AMD PRO A12-9800E vs Intel Core i5-4258U Comparison

The AMD PRO A12-9800E and Intel Core i5-4258U occupy the same 24th percentile among all CPUs, yet their average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story: the AMD part averages 910 points against 902 for the Intel. That 8-point gap is small, but the head-to-head Cinebench results reveal a consistent, decisive pattern. The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins every single benchmark comparison, with margins that hover just under 20% across all five tests. Both chips are clearly entry-level performers by modern standards, but the data shows the AMD part holds a meaningful edge in sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the consistency of AMD's victory. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 266 against 222 for the Intel Core i5-4258U, a 19.8% advantage. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD part scores 1111 versus 929, which is a 19.6% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows the same pattern: 2646 for AMD versus 2213 for Intel, again 19.6% ahead.

Single-threaded performance tells a nearly identical story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 156, while the Intel Core i5-4258U manages 131 — a 19.1% gap. The R23 single-core test confirms this: 373 for AMD versus 312 for Intel, a 19.6% margin. The Intel chip never wins a single test, and its deficits are remarkably uniform, ranging from 19.1% to 19.8%. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

What makes this interesting is that both CPUs sit at the 24th percentile overall, meaning they are surrounded by similarly performing parts. The AMD PRO A12-9800E's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, Intel Core i3-10110Y, and Intel Core i3-4330T, each with an average score of 908 and a delta of just 0.2%. The Intel Core i5-4258U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-5350U at 903 (delta -0.1%), Intel Core i7-940 at 903 (delta -0.2%), and AMD A10-7860K at 904 (delta -0.2%). Both chips are clustered within a 5-point range of their closest competitors, but the head-to-head data shows the AMD part is firmly on the winning side of that cluster.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is built on the Excavator architecture with the Bristol Ridge codename, using a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors onto a 250 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-4258U uses the Haswell architecture on Intel's 22 nm process, with just 1,400 million transistors on a much smaller 118 mm² die. The node advantage clearly belongs to Intel, yet the AMD part still outperforms it in every benchmark.

Core configuration is another major divergence. The AMD PRO A12-9800E offers 4 physical cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4258U offers only 2 physical cores but 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the Intel's 2.40 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The AMD part's higher clock speeds and additional physical cores likely explain its consistent 19.6% lead in multi-threaded tests.

Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel Core i5-4258U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core (128 KB total for two cores), 256 KB of L2 per core (512 KB total), and a shared 3 MB L3 cache. Despite Intel's larger total cache pool, the AMD part still wins. Memory support is split as well: the AMD chip uses DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, while the Intel chip uses DDR3.

The integrated graphics differ too: AMD pairs its PRO A12-9800E with Radeon R7 graphics, while Intel uses HD 5100. The AMD part also features PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, a detail absent from the Intel's spec sheet. Production status shows the AMD chip is still active, while no status is listed for the Intel part. The AMD chip was released in 2017, roughly four years after the Intel chip's 2013 launch.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins decisively in every multi-core test. It leads by 19.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (266 versus 222), by 19.6% in R20 multi-core (1111 versus 929), and by 19.6% in R23 multi-core (2646 versus 2213).

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-4258U competitive in single-threaded workloads?

A: No, the data shows the AMD part also dominates single-threaded performance. The AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 156 versus 131 in R20 single-core (19.1% ahead) and 373 versus 312 in R23 single-core (19.6% ahead).

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E's average score of 910 is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, Intel Core i3-10110Y, and Intel Core i3-4330T (all at 908). The Intel Core i5-4258U's average of 902 is within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-5350U (903) and 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-940 (903).

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

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i5-4258U has a TDP of 28 watts. The Intel part draws less power but also delivers less performance in every benchmark.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of physical cores?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-4258U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count.

Q: Which chip has a more recent release date?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E was released on 2017-07-26, while the Intel Core i5-4258U was released on 2013-06-03. The AMD chip is roughly four years newer.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count: the AMD PRO A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4258U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Clock speeds also favor AMD, with a 3.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus Intel's 2.40 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. TDP differs as well, with the AMD part rated at 35 watts and the Intel part at 28 watts.

The process node is a clear Intel advantage: 22 nm versus AMD's 28 nm. Transistor counts are dramatically different, with AMD using 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while Intel uses 1,400 million on a 118 mm² die. Cache configurations are entirely different: AMD offers 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 with no L3, while Intel offers 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3.

Memory support splits by generation: AMD uses DDR4 in dual-channel mode, while Intel uses DDR3. The AMD part supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, a feature not listed for Intel. Integrated graphics are Radeon R7 on the AMD side and Intel HD 5100 on the Intel side. The market segments differ too: AMD targets desktop, Intel targets mobile. The socket is AMD Socket AM4 for the AMD part and Intel BGA 1168 for the Intel part.

Release dates are separated by over four years, with AMD launching on 2017-07-26 and Intel on 2013-06-03. Production status lists AMD as active, while Intel's status is not specified. The part numbers are AD980BAHM44AB for AMD and SR18A for Intel. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A12-9800E outperforms the Intel Core i5-4258U in every single test. The margins are consistent, ranging from 19.1% to 19.8%, which suggests a fundamental performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The AMD chip has more physical cores, higher clock speeds, and newer memory support, all of which contribute to its dominance.

However, the Intel Core i5-4258U has significant advantages in efficiency and size. It draws 7 fewer watts (28 versus 35), uses a smaller 118 mm² die, and packs fewer transistors (1,400 million versus 3,100 million). If power consumption is the primary concern, the Intel part is the better choice. But for raw performance, the AMD PRO A12-9800E is the clear winner.

The use case determines the recommendation. For desktop users who need maximum compute performance from an AM4 platform, the AMD PRO A12-9800E is the obvious pick. For mobile applications where battery life and thermal constraints matter more than raw throughput, the Intel Core i5-4258U's lower TDP and smaller footprint make it a viable alternative, despite losing every benchmark.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins in every performance category measured. Multi-threaded rendering is its strongest suit, with a 19.8% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 19.6% leads in both R20 and R23 multi-core tests. Single-threaded performance is equally strong, with 19.1% and 19.6% leads in R20 and R23 single-core tests respectively. This makes the AMD part suitable for any CPU-bound workload, from video encoding to 3D rendering.

The Intel Core i5-4258U wins on efficiency metrics. Its 28-watt TDP is 20% lower than the AMD part's 35-watt TDP, making it more suitable for thermally constrained environments. Its smaller die size (118 mm² versus 250 mm²) and lower transistor count (1,400 million versus 3,100 million) suggest lower manufacturing costs and potentially better yield characteristics. The Intel part also uses DDR3 memory, which may be more readily available in existing systems.

For users upgrading an existing AM4 platform, the AMD PRO A12-9800E offers a straightforward performance boost without changing motherboards. For users with older DDR3 systems, the Intel Core i5-4258U could provide a drop-in upgrade path. The data shows the AMD part is the performance king, but the Intel part has a legitimate role in power-sensitive deployments where its 7-watt TDP advantage matters more than a 19.6% performance deficit.