AMD PRO A12-9800E vs Intel Pentium G4600T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: the AMD PRO A12-9800E wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Pentium G4600T. Across five Cinebench workloads, the AMD part takes all five wins, with margins ranging from 1.3% to 1.7%. There is no test in the database where the Pentium comes out ahead.

That said, the margins are slim enough that the practical winner depends on workload context. In single-core tests, the AMD PRO A12-9800E leads by 1.3% in Cinebench R20 and 1.6% in R23. Those are small edges, but they are consistent. For lightly threaded tasks such as older games, spreadsheet work, or general desktop responsiveness, the AMD chip holds a slight advantage.

In multi-core workloads, the gap widens slightly. The AMD PRO A12-9800E leads by 1.5% in Cinebench R15 and 1.7% in both R20 and R23 multi-core tests. The AMD part has four physical cores, while the Pentium has two cores with four threads. That architectural difference shows up in sustained multi-threaded rendering, where the AMD chip maintains a consistent, if modest, lead.

The Intel Pentium G4600T does not win any benchmark category in the database. Its strongest showing is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 262 against the AMD's 266, a 1.5% deficit. In every other test, the gap is between 1.3% and 1.7%. For buyers choosing between these two, the data says the AMD part is the faster processor in every measured scenario, but the differences are small enough that real-world perceptibility depends on the specific application.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 266 vs 262 in R15, 1111 vs 1092 in R20, and 2646 vs 2602 in R23. The lead is consistent, between 1.5% and 1.7%.

Q: Is the Intel Pentium G4600T better in single-core performance?

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-9800E also wins the single-core tests. It scores 156 vs 154 in R20 single-core and 373 vs 367 in R23 single-core, a 1.3% and 1.6% advantage respectively.

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

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has an average benchmark score of 910, which is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U and the Intel Core i3-10110Y, and 0.3% above the Intel Xeon W3540. The Intel Pentium G4600T averages 895, matching the Intel Core i5-5300U and AMD PRO A10-8770E, and trailing the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U by 0.2%.

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: Yes. Both the AMD PRO A12-9800E and the Intel Pentium G4600T support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration. The Intel part has a rated memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the AMD part does not have a listed bandwidth figure in the database.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has four physical cores and four threads. The Intel Pentium G4600T has two physical cores and four threads, relying on hyper-threading to match thread count.

Q: What are the integrated graphics options?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E includes Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Pentium G4600T includes Intel HD 630 graphics. The database does not contain benchmark comparisons for the iGPU portions of these chips.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data contains five Cinebench comparisons, and the AMD PRO A12-9800E wins all of them. The largest margin is 1.7%, seen twice: in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1111 vs 1092) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (2646 vs 2602). The smallest margin is 1.3% in Cinebench R20 single-core (156 vs 154).

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the AMD part scoring 266 against the Pentium's 262, a 1.5% edge. That is the closest multi-core result, but the AMD chip still takes it. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 373 against 367, a 1.6% advantage. The pattern is uniform: the AMD PRO A12-9800E wins every workload, and the margin never exceeds 1.7% nor falls below 1.3%.

What does this mean in practical terms? A 1.7% multi-core lead in R23 translates to roughly 44 points on the AMD chip's score of 2646, which is a real, measurable difference in the benchmark output. In single-core R20, a 1.3% lead is only 2 points, which is within run-to-run noise for many systems. The database records these as wins for the AMD part, but a builder should recognize that these are tight margins, not a generational gap.

The Intel Pentium G4600T does not achieve a single win in the head-to-head set. Even in its best relative performance, R15 multi-core, it trails by 1.5%. Given that both processors share the same 35 W TDP, the AMD part delivers slightly better performance within the same power envelope in every test the database tracks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has four cores and four threads, while the Intel Pentium G4600T has two cores and four threads. Base clocks are close: 3.10 GHz for the AMD part and 3.00 GHz for the Intel part. The AMD chip has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Intel chip has no listed boost clock.

Cache configurations differ notably. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The Intel Pentium G4600T 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 meaningful difference for workloads that benefit from shared cache, though the benchmark results do not show it translating into a win.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, in dual-channel configuration. The Intel part lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the AMD part does not have a bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Intel part offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The sockets are different: AMD Socket AM4 for the PRO A12-9800E, Intel Socket 1151 for the Pentium G4600T. This means motherboard choice is dictated entirely by which chip a builder selects. The AMD part has a listed die size of 250 mm² and 3,100 million transistors on a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The Intel part does not have die size or transistor counts listed in the database, but it uses a 14 nm process from Intel.

Architecture Differences

The AMD PRO A12-9800E is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, and belongs to the A12 generation. It uses a 28 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries. The chip integrates Radeon R7 graphics and carries a transistor count of 3,100 million on a 250 mm² die. It has four physical cores with no SMT, meaning four threads total. The cache hierarchy is 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2, with no L3 cache present.

The Intel Pentium G4600T is built on the Kaby Lake architecture, using a 14 nm process manufactured by Intel. It integrates Intel HD 630 graphics. The chip has two physical cores with hyper-threading, giving four threads. Cache is organized as 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The process node advantage for Intel is significant: 14 nm versus 28 nm, which typically allows lower power draw for the same performance, though both parts are rated at 35 W TDP in the database.

The architectural differences explain the benchmark outcomes. The AMD part uses more physical cores to win multi-threaded tests, while the Intel part relies on hyper-threading and a larger shared L3 cache to stay close. The 14 nm process gives Intel a transistor-level efficiency advantage, but the recorded data shows the AMD chip still wins every test. The lack of an L3 cache on the AMD part does not appear to hurt it in these specific Cinebench workloads, likely because the four physical cores compensate.

Both parts are desktop segments, both support DDR4, and both lack ECC memory support. The AMD part's Excavator architecture is older, but the Bristol Ridge platform brings it to AM4, while Intel's Kaby Lake is a newer microarchitecture on Socket 1151.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A12-9800E wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. If a builder prioritizes raw Cinebench scores, the AMD part is the correct choice. It leads by 1.3% to 1.7% across all five tests, including both single-core and multi-core workloads.

For multi-threaded rendering, the AMD chip's four physical cores give it an edge that holds in every multi-core test. The largest lead, 1.7%, appears in both R20 and R23 multi-core, making it the strongest category for the AMD part. Builders who render videos, compile code, or run batch workloads should favor the AMD PRO A12-9800E.

For single-core tasks, the AMD part also leads, though by a slightly narrower margin. The 1.3% edge in R20 single-core is the smallest win in the entire comparison, so gamers or users of lightly threaded applications will see a smaller, but still positive, difference.

The Intel Pentium G4600T is not without reasons to be chosen. It has a modern 14 nm process, a shared 3 MB L3 cache, and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes compared to the AMD part's 8 lanes, but none of those translate into a benchmark win in the database. The Intel part also has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the AMD part has no bandwidth figure recorded. For a builder who values those platform features over raw Cinebench performance, the Pentium remains a viable option, but the performance data gives the edge to AMD.

Both processors sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are close: 910 for the AMD part and 895 for the Intel part. That 15-point gap in the average score is consistent with the head-to-head results. The AMD PRO A12-9800E is the faster processor in every measured workload, and the verdict follows the data: choose it if benchmark performance is the priority. Choose the Pentium G4600T only if the Intel platform features, such as more PCIe lanes or the shared L3 cache, matter more to the specific build.