CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon W3540 and AMD PRO A12-9800E are a study in contrast: a 2009 server/workstation part facing a 2017 desktop chip. Despite eight years of architectural separation, the data shows they are virtually inseparable in Cinebench performance. The Xeon W3540 wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but by margins of only 0.2% to 0.6%. The average benchmark scores are 913 for the Intel part and 910 for the AMD part, placing both in the 24th percentile of all CPUs. For workloads measured by Cinebench, this is a statistical dead heat. The choice between them hinges entirely on platform attributes, memory support, integrated graphics, power consumption, and socket longevity, rather than raw rendering throughput.

The Verdict

The data points to a split decision based on use case. The Intel Xeon W3540 is the pick for anyone needing ECC memory support and triple-channel DDR3 bandwidth. Its server/workstation heritage provides error-correcting memory, a feature entirely absent from the AMD part. The Xeon also holds a marginal but consistent edge in every benchmark: 0.4% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 0.2% in R20 multicore, 0.6% in R20 single-core, 0.2% in R23 multicore, and 0.3% in R23 single-core. None of these deltas are practically meaningful, but they are uniform. The Intel chip achieves this with 4 cores and 8 threads at a 2.93 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost clock, compared to the AMD's 4 cores and 4 threads at 3.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost.

The AMD PRO A12-9800E is the rational choice for a compact, low-power desktop build. Its 35 W TDP is drastically lower than the Xeon's 130 W, and it includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU. It runs on AMD Socket AM4 with DDR4 memory support and PCIe Gen 3, making it a modern platform despite its older Excavator architecture. The AMD part is also marked as Active in production status, while the Xeon is End-of-life. For a new system requiring minimal power draw and onboard graphics, the AMD chip is the only sensible option. For a workstation needing ECC reliability, the Xeon wins by default.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The Intel Xeon W3540 is built on the Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, fabricated on a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. The AMD PRO A12-9800E uses the Excavator architecture with the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a substantially higher transistor count of 3,100 million on a 250 mm² die. The process node difference explains why AMD packs over four times as many transistors into a slightly smaller die.

Cache configurations differ fundamentally. The Xeon provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, backed by a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The AMD part offers 320 KB of total L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, but no L3 cache at all. The Xeon's large shared L3 cache is a classic server design for handling multiple threads, while the AMD relies on its higher clock speeds and smaller, faster L2 to compensate.

Threading is another major divergence. The Xeon supports Hyper-Threading, yielding 8 threads from 4 cores. The AMD part is a plain 4-core, 4-thread design. This gives the Intel chip a theoretical advantage in heavily threaded workloads, though the benchmark data shows the AMD part nearly matches it anyway due to its higher clocks, 3.10 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.93 GHz and 3.20 GHz for the Xeon.

Memory support and platform features are polar opposites. The Xeon uses DDR3 memory in triple-channel configuration and supports ECC memory. The AMD uses DDR4 in dual-channel configuration and does not support ECC. The AMD provides newer PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon offers PCIe Gen 2. The AMD includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics whatsoever. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1366 versus AMD Socket AM4.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate the Intel Xeon W3540 wins in every measured Cinebench test, but the margins are so thin that the victory is academic. The largest win is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon scores 157 against the AMD's 156, a 0.6% delta. In R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 267 versus 266, a 0.4% advantage. The other three tests, R20 multicore, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core, show deltas of 0.2% to 0.3%. If you are rendering in Cinebench, neither chip gives you a meaningful edge. The Xeon's extra threads and L3 cache do not translate into a real-world lead because the AMD's higher boost clock and newer memory interface compensate.

The AMD PRO A12-9800E wins on platform attributes. Its integrated Radeon R7 graphics mean a complete system can be built without a separate graphics card, which the Xeon cannot do. The 35 W TDP versus the Xeon's 130 W makes the AMD part far easier to cool and power, enabling smaller form factor builds. The AMD uses DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, offering modern connectivity. Its Active production status means it remains available for new systems, whereas the Xeon is End-of-life. The AMD's 4 cores at a higher 3.80 GHz boost clock also suggest better responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks that do not scale with the Xeon's 8 threads.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W3540 has an average benchmark score of 913, while the AMD PRO A12-9800E scores 910. The delta is 0.3% in favor of the Intel part.

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

A: No. The AMD PRO A12-9800E does not support ECC memory. The Intel Xeon W3540 supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon W3540 has no integrated graphics.

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

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E has a TDP of 35 W, while the Intel Xeon W3540 has a TDP of 130 W.

Q: How do the thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Xeon W3540 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD PRO A12-9800E has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU is still in active production?

A: The AMD PRO A12-9800E is marked as Active in production status. The Intel Xeon W3540 is marked as End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon W3540, but the score differences are negligible. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon posts 267 points against the AMD's 266, a 0.4% delta. This is the second-largest margin in the set. Cinebench R20 multicore sees the Xeon at 1113 and the AMD at 1111, a 0.2% difference. The single-core results follow the same pattern: R20 single-core gives the Xeon 157 versus 156, a 0.6% delta, the largest of any test. R23 multicore shows 2652 for the Xeon and 2646 for the AMD, a 0.2% gap. R23 single-core rounds out the sweep with 374 versus 373, a 0.3% delta.

The most telling result is Cinebench R23 multicore. Here the Xeon's 8 threads and 8 MB L3 cache produce a score of 2652, just 6 points ahead of the AMD's 4-thread, no-L3 design at 2646. The AMD's 3.80 GHz boost clock clearly compensates for its lack of threads and cache. The single-core tests reinforce this: the Xeon's 157 in R20 single-core and 374 in R23 single-core are barely ahead of the AMD's 156 and 373. Given the Xeon's higher TDP by 95 W and its reliance on older DDR3 memory, the AMD part's near-parity is remarkable. The Xeon's wins are consistent but not decisive; no benchmark shows more than a 0.6% gap between the two.