AMD PRO A12-8870E vs Intel Xeon X3460 Comparison

The AMD PRO A12-8870E and the Intel Xeon X3460 represent two very different approaches to desktop computing, separated by a generation gap in process technology and design philosophy. The AMD part is a modern, power-sipping APU built for efficiency, while the Intel Xeon is a legacy server-class chip built for throughput. Benchmark data from the database shows the AMD PRO A12-8870E winning every recorded head-to-head test, but the margins are slim, and the real story lies in the architectural and platform differences that dictate where each processor belongs.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD PRO A12-8870E wins all five head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Xeon X3460. In multi-core workloads, the AMD chip takes Cinebench R15 with a score of 257 versus 253, a 1.6% advantage. That pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where AMD scores 1074 against Intel's 1057, again a 1.6% lead, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD posts 2558 to Intel's 2518, another 1.6% margin.

Single-core performance tells the same story, though the gap is slightly different. The AMD PRO A12-8870E scores 151 in Cinebench R20 single-core, beating the Xeon's 149 by 1.3%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 361 versus 355, a 1.7% lead. These are narrow victories, but they are consistent across every workload in the database. The AMD chip does not dominate, but it does not lose a single recorded test.

Where the Xeon could theoretically claw back ground is in heavily threaded scenarios that leverage its 8 threads, but the recorded Cinebench multi-core results show the 4-core, 4-thread AMD part staying ahead nonetheless. The Xeon's larger shared L3 cache and extra threads do not translate into a benchmark win in this dataset. The AMD APU also brings integrated Radeon R7 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely, making the AMD part the only one of the two capable of a display output without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the semiconductor design spectrum. 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 X3460 uses the Nehalem architecture, codename Lynnfield, on a 45 nm process at Intel, with 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The process node difference is stark: 28 nm versus 45 nm, which explains why AMD fits over four times as many transistors into a smaller physical area.

Cache layouts differ as well. The AMD chip has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon's 8 MB of L3 is a significant pool of fast memory shared across all four cores, a hallmark of server and workstation class parts. The AMD part's lack of any L3 cache means it relies on its L2 hierarchy alone.

Memory support points to a different platform strategy. The AMD PRO A12-8870E supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with a peak bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and it supports PCIe Gen 3. The Xeon X3460 supports DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 21. 21.3 GB/s of bandwidth and PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD APU's memory bandwidth advantage is substantial, nearly double the Xeon's recorded figure, which helps feed its integrated graphics and overall responsiveness. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the AMD part does not, and the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The Intel chip is designated as a Server/Workstation part on Intel Socket 1156, while the AMD part is a Desktop part on AMD Socket AM4. Production status also splits them: the AMD PRO A12-8870E is listed as Active production, the Intel Xeon X3460 is End-of-life, with a release date of September 2009, and a launch MSRP of $316.

The AMD part's base clock is 2.90 GHz with a boost up to 3.70 GHz, both slightly higher than the Xeon's 2.80 GHz base and 3.47 GHz boost. The Xeon's TDP is 95 watts, while the AMD APU sips just 35 watts. That TDP gap is enormous in real-world terms, a 60 watt difference that makes the AMD part vastly easier to cool and cheaper to operate in daily use.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870E wins every recorded multi-core test. In Cinebench R15, it scores 257 against the Xeon's 253, a 1.0% lead in R20 multi-core (1074 to 1057) and R23 multi-core (2558 to 2518).

Q: Does the Intel Xeon's 8 threads help it win any single-core test?

A: No, the data shows the AMD PRO A12-8870E winning single-core tests as well, with a 1.3% lead in R20 single-core (151 to 149) and a 1.3% lead in R23 single-core (361 to 355).

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD PRO A12-8870E has integrated Radeon R7 graphics. The Intel Xeon X3460 has no integrated graphics, requiring a separate GPU for any display output.

Q: Can the Intel Xeon be used with DDR4 memory, given the AMD chip supports it?

A: No, the Intel Xeon X3460 supports DDR3 memory only. The AMD PRO A12-8870E supports DDR4 memory, and the two chips use different sockets: AMD Socket AM4 for the AMD chip and Intel Socket 1156 for the Xeon.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD PRO A12-8870E has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Xeon X3460 has a TDP of 95 watts. This makes the AMD part a 60 watt lower power draw than the Xeon.

Q: Which chip has more cache?

A: The Intel Xeon X3460 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, plus 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The AMD PRO A12-8870E has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD PRO A12-8870E | Intel Xeon X3460 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.47 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1156 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Nehalem |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 45 nm |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 774 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 296 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 64 KB (per core; 256 KB total) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 256 KB per core (1 MB total for 4 cores) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38. 38.4 GB/s | 21.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Version | Gen 3 | Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only; 16 lanes total) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | None |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records five head-to-head tests between the AMD PRO A12-8870E and Intel Xeon X3460, and AMD wins all of them. The biggest single margin for AMD comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD chip scores 361 against the Xeon's 355. This 1.7% lead is the largest delta in the dataset, showing that the AMD part's single-core strength is its strongest relative asset in this matchup. Single-core performance is so close in R20 that the gap shrinks to 1.1%, reinforcing the AMD part's lead in R23 single-core by 1.7%.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD PRO A12-8870E scores 257 versus the Xeon's 253, a 1.6% advantage. This is a slim lead, but it is the same margin seen in R20 multi-core (1074 to 1057, a 1.6% delta) and R23 multi-core (2558 to 2518, a 1.6% delta). The consistency is notable: the AMD part wins every multi-core test by the exact same 1.6% margin, suggesting a stable performance advantage across different Cinebench versions. The Xeon never wins a single recorded test, but its scores stay within striking range in every case.

Given the Xeon's extra 4 threads and its 8 MB of shared L3 cache, one might expect the Intel chip to at least match the AMD part in multi-core. The data does not show that. The AMD's higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz and 3.70 GHz versus 2.80 GHz and 3.47 GHz) and its superior memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s) appear to offset the Xeon's threading advantage. The AMD part also has a far lower TDP of 35 watts versus 95 watts, meaning it delivers comparable performance at a fraction of the power draw.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the AMD PRO A12-8870E is the clear choice for a new build. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, offers integrated Radeon R7 graphics, supports modern DDR4 memory on the AM4 platform, and runs at just 35 watts TDP. Its 28 nm Excavator architecture is significantly more advanced than the Xeon's 45 nm Nehalem design, and its production status is Active, meaning it is still a viable current part. The AMD chip is also on a platform with PCIe Gen 3 support, which is a generation ahead of the Xeon's PCIe Gen 2.

The Intel Xeon X3460 is a legacy part, End-of-life, with a release date in 2009 and a launch MSRP of $316. It carries ECC memory support and 8 threads, which are features aimed at server and workstation reliability rather than raw desktop speed. Its 8 MB of L3 cache is its standout feature, but the database shows it loses to the AMD part in every recorded test. The Xeon still works as a cheap, older platform for ECC-capable setups, but its 95 watt TDP, DDR3 memory support, and lack of integrated graphics make it harder to justify in a modern desktop.

Choose the AMD PRO A12-8870E if you want a low-power, modern APU with integrated graphics, DDR4 support, and consistent benchmark wins. Choose the Intel Xeon X3460 only if you need ECC memory support and are willing to work with an older, higher-TDP platform with no integrated graphics. The data favors AMD on every metric recorded, from raw performance to power efficiency.