AMD PRO A12-8870 vs Intel Core i5-3550S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a remarkably consistent picture for this matchup. The Intel Core i5-3550S wins every single recorded head-to-head test, with five wins against zero for the AMD PRO A12-8870. More telling than the raw victory count is the uniformity of the margins: every benchmark shows the Intel part leading by approximately 18 percent.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i5-3550S scores 383 against 324 for the AMD PRO A12-8870, a lead of 18.2 percent. The pattern repeats almost exactly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where Intel posts 1599 versus 1351, a delta of 18.4 percent. The same margin holds in the single-core tests: Cinebench R20 single-core shows Intel at 225 against AMD's 190, again 18.4 percent ahead. Cinebench R23 multicore follows with 3808 versus 3218 (18.3 percent), and Cinebench R23 single-core gives 537 versus 454, also 18.3 percent.

What stands out is the consistency across both multicore and single-core workloads. The Intel chip does not merely win in heavily threaded scenarios; it wins by nearly the same proportion in single-threaded tasks. This suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage rather than a scaling quirk. The average benchmark score reinforces the overall picture: Intel averages 1118 points, while AMD averages 1107. That is a narrow overall gap of roughly 1 percent, but the Cinebench suite, which forms the bulk of the head-to-head data, shows a much larger separation.

The database places both processors in the 31st percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar tier of overall performance. Yet within that tier, the Intel part is the stronger compute engine in every measured test. The AMD PRO A12-8870 never manages to close the gap in any workload, whether lightly threaded or fully saturated.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing approaches. The Intel Core i5-3550S uses Ivy Bridge, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It contains 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The AMD PRO A12-8870 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Carrizo, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. That chip integrates 3,100 million transistors on a substantially larger 250 mm² die.

Both parts feature four cores and four threads, so thread counts are identical. Clock speeds, however, favor AMD significantly. The AMD PRO A12-8870 runs a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts up to 4.20 GHz. The Intel i5-3550S starts at 3.00 GHz and boosts to 3.70 GHz. Despite AMD's higher operating frequencies, Intel's architectural efficiency advantage overcomes the clock disadvantage in the benchmark results.

Cache layouts differ notably. The Intel chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The AMD part offers 320 KB of total L1 and 2 MB of total L2, with no L3 cache listed in the database. The absence of L3 on the AMD side likely contributes to its lower scores in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel Core i5-3550S supports DDR3 through a dual-channel memory bus and runs on Intel Socket 1155. The AMD PRO A12-8870 supports DDR4, also dual-channel, with a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The platform differences extend to PCIe: Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD lists Gen 3 without a lane count in the database.

Integrated graphics differentiate the two as well. Intel pairs the i5-3550S with Intel HD 2500, while AMD includes Radeon R7 graphics. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD chip is listed as still in active production, whereas the Intel part carries no production status in the database. The AMD part also targets Socket AM4, a more modern platform, while the Intel chip uses the older Socket 1155.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3550S wins across the board in the recorded benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it beats the AMD part by 18.2 percent. In Cinebench R20 multicore and single-core, it leads by 18.4 percent in both tests. Cinebench R23 multicore and single-core show identical 18.3 percent margins. For any user prioritizing CPU compute throughput in rendering or similar workloads, the Intel chip is the clear choice based on this data.

The AMD PRO A12-8870 does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. Its strengths lie outside the measured tests. It supports DDR4 memory, which may offer platform longevity, and its Radeon R7 integrated graphics could be more capable than Intel HD 2500 in graphical tasks, though the database does not provide direct graphics benchmarks for either part. The AMD chip also has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz, which could translate to snappier responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, though the single-core Cinebench results do not reflect that advantage.

The AMD part may appeal to users building on Socket AM4, a platform with broader modern motherboard availability. Its active production status means it remains purchasable as new hardware. The Intel chip, by contrast, is a legacy part from 2012 with no listed production status. For users who require a working CPU today and prefer current platform support, the AMD option holds practical appeal even if its raw benchmark scores are lower.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550S scores 3808, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 scores 3218. Intel leads by 18.3 percent.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for both CPUs?

A: Both processors have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i5-3550S has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

Q: Does the AMD processor have L3 cache?

A: No L3 cache is listed for the AMD PRO A12-8870. It has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2. The Intel chip has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870 supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-3550S supports DDR3.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-3550S averages 1118, and the AMD PRO A12-8870 averages 1107, a difference of about 1 percent.

The Verdict

The data leads to a straightforward conclusion for compute-heavy tasks: the Intel Core i5-3550S is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. Its leads range from 18.2 percent to 18.4 percent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, covering both single-core and multicore workloads. Users whose priority is maximum CPU rendering performance should select the Intel part.

The AMD PRO A12-8870, however, is not without merit. It carries a higher base clock and boost clock, supports DDR4 memory, and remains in active production. Its Socket AM4 platform may offer more modern motherboard options and future upgrade paths, though the database does not quantify those benefits. The AMD chip also includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics, which may outperform Intel HD 2500, though no direct graphics benchmarks exist in the data.

For a user building a new system today on a current platform, the AMD PRO A12-8870 offers a viable, actively produced option with competitive average scores. For a user who already owns a Socket 1155 board or prioritizes raw compute performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the Intel Core i5-3550S delivers clearly superior results. Both chips sit in the 31st percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a high-end part; the choice comes down to whether raw measured speed or platform currency matters more.