AMD PRO A12-9800 vs Intel Core i7-4610M Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A12-9800 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i7-4610M. Across five Cinebench tests, the AMD part takes all five wins, with margins ranging from 16.6% to 17.3%. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1104 for AMD versus 1094 for Intel), but the distribution matters: AMD wins on every single-core and multi-core metric in the database. The Intel i7-4610M does have one advantage in the recorded data: it carries a launch MSRP of $346, while the AMD part has no recorded launch price. However, the price field cannot be used to infer value, and the benchmark data does not support any performance advantage for Intel.

For users choosing between these two, the AMD PRO A12-9800 is the clear pick on raw performance. It delivers roughly 17% higher multi-core scores across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, and similarly higher single-core scores. The Intel part counters with lower power consumption (37 W TDP versus 65 W), a smaller process node (22 nm versus 28 nm), and a mobile form factor with an end-of-life production status. The AMD part is a desktop chip with an active production status. For anyone prioritizing benchmark results, the AMD PRO A12-9800 wins outright. For anyone prioritizing power efficiency or a mobile platform, the Intel i7-4610M is the only mobile option in this pairing, though the data shows it trails in every measured workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design schools. The AMD PRO A12-9800 uses the Excavator architecture on the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core i7-4610M uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 2 physical cores and 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The core count difference is central to their performance profiles: AMD relies on four full cores, while Intel depends on two cores with extra threads.

The cache layouts reflect these different approaches. AMD has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache recorded. Intel has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel design uses a smaller per-core footprint for L1 and L2, but compensates with a large shared L3 pool. AMD has no L3 cache at all, which partly explains why its multi-core wins are only around 17% ahead despite having twice the physical cores: the Excavator design lacks the large shared cache that Haswell brings.

Memory support also splits along generational lines. AMD supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s. That is a 12.8 GB/s bandwidth advantage for AMD in the recorded specifications, which helps feed its four cores. The PCIe configurations differ as well: AMD offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part has twice the PCIe lanes, which matters for expansion options.

Transistor counts and die sizes show the process gap. AMD packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. Intel fits 960 million transistors on a 131 mm² die. The Intel chip is smaller and older (released in January 2014 versus October 2016 for AMD), yet still competes closely on average score. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon R7, Intel uses HD 4600. Neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-4610M has 2 physical cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-4610M ever win a recorded benchmark?

A: No. In the five head-to-head Cinebench tests recorded, the AMD PRO A12-9800 wins all five. The Intel part has no wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is 17.3% in Cinebench R20 single-core, where AMD scores 190 versus Intel's 162. The multi-core deltas are all between 16.6% and 16.7%.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 has an average benchmark score of 1104, and the Intel Core i7-4610M has 1094. The AMD part sits at the 31st percentile of all CPUs, while Intel sits at the 30th.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-4610M supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800 is marked as Active. The Intel Core i7-4610M is marked as End-of-life.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification. The AMD PRO A12-9800 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-4610M has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: 3.80 GHz for AMD versus 3.00 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks differ: 4.20 GHz for AMD versus 3.70 GHz for Intel. The TDP is 65 W for AMD and 37 W for Intel, a significant power gap.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket AM4, Intel uses Socket G3. The architectures differ (Excavator versus Haswell), as do codenames (Bristol Ridge versus Haswell). Process nodes differ: 28 nm for AMD, 22 nm for Intel. Foundries differ: GlobalFoundries for AMD, Intel for Intel. Transistor counts differ: 3,100 million versus 960 million. Die sizes differ: 250 mm² versus 131 mm².

Cache configurations differ in both size and organization. AMD has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, with no L3. Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: DDR4 for AMD, DDR3 for Intel. Memory bandwidth differs: 38.4 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s. PCIe configurations differ: AMD has 8 lanes, Intel has 16 lanes, both Gen 3.

