AMD PRO A12-9800E vs Intel Core i5-5300U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD PRO A12-9800E wins every single head-to-head comparison recorded in the database. Across five Cinebench tests, the AMD part holds a consistent advantage of roughly 15.6% to 15.8% over the Intel Core i5-5300U. The margin is nearly identical in every workload, which suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 266 against 230 for the Intel Core i5-5300U, a 15.7% lead. That same 15.7% delta reappears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD part scores 1111 versus 960. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core as well, with the AMD part at 2646 and the Intel part at 2287, again a 15.7% difference. The consistency of these multi-core deltas across three different Cinebench versions is notable; it indicates that the relative performance relationship does not shift as the benchmark evolves.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 156 against 135 for the Intel Core i5-5300U, a 15.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 373 versus 322, a 15.8% lead. The fact that the single-core margin is nearly identical to the multi-core margin is significant. It means the AMD part is not merely winning because it has more cores; it is winning on a per-thread basis as well, despite the Intel part having a higher boost clock in some scenarios.

The Intel Core i5-5300U does have additional benchmark data in the database that the AMD part lacks. Geekbench results are recorded only for the Intel chip: 1540 in multi-core and 791 in single-core. Because no comparable Geekbench score exists for the AMD PRO A12-9800E, those numbers cannot be used for a direct comparison. The head-to-head table is limited to the five Cinebench tests, and the AMD part wins all five.

The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar but slightly compressed story. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has an average benchmark score of 910, while the Intel Core i5-5300U sits at 895. That is a 1.7% difference in the aggregate, smaller than the Cinebench deltas because the average includes the Geekbench results that only the Intel part has. The percentile placement is identical: both processors land at the 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The nearest rivals for each part reinforce how close these two processors are in the broader landscape. The AMD PRO A12-9800E sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, the Intel Core i3-10110Y, the Intel Core i3-4330T, and the Intel Xeon W3540. The Intel Core i5-5300U sits within 0.7% of the Intel Pentium G4600T, the AMD PRO A10-8770E, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, and the Intel Core i3-6100. Both chips are clustered in the same performance tier, but the AMD part is consistently at the top of that cluster in the head-to-head data.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins in every recorded benchmark category. There is no test in the head-to-head set where the Intel Core i5-5300U comes out ahead. That makes the use-case split straightforward: for any workload measured by Cinebench, the AMD part is the faster processor.

Multi-threaded rendering is the clearest strength for the AMD PRO A12-9800E. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it delivers 15.7% more performance than the Intel part. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the margin is the same, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core it holds at 15.7%. The AMD part has four physical cores and four threads, while the Intel part has two physical cores and four threads via Hyper-Threading. The AMD part also has a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz against 2.30 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz against 2.90 GHz. The combination of more physical cores and higher clocks explains the consistent multi-core advantage.

Single-threaded workloads also favor the AMD PRO A12-9800E, and by nearly the same margin. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 15.6% lead, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 15.8% lead. This is a meaningful result because single-threaded performance is often dominated by clock speed and architecture efficiency. The AMD part has a 0.90 GHz base clock advantage and a 0.90 GHz boost clock advantage over the Intel part. The Intel part uses a 14 nm process node against the AMD part's 28 nm node, which would normally suggest better efficiency per clock, but the recorded benchmark data shows the AMD part winning regardless.

The Intel Core i5-5300U does have one clear advantage in the data: power consumption. Its TDP is 15 watts, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E is rated at 35 watts. For fanless or thermally constrained mobile designs, the Intel part is the more appropriate choice. The Intel chip is also the only one of the two with a recorded memory bandwidth figure of 25.6 GB/s, though the AMD part's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database, so no direct comparison is possible.

For users who need maximum compute performance in the measured workloads, the AMD PRO A12-9800E is the pick. For users who need a low-power mobile processor and can accept lower Cinebench scores, the Intel Core i5-5300U is the pick. The Intel part is also the only one with a recorded Geekbench score, which may matter in workflows that rely on that specific benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages and different market segments. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is a desktop part built on the Excavator architecture, with the codename Bristol Ridge. It uses a 28 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i5-5300U is a mobile part built on the Broadwell architecture, with the codename Broadwell-U. It uses a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The process node difference is substantial: 28 nm versus 14 nm, which typically implies the Intel part should have an efficiency advantage per transistor.

