AMD PRO A12-9800 vs Intel Core i7-2670QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents an unusually tight contest between the AMD PRO A12-9800 and the Intel Core i7-2670QM. Across the five shared Cinebench tests, the AMD part wins every single one, but the margins are remarkably small. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD PRO A12-9800 scores 323 against 320 for the Intel, a delta of just 0.9%. That is a win, but it is barely outside the margin of measurement noise.

The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20. In multi-core, the AMD scores 1347 versus 1334, a 1% advantage. The single-core test shows a slightly larger gap: 190 versus 188, a 1.1% delta. The AMD part also takes Cinebench R23, scoring 3208 in multi-core and 453 in single-core, against 3177 and 448 for the Intel, both again at roughly 1% to 1.1% deltas.

What is notable here is not the size of the victories but their consistency. The AMD PRO A12-9800 leads in every recorded benchmark, yet the Intel Core i7-2670QM is never more than 1.1% behind. This is a head-to-head where the two processors are effectively tied in raw compute output, with the AMD part holding a slight, repeatable edge.

The overall average benchmark scores confirm the closeness. The AMD PRO A12-9800 posts an average of 1104, while the Intel Core i7-2670QM posts 1096. That is a difference of just 8 points, or roughly 0.7%. Both processors sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs in the database, a rare case where two parts from different eras and different architectures land on exactly the same performance tier.

The Intel Core i7-2670QM has additional Geekbench results that the AMD part does not have recorded. In Geekbench multi-core it scores 1646, and in single-core 556. These numbers do not have a direct AMD counterpart in the dataset, so they cannot be used for a head-to-head comparison, but they do place the Intel part clearly within the same performance class as its rival.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A12-9800 wins every benchmark that the two share. That is the simplest way to read the data: five tests, five wins for AMD. The margins are small, but they are consistent across both multi-core and single-core workloads. In multi-core tests, the AMD part leads by 0.9% to 1%. In single-core tests, it leads by 1.1%. There is no workload category in the shared dataset where the Intel part comes out ahead.

However, the use-case split is more nuanced than a simple win count. The Intel Core i7-2670QM has double the thread count: 8 threads versus 4 threads for the AMD. Despite that, it still loses the multi-core tests, which suggests the AMD part's higher clock speeds are compensating for its lack of simultaneous multithreading. The AMD base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost of 4.20 GHz, while the Intel runs at 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The Intel's 45 TDP versus the AMD's 65 TDP, combined with the older Sandy Bridge architecture, means it needs more threads to stay competitive, yet it still falls short.

For single-core tasks, the AMD part's clock advantage is enough to win without any help from extra threads.

The Intel part does have one advantage in the dataset that the AMD lacks. The Geekbench results exist for the Intel, and they show the i7-2670QM can produce 1646 multi-core and 556 single-core scores that are entirely absent for the AMD PRO A12-9800 in the recorded measurements. If a workload relies specifically on Geekbench-style tests, the Intel part has known results, whereas the AMD part has no recorded scores to consult. For a user who prioritizes Geekbench-specific workloads, the Intel part at least has verifiable data, even if no comparison is possible.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the hardware timeline. The AMD PRO A12-9800 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i7-2670QM uses Sandy Bridge, built on a 32 nm process at Intel. Both have 4 physical cores, but the Intel part doubles the thread count to 8 via Hyper-Threading, while the AMD part stays at 4 threads. The AMD uses 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while the Intel uses 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The AMD packs more than twice the transistor count into a slightly larger die, which reflects the different design philosophies: the Excavator architecture relies on a beefier core design, while Sandy Bridge uses a leaner core with more reliance on thread-level parallelism.

Cache hierarchies differ sharply. The AMD part has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel part's L3 cache is a significant structural advantage for workloads that benefit from shared data across cores. Yet the benchmark data shows the AMD part still wins despite having no L3 cache, which points to the raw clock speed advantage as the decisive factor.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD PRO A12-9800 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-2670QM has no recorded memory type or bandwidth in the database, only a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD part also has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part has no recorded PCIe information. The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD uses Radeon R7, while the Intel uses HD 3000.

The production status tells a story of different lifecycles. The AMD PRO A12-9800 is listed as Active, released in October 2016, while the Intel Core i7-2670QM is End-of-life, released in October 2011. The AMD part is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel is a mobile processor on Intel Socket G2 (988B). The market segments are fundamentally different: one is a desktop part, the other a mobile part.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification gap is the thread count. The AMD PRO A12-9800 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-2670QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds diverge heavily: the AMD runs at 3.80 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, while the Intel runs at 2.20 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The TDP is 65 watts for the AMD and 45 watts for the Intel, reflecting the mobile nature of the Sandy Bridge part.

The manufacturing process differs: 28 nm for the AMD at GlobalFoundries, 32 nm for the Intel at Intel. Transistor count is 3,100 million versus 1,160 million, and die size is 250 mm² versus 216 mm². The cache structure is entirely different: the AMD has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 with no L3, while the Intel has per-core L1 and L2 plus 6 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs in that the AMD explicitly supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel has no recorded memory type or bandwidth. The AMD has PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes, the Intel has no recorded PCIe data. Integrated graphics are Radeon R7 for the AMD, HD 3000 for the Intel. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket AM4 versus Intel Socket G2 (988B). The market segments are Desktop versus Mobile, and production status is Active versus End-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 wins every shared multi-core test. It scores 323 in Cinebench R15, 1347 in R20, and 3208 in R23, versus 320, 1334, and 3177 for the Intel Core i7-2670QM. The deltas range from 0.9% to 1%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-2670QM have an advantage in any benchmark?

A: In the shared benchmark set, no. The AMD wins all five tests. The Intel does have additional Geekbench results (1646 multi-core, 556 single-core) that have no AMD counterpart in the database, so those cannot be compared directly.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Core i7-2670QM has a base of 2.20 GHz and a boost of 3.10 GHz. The AMD runs significantly faster, which helps it win despite having fewer threads and no L3 cache.

Q: What is the thread count difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-2670QM has 8 threads, double the 4 threads of the AMD PRO A12-9800. Both have 4 physical cores. Despite the thread advantage, the Intel still loses the multi-core benchmarks.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD has an average benchmark score of 1104, while the Intel has 1096.

Q: What are the cache configurations?

A: The AMD has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 with no L3. The Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The Intel's larger shared L3 cache does not translate into a benchmark win in the recorded tests.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, verdict in favor of the AMD PRO A12-9800. It wins every benchmark it shares with the Intel Core i7-2670QM, with deltas between 0.9% and 1.1%. The AMD part also has the advantage of being an Active desktop processor on the AM4 socket, with DDR4 memory support, 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes. For a desktop user in need of a functional, currently produced processor, the AMD part is the one with recorded wins in every test.

The Intel Core i7-2670QM, however, is not a poor choice. It is a mobile processor with a 45 TDP, 8 threads, and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. It draws less power, has twice the thread count, and posts average scores within 8 points of the AMD part. Its production status is End-of-life, and it uses the older 32 nm Sandy Bridge architecture. The data shows it is effectively tied with the AMD part in performance, losing only by 1% or less in every shared test.

The recommendation depends on the use case. For a desktop system where DDR4 support, active production status, and a slight performance edge matter, the AMD PRO A12-9800 is the stronger pick. For a mobile context or a system where lower TDP and a shared L3 cache are priorities, the Intel Core i7-2670QM offers comparable performance with fewer watts consumed. The benchmark data cannot declare a landslide winner, but it can declare a consistent one: the AMD wins all five measured tests, and that is the only verdict the numbers support.