AMD PRO A10-9700E vs Intel Core i7-4600U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4600U and AMD PRO A10-9700E present a fascinating study in contrasting design philosophies. The data reveals a clear split: the AMD part dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the Intel chip delivers a decisive victory in Geekbench tests. This divergence suggests that benchmark methodology matters as much as raw hardware capability. The Intel i7-4600U achieves an average benchmark score of 931, sitting at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD PRO A10-9700E posts a nearly identical average of 919, also at the 25th percentile. Despite their similar overall averages, the individual test results tell a story of two very different performance profiles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD PRO A10-9700E claims victory in five of the seven head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 259 against Intel's 232, a 10.4% advantage. This pattern repeats almost identically across the Cinebench suite: R20 multicore shows AMD at 1081 versus Intel's 968 (10.5% ahead), R20 singlecore shows 152 versus 136 (10.5% ahead), R23 multicore shows 2574 versus 2306 (10.4% ahead), and R23 singlecore shows 363 versus 325 (10.5% ahead). The consistency of these deltas—hovering almost precisely around 10.5%—suggests a systematic advantage in Cinebench's rendering engine for the AMD architecture, rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Intel i7-4600U fights back decisively in Geekbench, where the tables turn dramatically. In Geekbench multicore, Intel scores 1664 against AMD's 1430, a 16.4% lead. The singlecore gap is even more pronounced: Intel posts 889 versus AMD's 577, a stunning 54.1% advantage. This near-doubling of single-threaded performance in Geekbench highlights a fundamental difference in how each processor handles that benchmark's specific instruction mix. The Intel chip's 54.1% margin is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, dwarfing any advantage AMD manages in Cinebench.

Looking at the broader context, the Intel i7-4600U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-870 (avg score 928, delta 0.3%), Intel Core i5-4288U (927, 0.4%), and Intel Core i3-4350T (926, 0.5%). The AMD PRO A10-9700E's closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G (919, 0%), AMD Athlon Silver 3050U (917, 0.2%), and AMD FX-4320 (921, -0.2%). Both chips occupy a tightly clustered performance tier where even a 0.5% delta separates adjacent rivals. What stands out is how each chip's benchmark victories align with entirely different test families—AMD owns Cinebench, Intel owns Geekbench.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A10-9700E wins in all five Cinebench tests, covering both multicore and singlecore variants across R15, R20, and R23. This consistent sweep indicates that AMD's Excavator architecture, with its 4 cores and 4 threads, is better optimized for Cinebench's rendering and ray-tracing workloads. The 10.4-10.5% margins across every Cinebench iteration suggest a stable architectural advantage independent of benchmark version. Users running 3D rendering, animation, or other Cinebench-like workloads would see a measurable, repeatable benefit from the AMD chip.

The Intel Core i7-4600U wins both Geekbench tests, with a 16.4% multicore lead and a 54.1% singlecore lead. The enormous singlecore gap suggests Intel's Haswell architecture excels at the integer and floating-point operations that Geekbench emphasizes. For tasks like web browsing, office productivity, or legacy single-threaded applications, the Intel chip's superior singlecore performance would translate to snappier responsiveness. The multicore Geekbench result also favors Intel despite AMD having twice the physical cores, indicating that Intel's 2-core/4-thread configuration with Hyper-Threading extracts more parallel efficiency in this particular benchmark.

The use-case split is stark: AMD wins rendering workloads, Intel wins general-purpose and single-threaded scenarios. Neither chip dominates universally, and the choice between them depends entirely on the target application mix. Notably, in Geekbench multicore, Intel's 2 physical cores outperform AMD's 4 physical cores by 16.4%, which challenges the assumption that more cores always equate to better multithreaded performance.

FAQ

Q: Why does the AMD PRO A10-9700E win in Cinebench but lose badly in Geekbench?

A: The AMD chip wins all five Cinebench tests by approximately 10.5% margins, while Intel wins both Geekbench tests with a 16.4% multicore and 54.1% singlecore advantage. This pattern indicates that Cinebench's rendering workload favors AMD's Excavator architecture, whereas Geekbench's diverse test suite heavily favors Intel's Haswell design, particularly in single-threaded operations.

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600U is decisively better in single-core tests. It scores 889 in Geekbench singlecore versus AMD's 577, a 54.1% advantage. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, Intel scores 325 versus AMD's 363, showing AMD leads there by 10.5%, but the Geekbench margin is far more substantial.

Q: Does having more cores guarantee better multithreaded performance?

