AMD PRO A12-8870E vs Intel Xeon W3520 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent, if narrow, victory for the AMD PRO A12-8870E across every recorded Cinebench workload. In all five head-to-head results, the AMD part takes the win, with delta percentages ranging from 2.0% to 2.3%. The largest margin comes in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the AMD PRO A12-8870E scores 361 against the Intel Xeon W3520's 353, a 2.3% advantage. That is not a dramatic gap, but it is a uniform one: there is no workload in the dataset where the Intel Xeon pulls ahead.

Looking at multi-core results, the pattern holds. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 257 versus 252 for the Xeon, a 2% lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the AMD PRO A12-8870E posts 1074 against 1052, a 2.1% edge. The Cinebench R23 multicore result repeats the same story: 2558 for the AMD chip, 2505 for the Intel, again a 2.1% margin. The single-core tests follow suit, with the AMD part ahead by 2% in R20 (151 vs 148) and 2.3% in R23 (361 vs 353).

The average benchmark score puts the AMD PRO A12-8870E at 880, while the Intel Xeon W3520 sits at 862. That is an 18-point gap in the database's aggregate metric. Both processors land at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite the AMD chip's consistent wins in individual tests.

The nearest rivals for each part tell a slightly different story. The AMD PRO A12-8870E is bracketed by the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U at an identical 880 average score, the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 at 881 (a 0.1% gap), the AMD Phenom II X6 1035T at 881 (0.1% gap), and the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U at 881 (0.2% gap). The Intel Xeon W3520, meanwhile, sits near the Intel Core i5-3470T at 863 (0.1% gap), the AMD A8-7650K at 860 (0.2% gap), the Intel Core i7-4500U at 859 (0.3% gap), and the Intel Xeon X3460 at 866 (0.5% gap). The Xeon's nearest rival list includes another Xeon part, the X3460, which actually scores slightly higher at 866, suggesting the W3520 is not even the strongest option in its own family.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The AMD PRO A12-8870E uses the Excavator architecture on the Carrizo codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors into a 250 mm² die. The Intel Xeon W3520 uses the Nehalem architecture on the Bloomfield codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel. It has 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The transistor count difference is substantial, with the AMD chip integrating more than four times the transistors of the Intel part, though the die sizes are comparable.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD PRO A12-8870E has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel Xeon W3520 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's L3 cache is a notable advantage in the architectural comparison, though the benchmark results do not show it translating into a performance win in the tested workloads.

Both CPUs have four physical cores, but the threading situation diverges. The AMD PRO A12-8870E offers 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Xeon W3520 offers 8 threads, doubling its thread count through Hyper-Threading. Despite the Intel part having twice the threads, it still loses in every multicore benchmark, which points to the AMD chip's higher clock speeds and architectural efficiency in these specific tests.

Clock speeds favor the AMD part. The PRO A12-8870E runs at a 2.90 GHz base clock with a 3.70 GHz boost clock. The Xeon W3520 runs at a 2.67 GHz base clock with a 2.93 GHz boost clock. The AMD chip's boost clock is 0.77 GHz higher, and even its base clock is 0.23 GHz higher. Power consumption goes the other way: the AMD part has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon draws 130 W. That is a 95 W difference in favor of the AMD chip.

Platform support is another major split. The AMD PRO A12-8870E uses AMD Socket AM4, supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and offers PCIe Gen 3. It also includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics. The Intel Xeon W3520 uses Intel Socket 1366, supports DDR3 memory in triple-channel configuration, and offers PCIe Gen 2. It has no integrated graphics. The AMD part does not support ECC memory, while the Intel Xeon does. The AMD chip is currently listed as Active in production status, while the Intel Xeon is End-of-life. The Xeon's release date is recorded as 2009-03-29T17:00:00.000Z; the AMD part's release date is not recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, though modest, winner: the AMD PRO A12-8870E. It wins all five head-to-head tests, has a higher average benchmark score (880 vs 862), and does so while consuming far less power (35 W vs 130 W). The AMD chip also brings a more modern platform with DDR4 memory support, PCIe Gen 3, and integrated graphics, all of which are absent from the Intel Xeon W3520. For anyone building a system today, the AMD part is the more sensible choice on the merits of the recorded data.

The Intel Xeon W3520 does have two genuine advantages in the specification sheet: 8 threads versus 4, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus no L3 cache. It also supports ECC memory, which matters for certain workstation or server use cases. But none of those advantages show up as a performance win in the benchmark results. The Xeon is also End-of-life, uses a 45 nm process, and carries a 130 W TDP. Its only realistic appeal in this comparison is the ECC memory support and the triple-channel DDR3 memory bus, which could matter for specific legacy applications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870E has an average benchmark score of 880, compared to 862 for the Intel Xeon W3520.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W3520 win any benchmark against the AMD PRO A12-8870E?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-8870E wins all five recorded head-to-head tests, with margins between 2.0% and 2.3%.

Q: How do the thread counts compare?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870E has 4 threads, while the Intel Xeon W3520 has 8 threads. The Intel part doubles the thread count but still loses in all multicore benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W3520 supports ECC memory. The AMD PRO A12-8870E does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870E has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon W3520 has a 130 W TDP. The AMD part uses 95 W less.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870E includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon W3520 has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A12-8870E wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database: Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core. Its margins are small, never exceeding 2.3%, but they are consistent. The AMD chip also wins on power efficiency by a wide margin, with a 35 W TDP versus the Intel part's 130 W. It wins on platform modernity as well: DDR4 memory support, dual-channel 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, PCIe Gen 3, and an active production status. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics mean the AMD chip can drive a display without a discrete GPU, which is not possible with the Xeon.

The Intel Xeon W3520 wins on thread count, offering 8 threads against the AMD part's 4. It wins on cache hierarchy, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus no L3 cache on the AMD chip. It wins on memory channels, with triple-channel DDR3 support compared to dual-channel DDR4 on the AMD part, though the database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for the Xeon. It wins on ECC memory support, a feature entirely absent from the AMD PRO A12-8870E. The Xeon also has a slightly larger die at 263 mm² versus 250 mm², though that is not a performance advantage.

For a user who needs ECC memory, the Intel Xeon W3520 is the only option between the two. For a user who needs integrated graphics, low power consumption, or a modern socket with DDR4 support, the AMD PRO A12-8870E is the clear pick. The benchmark data does not show any workload where the Xeon's extra threads or L3 cache translate into a win, so the Intel part is best understood as a legacy platform choice for specific memory or reliability requirements.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD PRO A12-8870E | Intel Xeon W3520 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.67 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.93 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 130 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Nehalem |

| Codename | Carrizo | Bloomfield |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 45 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 731 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 263 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | None | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Part Number | AD887BAHM44AB | SLBEW |