The transistor counts reflect the architectural differences. The AMD PRO A12-9800E contains 3,100 million transistors on a die size of 250 mm². The Intel Core i5-5300U contains 1,300 million transistors on a die size of 82 mm². The AMD part has more than double the transistor count and more than triple the die area. This is consistent with the AMD part having four Excavator cores with integrated Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel part has two Broadwell cores with integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The Intel Core i5-5300U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's L3 cache is a notable architectural advantage; the AMD part has no L3 cache recorded at all. Despite this, the AMD part still wins every benchmark, which suggests its higher clocks and extra physical cores compensate for the lack of L3 cache in the measured workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD PRO A12-9800E supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Intel Core i5-5300U supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, with a recorded bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The AMD part's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database. The AMD part uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1168. The AMD part is a socketed desktop processor; the Intel part is a ball-grid-array mobile processor, typically soldered to the motherboard.

PCI Express support differs. The AMD PRO A12-9800E provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core i5-5300U provides PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part has a newer PCIe generation but fewer lanes. Neither part has ECC memory support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The production status also differs. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is listed as active production, with a release date of 2017-07-26. The Intel Core i5-5300U is listed as end-of-life, with a release date of 2015-02-28. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $315; the AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD PRO A12-9800E uses Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Core i5-5300U uses Intel HD 5500. No graphics benchmarks are recorded for either part, so a performance comparison cannot be made from the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins every recorded multi-core test. It scores 266 versus 230 in Cinebench R15, 1111 versus 960 in Cinebench R20, and 2646 versus 2287 in Cinebench R23. Each result is a 15.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-5300U win any single-core test?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-9800E leads in Cinebench R20 single-core with 156 versus 135, a 15.6% margin, and in Cinebench R23 single-core with 373 versus 322, a 15.8% margin.

Q: How do the two processors compare on power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i5-5300U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E has a TDP of 35 watts. The Intel part is the lower-power option by a significant margin.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i5-5300U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel Core i5-5300U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both are at the 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD part has an average benchmark score of 910, and the Intel part has an average benchmark score of 895.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear conclusion: the AMD PRO A12-9800E is the faster processor in every benchmark category recorded in the database. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 15.6% and 15.8%. It has more physical cores, higher base and boost clocks, and a newer production status. For any user whose priority is compute performance in the measured workloads, the AMD part is the correct choice.

The Intel Core i5-5300U is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside the recorded benchmark results. Its 15 watt TDP makes it a far more power-efficient part, which matters for mobile designs where thermal and battery constraints are critical. Its 14 nm process node, 3 MB of L3 cache, and recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s are architectural features that the AMD part does not match. It also has Geekbench scores recorded in the database, which the AMD part lacks entirely.

The production status difference is worth noting. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is listed as active production, while the Intel Core i5-5300U is end-of-life. For new designs, the AMD part is the more viable option from a supply perspective. The Intel part is also a mobile BGA chip, which means it is soldered to the motherboard rather than socketed, limiting its upgradeability.

In terms of raw performance, the verdict is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A12-9800E beats the Intel Core i5-5300U in every recorded test. The Intel part is only preferable for low-power mobile applications where its 15 watt TDP and smaller process node provide benefits that the measured benchmarks do not capture.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

| Specification | AMD PRO A12-9800E | Intel Core i5-5300U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1168 |

| Architecture | Excavator | Broadwell |

| Codename | Bristol Ridge | Broadwell-U |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 1,300 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 82 mm² |

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

| L1 Cache (per core format) | Not listed as per core | 64 KB per core |

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

| L3 Cache | None listed | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 25.| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Intel HD 5500 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-07-26 | 2015-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $315 |

| Part Number | AD980BAHM44AB | SR23X |

Both processors share several traits: dual-channel memory support, no ECC memory, no unlocked multiplier, and identical percentile placement at the 24th percentile. The AMD part has a higher transistor count, a larger die, and a faster clock speed on both base and boost. The Intel part has a smaller process node, a shared L3 cache, a lower TDP, and the only recorded memory bandwidth figure in the pair.