A: No. The AMD PRO A10-9700E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel i7-4600U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite AMD's core advantage, Intel wins Geekbench multicore with 1664 versus 1430, a 16.4% lead. However, AMD wins all Cinebench multicore tests, so the outcome depends on the specific benchmark.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Intel i7-4600U's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-870 with an average score of 928, just 0.3% behind. The AMD PRO A10-9700E's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G at 919, with a 0% delta. Both chips sit in a performance tier where rivals are within 0.5% of their average scores.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600U has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 931, compared to the AMD PRO A10-9700E's 919. This 12-point difference is small, and both processors are at the 25th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600U was released on 2013-08-31, while the AMD PRO A10-9700E was released later on 2016-10-02. The AMD chip is also marked as having an active production status, while Intel's production status is not specified.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel i7-4600U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-9700E has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: Intel runs at 2.10 GHz with a 3.30 GHz boost, while AMD runs at 3.00 GHz with a 3.50 GHz boost. Thermal design power is another major split, with Intel at 15W and AMD at 35W—a 20W difference that affects cooling and power delivery requirements.

The socket and platform targets are completely different. Intel uses the BGA 1168 socket, which is soldered to the motherboard, while AMD uses the Socket AM4, a socketed design. Intel's market segment is Mobile, whereas AMD's is Desktop. Memory support also diverges: Intel supports DDR3, while AMD supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a specified bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD chip also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while Intel's PCIe configuration is not specified in the data.

Process node and physical characteristics differ substantially. Intel uses a 22 nm process from its own foundry, with 1,300 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. AMD uses a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The AMD chip is more than twice the die size with more than twice the transistor count. Cache layouts are also distinct: Intel has 64 KB L1 (per core), 256 KB L2 (per core), and 4 MB shared L3, while AMD has 320 KB L1 total and 2 MB L2 total with no L3 cache listed. Integrated graphics differ as well, with Intel offering HD 5000 and AMD offering Radeon R7.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is fundamental. Intel's Core i7-4600U is based on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-ULT codename, built on Intel's 22 nm process. It belongs to the Core i7 (Haswell) generation. The AMD PRO A10-9700E uses the Excavator architecture with the Bristol Ridge codename, part of the A10 (Bristol Ridge) generation, fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process. These are two entirely different CPU designs from different eras and different manufacturing philosophies.

The memory architecture highlights a generational gap. Intel supports DDR3 memory, while AMD supports DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and a specified 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. This DDR4 support reflects AMD's later release date and positions it for more modern memory technology. The AMD chip's transistor count of 3,100 million on a 250 mm² die suggests a denser but more power-hungry design compared to Intel's 1,300 million transistors on 118 mm². Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Feature sets differ in integrated graphics and expansion. Intel integrates HD 5000 graphics, while AMD integrates Radeon R7. AMD explicitly lists PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while Intel's PCIe details are absent from the data. The AMD chip also has a part number (AD970BAHM44AB) and an active production status, while Intel's production status is unlisted. These architectural differences explain the benchmark behavior: AMD's Excavator with more physical cores and higher clocks handles Cinebench better, while Intel's Haswell with superior single-thread efficiency dominates Geekbench.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but conditional recommendation. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the AMD PRO A10-9700E is the superior choice, delivering a consistent 10.5% advantage across every Cinebench version tested. Its 4 physical cores, higher base clock of 3.00 GHz, and DDR4 memory support make it well-suited for multithreaded content creation on desktop platforms. The 35W TDP and AM4 socket also indicate a more traditional desktop integration path.

For users focused on single-threaded performance or general-purpose computing, the Intel Core i7-4600U is the better option. Its 54.1% singlecore Geekbench lead is overwhelming, and its 16.4% multicore Geekbench win despite having half the physical cores demonstrates exceptional efficiency. The 15W TDP makes it ideal for mobile or low-power applications where thermal constraints are critical. The Intel chip's 2.10 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost, combined with 4 MB of shared L3 cache, provide a solid foundation for everyday tasks.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—931 for Intel versus 919 for AMD—which means the choice hinges entirely on workload. Both sit at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers in the broader market. The AMD chip wins 5 of 7 benchmarks, but the Intel chip wins the two most lopsided contests. Benchmark selection matters more here than raw specifications. Users who know their primary applications should match the chip to the benchmark family that represents those workloads. For rendering, choose AMD; for everything else, Intel's Geekbench dominance suggests a more versatile daily driver.