AMD PRO A12-8870 vs Intel Core i5-3470S Comparison

The AMD PRO A12-8870 and the Intel Core i5-3470S are both 65-watt, four-core desktop processors aimed at similar mainstream territory, yet the recorded benchmarks place them in different performance classes. The AMD part, built on the Excavator architecture, posts an average benchmark score of 1107 and sits at the 31st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel chip, from the Ivy Bridge generation, averages 1095 and lands at the 30th percentile. Despite the near-identical averages, the head-to-head benchmark results show a clear and consistent separation, with the Intel processor winning all five recorded comparisons. This discrepancy between the overall percentile ranking and the direct benchmark outcomes is the first puzzle to investigate, as it suggests the AMD processor competes well against a broad field but falls behind when measured directly against this specific Intel part.

The Verdict

The data paints a straightforward picture for anyone choosing between these two desktop processors. The Intel Core i5-3470S wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, taking all five comparisons with a margin of roughly 13 percent across the board. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel chip scores 373 against the AMD PRO A12-8870's 324, a gap of 13.1 percent. The story repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel leads 1558 to 1351, a 13.3 percent advantage, and in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the scores are 3711 versus 3218, again a 13.3 percent difference. Single-threaded performance tells the same tale, with the Intel part ahead by 13.6 percent in Cinebench R20 single-core and 13.4 percent in Cinebench R23 single-core. The AMD processor never takes a single win in the recorded set.

Who should pick which? From the data alone, the Intel Core i5-3470S is the stronger choice for any workload measured by these Cinebench tests, which stress both multicore rendering and single-thread responsiveness. Its consistent lead across every metric means it should be preferred for applications that rely on CPU compute throughput. The AMD PRO A12-8870, despite its higher clock speeds, does not translate that advantage into benchmark victories. However, the AMD part's average benchmark score of 1107 is slightly higher than the Intel part's 1095, and both processors sit at nearly the same percentile ranking, meaning the AMD chip holds its own against the wider population of CPUs in the database. The AMD processor also offers a more modern platform, with DDR4 memory support and an AM4 socket, whereas the Intel chip uses DDR3 and Socket 1155. For a user building on a current platform with DDR4, the AMD part makes sense, but for raw compute performance in the recorded tests, the Intel chip is the winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-3470S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz. The AMD part also boosts higher, reaching 4.20 GHz compared to the Intel processor's 3.60 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-3470S outperform the AMD PRO A12-8870 in multicore workloads?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel chip scores 373 versus the AMD part's 324, a 13.1 percent lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, Intel leads 1558 to 1351, a 13.3 percent margin, and in Cinebench R23 multicore, Intel wins 3711 to 3218, also by 13.3 percent.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470S wins in single-threaded tests as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 220 against the AMD part's 190, a 13.6 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 524 versus 454, a 13.4 percent lead.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-8870 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-3470S supports DDR3 memory, also in dual-channel configuration, but the database does not record a memory bandwidth figure for it.

Q: Which processor has a larger cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-3470S has a 6 MB shared L3 cache in addition to its per-core L1 and L2 caches. The AMD PRO A12-8870 has a 2 MB L2 cache and a 320 KB L1 cache, with no L3 cache recorded. This difference in cache structure likely contributes to the Intel part's benchmark performance.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Both the AMD PRO A12-8870 and the Intel Core i5-3470S are locked parts, so users cannot adjust the multiplier to increase clock speeds beyond the factory settings.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing processes. The AMD PRO A12-8870 is built on the Excavator architecture, with the codename Carrizo, and is fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process node. The chip contains 3,100 million transistors on a die size of 250 mm². The Intel Core i5-3470S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, also its codename, and is fabricated by Intel on a 22 nm process node. The Intel die is considerably smaller at 133 mm², and the database does not record a transistor count for it.

The cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The AMD processor has a 320 KB L1 cache and a 2 MB L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel processor has a 64 KB L1 cache per core, a 256 KB L2 cache per core, and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. This structural difference is significant, as the Intel part's larger L3 cache can hold more working data for frequently accessed instructions, potentially explaining part of its performance edge in the recorded benchmarks.

The integrated graphics also differ. The AMD PRO A12-8870 includes a Radeon R7 integrated GPU, while the Intel Core i5-3470S includes Intel HD 2500. Both processors support PCIe Gen 3, though the Intel part specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only. The AMD part does not list a lane count in the database. The AMD processor's memory controller is built for DDR4, while the Intel chip uses DDR3, reflecting the different platform generations each targets.

