AMD PRO A12-9800E vs Intel Core i5-4288U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a one-sided contest. Across every recorded workload, the AMD PRO A12-9800E finishes ahead of the Intel Core i5-4288U. The database records five head-to-head comparisons, and the AMD part wins all five.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 266 against the Intel Core i5-4288U's 225. That is a 15.4% advantage for the AMD chip. The margin is nearly identical in Cinebench R20 multicore, where AMD posts 1111 versus Intel's 939, a 15.5% gap. Cinebench R23 multicore follows the same pattern: AMD scores 2646, Intel scores 2237, again 15.5% ahead.

Single-threaded results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD PRO A12-9800E records 156, while the Intel Core i5-4288U manages 132, a 15.4% deficit. Cinebench R23 single-core shows AMD at 373 versus Intel at 315, a 15.5% gap. The consistency of these deltas, all hovering near 15.5%, suggests a systematic performance difference rather than workload-specific noise.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this. The Intel Core i5-4288U carries an average score of 927, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E sits at 910. Interestingly, despite losing every head-to-head test, the Intel part has a slightly higher average score in the broader database. This is because the two CPUs are compared against different pools of rivals. The Intel chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4350T at 926 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core i7-870 at 928 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Celeron G6900TE at 925 (0.3% behind). The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U at 908 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i3-10110Y at 908 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core i3-4330T at 908 (0.2% behind). Both CPUs sit in the bottom quarter of all processors in the database, with the Intel part at the 25th percentile and the AMD part at the 24th percentile.

For Geekbench, the Intel Core i5-4288U has recorded scores of 1745 in multicore and 896 in single-core. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has no Geekbench entries in the database, so no direct comparison is possible for that suite. The Cinebench results, however, are unambiguous.

The Verdict

The data points clearly in one direction. If the decision rests purely on measured Cinebench performance, the AMD PRO A12-9800E is the stronger chip. It wins every multicore and single-core test in the head-to-head comparison, with margins consistently around 15.5%. A user running Cinebench-style workloads, which are representative of rendering and content creation tasks, should expect the AMD part to finish roughly 15% sooner on every iteration.

That said, the two processors occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution. The Intel Core i5-4288U sits at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, the AMD PRO A12-9800E at the 24th. Neither is a performance leader by any stretch. The AMD part's advantage is real but modest in absolute terms: a 41-point gap in Cinebench R15 multicore, a 172-point gap in R20 multicore, and a 409-point gap in R23 multicore. These are not transformative differences, but they are consistent and measurable.

The Intel Core i5-4288U's only statistical edge is its average benchmark score of 927 versus 910 for AMD, a 1.9% difference that stems from its rival pool. The AMD part's nearest rivals all score 908, while the Intel part's nearest rivals range from 925 to 931. In practical terms, both chips are clustered with low-power and older mid-range parts.

Which chip should a user pick? For pure CPU throughput in threaded and single-threaded workloads, the AMD PRO A12-9800E is the choice. The data shows a uniform advantage across all five Cinebench tests. For users relying on Geekbench as their reference metric, the Intel part has recorded scores, but the AMD part lacks any Geekbench entries in the database, so no cross-comparison is possible. The Intel chip also draws less power, 28 W versus 35 W, and belongs to a mobile segment, which may matter in system designs where thermal and power envelopes are constrained.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 2646, while the Intel Core i5-4288U scores 2237. AMD leads by 15.5%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-4288U win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins all five recorded head-to-head tests: Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-4288U has an average benchmark score of 927, which is slightly higher than the AMD PRO A12-9800E's 910. The Intel part ranks at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD part ranks at the 24th.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each chip?

A: For the Intel Core i5-4288U, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-4350T (926, 0.1% behind), the Intel Core i7-870 (928, 0.1% ahead), the Intel Celeron G6900TE (925, 0.3% behind), and the Intel Core i7-4600U (931, 0.5% ahead). For the AMD PRO A12-9800E, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U (908, 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i3-10110Y (908, 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i3-4330T (908, 0.2% behind), and the Intel Xeon W3540 (913, 0.3% ahead).

Q: Does the AMD PRO A12-9800E support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes, the AMD PRO A12-9800E supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-4288U supports DDR3.

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-4288U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i5-4288U is a mobile chip built for Intel's BGA 1168 socket, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E is a desktop part for AMD Socket AM4. The Intel chip has 2 cores and 4 threads, the AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: Intel runs at 2.60 GHz, AMD at 3.10 GHz. Boost clocks differ as well: Intel reaches 3.10 GHz, AMD reaches 3.80 GHz. Thermal design power differs, with Intel at 28 W and AMD at 35 W. The Intel chip uses DDR3 memory, the AMD chip uses DDR4 with dual-channel support. The AMD part supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU only, while the Intel part has no PCIe field recorded. Integrated graphics differ: Intel has Intel HD 5100, AMD has Radeon R7. The Intel part is not multiplier unlocked, and neither is the AMD part. Release dates differ by roughly four years apart in the database. The Intel part number is SR189, the AMD part number is AD980BAHM44AB.

In cache hierarchy, the Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has 320 KB of total L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 listed. Transistor counts and die sizes also diverge: Intel packs 1,400 million transistors on a 118 mm² die, while AMD packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. Neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The Intel Core i5-4288U uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD PRO A12-9800E uses the Excavator architecture under the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. Intel's process node is smaller, which helps explain its lower 28 W TDP despite the performance deficit.

The core counts reflect different design philosophies. Intel uses 2 cores with Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads, while AMD uses 4 physical cores with no SMT, also reaching 4 threads. In multi-threaded workloads, the AMD part's extra physical cores give it the edge, as the Cinebench scores show. In single-threaded workloads, AMD's higher base clock (3.10 GHz versus 2.60 GHz) and higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.80 GHz versus 3.10 GHz) gives it the advantage there as well.

The AMD part's Bristol Ridge generation, released later in the database records, pairs Excavator cores with Radeon R7 graphics and DDR4 memory support. The Intel part, from the Haswell generation released in 2013, uses DDR3 memory. The AMD part is listed as Active production status and released in 2017. Neither chip has a launch MSRP listed in the database.

The AMD PRO A12-9800E integrates a Radeon R7 GPU, a notable feature for a desktop chip that also supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory. The Intel Core i5-4288U integrates Intel HD 5100 graphics, which pairs with DDR3 memory. The Intel part's smaller 22 nm process and lower TDP make it more efficient per watt, but the AMD part's higher clock speeds and extra cores deliver better raw performance in every Cinebench test.

The database records no L3 cache for the AMD part, meaning all caching is handled through the 2 MB of L2. The Intel part has a shared 3 MB L3. This difference in cache organization, combined with the core count disparity, shapes how each chip handles memory access patterns in multi-threaded workloads. AMD's larger transistor count and die size (3,100 million transistors on 250 mm²) suggest a more complex integrated design overall. Intel's smaller footprint (1,400 million transistors on 118 mm²) reflects its denser 22 nm process. The benchmark outcomes, however, favor the AMD part across the board, with margins that never stray far from 15.5%.