AMD PRO A12-9800E vs Intel Core i7-4600U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent pattern across every workload: the AMD PRO A12-9800E holds a decisive advantage over the Intel Core i7-4600U. In all five head-to-head comparisons, the AMD part emerges as the winner, with the Intel processor trailing by roughly 12.8% to 12.9% in every test.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Cinebench R15 multi-core result puts the AMD PRO A12-9800E at 266 points against 232 for the Intel Core i7-4600U, a 12.8% deficit for the Intel chip. The gap persists in newer Cinebench versions: in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD scores 1111 versus 968 for Intel, again a 12.9% difference. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the same story, with AMD at 2646 and Intel at 2306, a 12.8% margin.

Single-core performance follows the identical pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 156, while the Intel Core i7-4600U manages 136, a 12.8% lead for AMD. The Cinebench R23 single-core test records AMD at 373 and Intel at 325, a 12.9% advantage. Notably, the delta between the two processors is remarkably consistent, hovering near 12.8% to 12.9% across all workloads, suggesting a uniform performance gap rather than workload-specific variability.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the Intel Core i7-4600U has an average benchmark score of 931, placing it at the 25th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-870, which scores 928 and trails by 0.3%, and the Intel Core i5-4288U at 927, which is 0.4% behind. The AMD PRO A12-9800E, meanwhile, posts an average benchmark score of 910, sitting at the 24th percentile. Its closest competitors 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). Interestingly, the Intel Xeon W3540 scores 913, which is 0.3% ahead of the AMD part.

Despite the AMD processor winning every head-to-head test against the Intel Core i7-4600U, the average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story: the Intel chip actually holds a higher overall average (931 versus 910), and it sits one percentile point higher (25th versus 24th). This apparent contradiction stems from the fact that the average benchmark score incorporates additional data points beyond the five head-to-head tests, including Geekbench results that only the Intel part has recorded. The Intel Core i7-4600U has Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores of 1664 and 889 respectively, while no corresponding Geekbench figures appear for the AMD processor in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-4600U is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-ULT codename, using a 22 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It packs 1,300 million transistors into a die size of 118 mm². The AMD PRO A12-9800E, by contrast, uses the Excavator architecture under the Bristol Ridge codename, fabricated on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 3,100 million transistors spread across a 250 mm² die.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Intel part offers 2 cores with 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach the thread count. The AMD processor provides 4 physical cores and 4 threads, matching the thread count without any simultaneous multithreading. This means the AMD chip has twice the physical core count, while the Intel chip uses its thread advantage to compensate in heavily threaded scenarios.

Cache hierarchies are also structured differently. The Intel Core i7-4600U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has a unified 320 KB L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel chip's L3 cache provides a shared pool that can help with certain workloads, while AMD's larger physical core count and higher clock speeds may offset that advantage.

Clock speeds favor the AMD processor substantially. The Intel part runs at a base clock of 2.10 GHz with a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The AMD PRO A12-9800E starts at 3.10 GHz base and boosts to 3.80 GHz, giving it a 1.0 GHz higher base clock and a 0.5 GHz higher boost clock. These frequency advantages, combined with the extra physical cores, likely explain the consistent 12.8% to 12.9% performance lead in the head-to-head tests.

Power and platform targets diverge sharply. The Intel Core i7-4600U is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, designed for thin-and-light laptops, and uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is a desktop processor with a 35 W TDP, more than double the Intel chip's power envelope, and uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform. The AMD chip also supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel memory bus, while the Intel part is limited to DDR3. The AMD processor includes PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip's PCIe configuration is not specified in the database.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel Core i7-4600U carries Intel HD 5000 graphics, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E includes a Radeon R7 GPU. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers, meaning they are not intended for overclocking.

The release timeline shows the Intel part launched in August 2013, while the AMD processor arrived in July 2017, nearly four years later. The AMD chip is still listed as active in production, while the Intel part's production status is not specified. The AMD processor also has a part number (AD980BAHM44AB) recorded, while the Intel chip does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins every multi-core test. It scores 266 versus 232 in Cinebench R15, 1111 versus 968 in Cinebench R20, and 2646 versus 2306 in Cinebench R23, with a consistent 12.8% advantage over the Intel Core i7-4600U.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-4600U better in single-core tests?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-9800E also leads in single-core performance. It scores 156 versus 136 in Cinebench R20 single-core, a 12.8% lead, and 373 versus 325 in Cinebench R23 single-core, a 12.9% lead.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600U has a higher average benchmark score at 931, compared to 910 for the AMD PRO A12-9800E. The Intel part also sits at the 25th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD chip is at the 24th percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor?

A: For the Intel Core i7-4600U, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-870 with an average score of 928 (0.3% behind), followed by the Intel Core i5-4288U at 927 (0.4% behind). For the AMD PRO A12-9800E, the closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U at 908 (0.2% behind), along with the Intel Core i3-10110Y and Intel Core i3-4330T, both at 908.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-4600U supports DDR3 memory, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E supports DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i7-4600U has 2 physical cores. Both offer 4 threads, but the Intel chip relies on Hyper-Threading to reach that number.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4600U | AMD PRO A12-9800E |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Excavator |

| Codename | Haswell-ULT | Bristol Ridge |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

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

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 250 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Not specified | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Not specified | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5000 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not specified | Active |

| Release Date | 2013-08-31 | 2017-07-26 |

| Part Number | Not specified | AD980BAHM44AB |

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward picture for most workloads: the AMD PRO A12-9800E is the faster processor in every direct benchmark comparison, with a consistent 12.8% to 12.9% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. Its advantages stem from a higher base clock (3.10 GHz versus 2.10 GHz), a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.30 GHz), and twice the physical core count (4 versus 2). For users prioritizing raw compute performance in rendering or CPU-bound tasks, the AMD part is the clear choice based on these measurements.

However, the Intel Core i7-4600U is not without its own strengths. It holds a higher average benchmark score (931 versus 910) and a higher percentile ranking (25th versus 24th), driven in part by Geekbench results that are recorded for the Intel chip but absent for the AMD part. The Intel processor also operates at a much lower TDP of 15 W, compared to 35 W for the AMD chip, making it suitable for power-constrained mobile platforms. Its 22 nm process node and smaller die size suggest greater efficiency per transistor, and the shared 4 MB L3 cache may benefit certain workloads.

The choice between these two processors should be guided by the target platform and workload. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is a desktop part with a 35 W TDP, a Socket AM4 platform, and DDR4 memory support, making it appropriate for desktop builds where performance per watt is less critical. The Intel Core i7-4600U is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, BGA 1168 socket, and DDR3 support, suited for laptops and ultrabooks where power efficiency and compact size take priority. The AMD chip's active production status and newer release date (2017 versus 2013) also factor into long-term availability. For pure benchmark performance, the AMD PRO A12-9800E wins all five head-to-head tests. For efficiency and a mobile form factor, the Intel Core i7-4600U remains the better fit, despite its lower benchmark scores.