AMD PRO A12-9800 vs Intel Core i5-3450S Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i5-3450S wins every single head-to-head comparison in the FACT PACK, taking all five shared tests. The AMD PRO A12-9800 records zero wins across the entire dataset. This is not a case of one processor excelling in one type of workload while the other counters elsewhere; the Intel part dominates across both multi-threaded and single-threaded scenarios.

Looking at the use-case split, the Intel Core i5-3450S is the stronger choice for any task that stresses the CPU, whether that involves rendering, encoding, or general productivity. In the multi-core Cinebench tests, the Intel chip leads by a consistent margin of roughly 14.3% to 14.4% across all three versions (R15, R20, and R23). The single-core results tell the same story, with the Intel part winning by 14.4% in both Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core runs. There is no workload category in the data where the AMD PRO A12-9800 pulls ahead.

The AMD chip does have one notable advantage not visible in raw compute benchmarks: its integrated Radeon R7 graphics are paired with DDR4 memory support, whereas the Intel chip uses DDR3 and carries Intel HD 2500 graphics. However, the FACT PACK contains no graphics benchmarks, so any claim about iGPU superiority would be speculative. From the data that exists, the Intel Core i5-3450S is the outright winner in every measurable CPU performance category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and eras. The AMD PRO A12-9800 uses the Excavator architecture on a 28 nm process node, manufactured by GlobalFoundries. It is built on the Bristol Ridge codename and belongs to the A12 generation. The chip integrates 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-3450S, by contrast, uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It packs 1,400 million transistors onto a 160 mm² die. The process node difference is significant: Intel's 22 nm process is denser, which partially explains how a chip with fewer transistors can still outperform a larger AMD die.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The AMD part has a 320 KB L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core (totaling 256 KB across four cores), 256 KB of L2 per core (totaling 1 MB), and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The presence of a 6 MB L3 cache on the Intel chip is a major architectural advantage; the AMD chip has no equivalent, which likely contributes to the Intel part's superior performance in latency-sensitive workloads.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD PRO A12-9800 supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-3450S supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, though the FACT PACK does not list a bandwidth figure for it. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe lane allocation also differs: the AMD chip provides 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel chip provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The Intel part's doubled PCIe lane count could matter for discrete GPU or NVMe configurations, though no benchmark data addresses this directly.

The release dates are far apart. The Intel Core i5-3450S launched on April 28, 2012, while the AMD PRO A12-9800 launched on October 2, 2016 — over four years later. Despite the newer launch date, the AMD chip fails to overcome the architectural deficit. The Intel chip's production status is not listed, while the AMD chip is marked as Active. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither offers overclocking headroom.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i5-3450S's 2.80 GHz. However, the Intel chip still wins every benchmark, indicating that clock speed alone does not determine performance.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A12-9800 have any L3 cache?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-9800 has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, but no L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-3450S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache in addition to per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i5-3450S in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 3747 against the AMD's 3208, a 14.4% advantage. The margin in Cinebench R20 multi-core is nearly identical, with the Intel part scoring 1573 versus 1347, also a 14.4% lead.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-3450S supports DDR3 memory; no bandwidth figure is listed for it.

Q: What are the transistor counts for each chip?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 contains 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-3450S contains 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 features Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Core i5-3450S features Intel HD 2500. The FACT PACK contains no graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison can be made from this data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD PRO A12-9800 | Intel Core i5-3450S |

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

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Ivy Bridge |

| Codename | Bristol Ridge | Ivy Bridge |

| Generation | A12 (Bristol Ridge) | Core i5 (Ivy Bridge) |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 160 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | None | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

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

| PCIe Lanes | 8 (Gen 3, CPU only) | 16 (Gen 3, CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Intel HD 2500 |

| Release Date | October 2, 2016 | April 28, 2012 |

| Production Status | Active | Not listed |

| Part Number | AD980BAUM44AB | SR0P2 |

Both chips have 4 cores, 4 threads, a 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory buses, no ECC support, and locked multipliers. The Intel part has a higher average benchmark score (1099 vs. 1104 for AMD, a negligible 0.5% difference), but the head-to-head deltas are what matter.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the uniformity of the Intel lead. Across five shared benchmarks, the delta is consistently between -14.3% and -14.4% in Intel's favor. There is no outlier test where the AMD chip closes the gap or where the Intel margin widens dramatically. This suggests a systemic architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific one.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-3450S scores 377 versus the AMD's 323, a 14.3% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 1573 against 1347, a 14.4% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the Intel part at 3747 versus 3208, again 14.4% ahead. In all three multi-core tests, the Intel chip benefits from its 6 MB L3 cache and more efficient Ivy Bridge core design, despite having a 1.0 GHz lower base clock and 0.7 GHz lower boost clock.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel chip scores 222 against the AMD's 190, a 14.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part scores 529 versus 453, also 14.4% ahead. The AMD chip's higher clock speeds (3.80 GHz base, 4.20 GHz boost) cannot compensate for the Intel architecture's superior instructions-per-clock efficiency. Notably, the Intel chip also has a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 53 and Geekbench scores of 1712 (multi-core) and 581 (single-core) that have no AMD counterpart in the head-to-head data.

The average benchmark scores place both chips in the 31st percentile of all CPUs. The AMD PRO A12-9800 has an average score of 1104, with nearest rivals including the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 (delta 0.1%) and the AMD Athlon X4 845 (delta -0.2%). The Intel Core i5-3450S has an average score of 1099, with nearest rivals including the Intel Pentium 6805 (delta 0%) and the Intel Pentium Gold G6500 (delta -0.2%). The two chips are effectively tied in average score, yet the head-to-head deltas show a consistent 14.4% Intel advantage across every shared test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-3450S wins all five head-to-head benchmarks against the AMD PRO A12-9800, with a consistent margin of 14.3% to 14.4% across both single-core and multi-core tests. The AMD chip's higher base and boost clocks (3.80/4.20 GHz vs. 2.80/3.50 GHz) and its newer release date (2016 vs. 2012) do nothing to close the gap. The Intel chip's 6 MB L3 cache, smaller 22 nm process, and superior Ivy Bridge architecture deliver a decisive performance advantage that clock speed alone cannot overcome.

For users who prioritize raw CPU performance in rendering, encoding, or single-threaded workloads, the Intel Core i5-3450S is the clear choice from this dataset. Its 14.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3747 vs. 3208) and single-core (529 vs. 453) translates into tangible real-world speedups in any CPU-bound task.

The AMD PRO A12-9800 does offer modern platform features that the Intel chip lacks: DDR4 memory support (38.4 GB/s bandwidth), a newer socket (AM4), and an active production status. For anyone building a system that requires DDR4 or planning a platform with future upgrade potential, the AMD part has an argument. But the benchmark data provides no instance where the AMD chip outperforms its rival. Users who select the AMD PRO A12-9800 are making a platform choice, not a performance choice. The Intel Core i5-3450S is the superior processor in every measurable CPU benchmark contained in this analysis.