher clock speeds being beneficial in this specific test environment. For users running CPU-based renders or similar parallel workloads, the AMD is the better option.

The Intel Core i5-4255U wins in the Geekbench tests, which often indicate a different type of workload. The Intel's 31.6% lead in Geekbench single-core is its most significant win. This is likely a reflection of the Haswell architecture's higher instructions per clock (IPC) efficiency, combined with its L3 cache. For applications that are lightly threaded and depend on latency-sensitive data, the Intel is the stronger performer. The Intel also wins the Geekbench multi-core test, with a 14.1% lead, which is a surprise given the AMD's higher core count and its Cinebench dominance. This suggests that the Geekbench suite is far more sensitive to the Intel's architectural strengths than the AMD's raw core count. The Intel's overall average benchmark score is 919, placing it in the 25th percentile, while the Intel's average is 902, in the 24th percentile, so they are extremely close overall.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700E scores 2574, while the Intel Core i5-4255U scores 2213. The AMD leads by 16.3% in this test.

Q: Which processor has the higher single-threaded Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4255U is the winner in Geekbench single-core. It scores 844, while the AMD PRO A10-9700E scores 577, giving Intel a 31.6% advantage.

Q: How much of a lead does the AMD PRO A10-9700E have in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700E scores 259, and the Intel Core i5-4255U scores 222. This results in a 16.7% lead for the AMD.

Q: What is the difference in the total number of benchmark wins?

A: Based on the head-to-head data, the AMD PRO A10-9700E wins 5 of the 7 benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-4255U wins the remaining 2.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700E has an average benchmark score of 919, while the Intel Core i5-4255U has an average of 902. The AMD is the leader.

Q: What is the core count difference between the two?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700E has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-4255U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD PRO A10-9700E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4255U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD's base clock is 3.00 GHz and boosts to 3.50 GHz. The Intel's base clock is 2.40 GHz, boosting to 2.90 GHz. The AMD has a thermal design power (TDP) of 35 watts, while the Intel has a TDP of 28 watts.

The process node and die details differ. The AMD uses a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel uses a 22 nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The AMD's cache is 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3. The Intel's cache is 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a 3 MB shared L3 cache.

Memory support is a differentiator. The AMD supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel supports DDR3 memory, with no bus or bandwidth information listed. The AMD's PCIe is Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel's is not listed. The AMD's socket is AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel's is Intel BGA 1168. The AMD is a desktop part, the Intel is a mobile part. The AMD has a Radeon R7 integrated graphics, while the Intel has an HD 5100. The AMD was released in Q4 2016, while the Intel was released in Q2 2013.