The fabrication node difference, 28 nm for AMD versus 22 nm for Intel, is notable because the smaller process typically allows for better power efficiency and higher transistor density. Yet the Intel part, despite its older generation and lower clock speeds, achieves higher benchmark scores. The AMD processor compensates with higher clocks, 3.70 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, but the Intel part wins on measured performance despite its 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost clocks.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications reveal several areas where the two processors differ. The most obvious is clock speed. The AMD PRO A12-8870 runs at 3.70 GHz base and boosts to 4.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-3470S runs at 2.90 GHz base and boosts to 3.60 GHz. Both parts have four cores and four threads, and both have a 65 W TDP.

The sockets are incompatible. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1155. This means the two chips cannot be swapped into the same motherboard. The memory support also differs, with the AMD part using DDR4 and the Intel part using DDR3, further separating their platform requirements. The AMD processor records a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure in the database.

The cache configurations are distinct, as described above, with the AMD part offering 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, and the Intel part offering per-core L1 and L2 plus a 6 MB shared L3. The process nodes differ, with AMD on 28 nm and Intel on 22 nm. The AMD die is 250 mm², while the Intel die is 133 mm². The AMD part has a transistor count of 3,100 million, while the Intel part does not list one.

The integrated graphics differ, with AMD featuring Radeon R7 and Intel featuring HD 2500. The AMD processor has a part number of AD887BAUM44AB, while the Intel part is SR0TA. The Intel processor has a recorded release date of 2012-05-31, while the AMD part does not have a release date in the database. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The market segment for both is Desktop.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-3470S wins all five recorded benchmark comparisons, with every margin falling between 13.1 percent and 13.6 percent. This consistency is striking, as it suggests a systemic performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel processor scores 373 against the AMD part's 324, a 13.1 percent lead. This test stresses all cores simultaneously, and the Intel part's smaller process node and larger cache appear to give it an edge despite its lower clock speeds.

In Cinebench R20 multicore, the gap widens slightly to 13.3 percent. Intel scores 1558, while AMD scores 1351. The same margin appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where Intel scores 3711 and AMD scores 3218, again 13.3 percent. The consistency of these multicore margins, all at 13.1 or 13.3 percent, indicates that the performance difference scales evenly with workload intensity.

Single-threaded results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, Intel scores 220 against AMD's 190, a 13.6 percent advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 524 against AMD's 454, a 13.4 percent lead. The slightly larger single-core margin in R20 suggests the Intel architecture handles lightly threaded workloads particularly well, possibly due to its higher instructions per clock at a given frequency.

The AMD PRO A12-8870's higher clock speeds, 4.20 GHz boost versus 3.60 GHz boost, do not translate into benchmark wins. This implies that the Intel Ivy Bridge architecture achieves more work per clock cycle than the AMD Excavator design, a conclusion supported by the consistent margins across both single-core and multicore tests. The AMD part's average benchmark score of 1107 is technically higher than Intel's 1095, but this aggregate figure masks the head-to-head reality, where Intel wins every direct comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3470S wins in every recorded benchmark category. Its advantages span multicore rendering, single-threaded performance, and all three versions of the Cinebench suite recorded in the database. For users running CPU-intensive applications such as video rendering, 3D modeling, or any workload that scales with processing power, the data points clearly to the Intel part. The 13 percent margins are not trivial, they represent a meaningful performance gap that would be noticeable in sustained compute tasks.

The AMD PRO A12-8870 does not win any of the five recorded head-to-head benchmarks, but it does have strengths outside of raw Cinebench scores. Its average benchmark score of 1107 is slightly higher than the Intel part's 1095, and both chips sit near the same percentile ranking, 31st for AMD and 30th for Intel. This suggests the AMD processor is competitive against the broader population of CPUs in the database, even if it loses to this specific Intel rival.

The AMD part also offers platform advantages. Its AM4 socket and DDR4 memory support make it a more modern choice for a new build, as DDR4 is the current memory standard while the Intel part relies on DDR3. The AMD processor's Radeon R7 integrated graphics are also a different class of GPU compared to Intel HD 2500, which could matter for users who plan to run without a discrete graphics card. The higher clock speeds, 4.20 GHz boost versus 3.60 GHz, may also benefit certain workloads that are sensitive to raw frequency, though the recorded benchmarks do not show such an advantage.

For a user who prioritizes measured compute performance in the Cinebench suite, the Intel Core i5-3470S is the clear choice. For a user building on a modern platform with DDR4 memory and an AM4 motherboard, the AMD PRO A12-8870 offers a viable path, with its competitive average score and integrated graphics, but the data shows it will trail the Intel part by roughly 13 percent in CPU-heavy tasks. Each processor has a role, but the benchmark results favor Intel for pure processing power.