CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5630 and AMD PRO A12-8870 are two processors from different eras and market segments, yet their benchmark scores place them in a remarkably tight cluster. The Xeon E5630 is a server-class Westmere part from 2010, while the PRO A12-8870 is a desktop Excavator chip for the AM4 platform. Despite a decade of architectural evolution separating them, their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1110 for the Intel part versus 1107 for the AMD part, a difference of just 0.2%. This analysis examines how two such different designs end up with such comparable performance, and what each processor offers on its own terms.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 has a marginally higher average benchmark score of 1110, compared to 1107 for the AMD PRO A12-8870. The difference is 0.2%, placing them effectively at parity in overall performance.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 scores 3226 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 scores 3218. This gives the Intel part a 0.2% lead in that test.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 has 4 cores and 8 threads, utilizing Hyper-Threading. The AMD PRO A12-8870 also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, lacking simultaneous multi-threading.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 supports ECC memory, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 does not. This is a key differentiator for the Xeon's server/workstation positioning.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Xeon E5630 is built on Intel's 32 nm process, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 uses GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process. The AMD part is manufactured on a smaller node.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870 includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics. The Intel Xeon E5630 has no integrated graphics, consistent with its server/workstation market segment.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Xeon E5630 uses the Westmere-EP microarchitecture, a 32 nm design with 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. It features a per-core cache hierarchy of 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2, backed by a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The AMD PRO A12-8870, in contrast, uses the Excavator architecture on a 28 nm process, packing 3,100 million transistors into a 250 mm² die. Its cache configuration is notably different: 320 KB of L1 total and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all.

The memory subsystems also diverge sharply. The Intel part supports DDR3 memory over a triple-channel bus, while the AMD part supports DDR4 over a dual-channel bus with a specified bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel chip connects via PCIe Gen 2, whereas the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 3. The Intel Xeon E5630 is designed for the Intel Socket 1366 platform and targets the server/workstation market, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 is a desktop part for Socket AM4. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics; the Intel part has none.

Clock speeds tell a story of their own. The Intel Xeon E5630 runs at a 2.53 GHz base clock with a 2.80 GHz boost, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 starts at 3.70 GHz and boosts to 4.20 GHz. The AMD part's higher frequencies compensate for its lack of threads and smaller cache hierarchy. The Intel part compensates for its lower clocks with 8 threads and a much larger 12 MB L3 cache. The TDP figures reflect their different segments: 80 W for the Xeon, 65 W for the AMD desktop part.

The Verdict

The data shows that these processors are effectively tied in raw compute performance. The Intel Xeon E5630 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the margins are razor-thin: 0.2% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 0.5% in R20 single-core, and 0.2% in R23 multi-core and single-core. The R15 multi-core test is a dead tie at 324 points. The Intel chip's 31st percentile ranking among all CPUs is identical to the AMD part's 31st percentile.

The choice between them comes down to platform and feature priorities, not performance. The Intel Xeon E5630 is the pick for workloads that need ECC memory support or the reliability features of a server/workstation platform. Its 8 threads give it a slight edge in multi-threaded tests, and its 12 MB L3 cache may benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads. The AMD PRO A12-8870, however, offers integrated Radeon R7 graphics, a modern DDR4 memory interface with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 3 support. It also runs at a lower 65 W TDP and uses the AM4 socket, which is a more recent platform.

For a system requiring error-correcting memory or legacy server features, the Intel Xeon E5630 is the logical choice. For a desktop build that needs integrated graphics or a modern memory standard, the AMD PRO A12-8870 is preferable. Neither chip offers a meaningful performance advantage over the other, so the decision rests entirely on platform requirements and feature availability.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The Intel Xeon E5630 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD PRO A12-8870 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.53 GHz for Intel versus 3.70 GHz for AMD, with boost clocks of 2.80 GHz and 4.20 GHz respectively. The TDP is 80 W for Intel and 65 W for AMD.

The Intel part uses the LGA 1366 socket, while the AMD part uses AM4. The architecture is Westmere-EP for Intel and Excavator (Carrizo) for AMD. Process nodes are 32 nm (Intel) versus 28 nm (GlobalFoundries). Transistor counts are 1,170 million (Intel) versus 3,100 million (AMD). Die sizes are 239 mm² (Intel) versus 250 mm² (AMD).

Cache configurations are entirely different: Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. AMD has 320 KB total L1 and 2 MB total L2, with no L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 triple-channel for Intel versus DDR4 dual-channel for AMD, with the AMD part specifying 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the Intel Xeon. PCIe is Gen 2 on Intel versus Gen 3 on AMD. Integrated graphics are absent on Intel but present as Radeon R7 on AMD. The market segment is server/workstation for Intel and desktop for AMD. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal an extraordinary level of performance parity. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors score exactly 324 points, resulting in a 0% delta and a nominal win for the Intel Xeon E5630. This is the only head-to-head test that produces a perfect tie.

Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel part scores 1354 against 1351 for the AMD PRO A12-8870. That is a 0.2% lead for the Xeon. The single-core R20 test shows a similar pattern: 191 for Intel versus 190 for AMD, a 0.5% margin in favor of the Xeon. This is the largest percentage gap in any of the benchmarks, though it still represents a single-point difference.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Xeon E5630 scores 3226 and the AMD part scores 3218, again a 0.2% difference. The R23 single-core test has Intel at 455 versus AMD at 454, a 0.2% margin. Across all five benchmarks, the Intel processor wins every comparison, but the absolute differences are minimal, never more than 3 points in any multi-core test.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture: 1110 for Intel and 1107 for AMD. The nearest rivals for the Intel part include the Intel Core i7-5557U at 1110 and the Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 at 1109, both within a fraction of a percent. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 4280 at 1107 and the AMD Athlon X4 845 at 1106. The two processors appear in each other's nearest rival lists, with the AMD PRO A12-8870 sitting 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon E5630, and the Intel part appearing 0.2% ahead of the AMD in its own list. This mutual proximity confirms that, from a pure performance standpoint, these are interchangeable parts.