Integrated graphics differ: Radeon R7 for AMD, HD 4600 for Intel. Market segments differ: Desktop for AMD, Mobile for Intel. Production statuses differ: Active for AMD, End-of-life for Intel. Release dates differ: October 2016 for AMD, January 2014 for Intel. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $346; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers also differ: AD980BAUM44AB for AMD, SR1KY for Intel. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers five Cinebench tests, and the AMD PRO A12-9800 wins every one. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 323 against Intel's 277, a 16.6% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, AMD scores 1347 against Intel's 1155, again 16.6% ahead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD scores 3208 against Intel's 2750, a 16.7% lead. These three multi-core results are remarkably consistent, hovering just under 17%.

The single-core results follow the same pattern, with slightly larger margins. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD scores 190 versus Intel's 162, a 17.3% lead, the largest delta in the dataset. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 453 versus Intel's 388, a 16.8% lead. The fact that AMD wins single-core by a slightly wider margin than multi-core is notable: it means the Excavator cores themselves are faster per thread in these tests, not just the aggregate of having more cores.

The Intel part does have one recorded benchmark not present in the AMD data: Geekbench. The Intel Core i7-4610M scores 1903 in Geekbench multi-core and 1024 in Geekbench single-core. Because there is no matching Geekbench result for the AMD PRO A12-9800 in the database, these scores cannot be compared directly. They serve only as standalone reference points for the Intel part.

Average benchmark scores tell a close story overall: AMD sits at 1104, Intel at 1094, a difference of only 10 points. The nearest rivals for AMD include the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 and Intel Pentium Gold G6605, both with average scores of 1103 and deltas of 0.1%. The AMD Opteron 3280 and AMD Athlon X4 845 both score 1106, with deltas of -0.2% relative to the AMD part. For Intel, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-3470S (1095, -0.1%), Intel Core i7-4600M (1093, 0.1%), Intel Core i7-2670QM (1096, -0.1%), and Intel Core i7-10510Y (1092, 0.2%). Both processors sit in a crowded performance tier, but the head-to-head data shows AMD consistently ahead within that tier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A12-9800 wins in every measured workload category. In multi-core rendering, it holds a 16.6% to 16.7% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core rendering, it holds a 16.8% to 17.3% lead across Cinebench R20 and R23. The AMD part also brings DDR4 memory support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, which is 50% higher than the Intel part's 25.6 GB/s DDR3 bandwidth. It has four physical cores, which may benefit workloads that scale with core count rather than thread count. It is a desktop processor with an Active production status, meaning it remains available in the market. Its integrated graphics are Radeon R7, a different class of iGPU than Intel's HD 4600, though the database does not include iGPU benchmarks for either.

The Intel Core i7-4610M wins in power efficiency and platform characteristics. Its TDP is 37 W versus 65 W, a 28 W difference that makes it far better suited to constrained thermal environments. It is a mobile processor, so it fits into laptops where the AMD desktop part cannot. Its 22 nm process node is smaller than AMD's 28 nm, and its die size is 131 mm² versus 250 mm². It offers 16 PCIe lanes versus 8, which matters for external device expansion in a mobile platform. It has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, providing a cache hierarchy that AMD lacks entirely. The Intel part also has a recorded Geekbench result (1903 multi-core, 1024 single-core) that stands as its recorded performance, though no AMD Geekbench counterpart exists for comparison.

For use cases, the split is clear: performance-centric desktop tasks favor AMD, mobile deployment and power-constrained scenarios favor Intel. The data does not support any Intel performance win in rendering workloads, so the Intel part should only be selected for factors outside the benchmark suite, specifically the mobile form factor and lower power envelope. The AMD part should be selected for any workload represented in the Cinebench tests, which cover both single-threaded responsiveness and multi-threaded rendering performance. The Intel part remains a viable option only where its mobile socket, lower power draw, DDR3 support, and end-of-life status are acceptable trade-offs for the lack of benchmark wins.