AMD PRO A8-8650B vs Intel Core i3-5157U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-5157U and AMD PRO A8-8650B are both end-of-life processors aimed at fundamentally different market segments, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins the majority of the head-to-head tests (5 out of 7), but the Intel Core i3-5157U delivers decisive victories in the Geekbench suite. Neither chip is a performance powerhouse—the Intel sits at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD sits at the 24th—so the choice comes down to which workload profile matters more. The data indicates that the AMD chip is the better all-rounder for multi-threaded rendering tasks, while the Intel chip holds a surprising edge in Geekbench’s mixed integer/float workloads, likely due to architectural efficiency.

The Verdict

Choose the AMD PRO A8-8650B if your priority is raw multi-core rendering performance. In Cinebench, it leads the Intel chip by roughly 19% across every version tested—R15, R20, and R23—whether you look at multi-core or single-core scores. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 2734 versus the Intel’s 2203, a 19.4% margin. It also offers a higher base clock (3.20 GHz versus 2.50 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz that the Intel lacks entirely. This is the chip for a desktop system where sustained all-core workloads are common.

Choose the Intel Core i3-5157U if your application mix leans on Geekbench-style tests. The Intel wins Geekbench multi-core with 1568 against 1060 (47.9% ahead) and Geekbench single-core with 778 against 441 (76.4% ahead). These are massive margins that cannot be ignored. The Intel also has a much lower TDP (28 W versus 65 W), making it suitable for compact mobile designs where thermals and power draw matter more than peak throughput. However, its Cinebench scores are consistently lower, so it is not the right pick for rendering-focused builds.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical—877 for the Intel and 887 for the AMD—so neither chip is a clear winner in aggregate. The AMD’s nearest rival is the Intel Pentium G4560T with a 0% delta, while the Intel’s nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U with a -0.3% delta. This tells you that both chips land in the same performance tier, but they achieve that tier through very different means.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on completely different architectural foundations. The Intel Core i3-5157U uses the Broadwell architecture (codename Broadwell-U) on a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It packs 1,900 million transistors into a 133 mm² die. The AMD PRO A8-8650B uses the Steamroller architecture (codename Godaveri) on a 28 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 2,411 million transistors on a larger 245 mm² die.

Core counts differ significantly. The Intel chip has 2 cores and 4 threads (Hyper-Threading), while the AMD chip has 4 physical cores and 4 threads—no SMT. The Intel’s cache layout is per-core: 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with a shared 3 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip uses a combined 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3 cache at all.

Memory bandwidth also diverges. The Intel supports dual-channel DDR3 with a theoretical bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the AMD supports dual-channel DDR3 with 34.1 GB/s. Both lack ECC memory support. PCIe connectivity differs: the Intel provides Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), giving the AMD a clear expansion advantage.

Integrated graphics are another major split. The Intel pairs with Intel Iris 6100, while the AMD uses Radeon R7. The Intel’s TDP is 28 W versus the AMD’s 65 W, which reflects their intended sockets—Intel BGA 1168 (mobile) versus AMD Socket FM2+ (desktop). The Intel was released in February 2015 with a launch MSRP of $315; the AMD followed in September 2015 with no launch MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins decisively in Cinebench rendering workloads. Across all five Cinebench tests, it holds a consistent lead of roughly 19%. The pattern is uniform: R15 multi-core (275 vs 222, -19.3%), R20 multi-core (1148 vs 925, -19.4%), R20 single-core (162 vs 130, -19.8%), R23 multi-core (2734 vs 2203, -19.4%), and R23 single-core (386 vs 311, -19.4%). This suggests that its four physical cores and higher clock speeds (3.20 GHz base, 3.90 GHz boost) give it a structural advantage in rendering tasks that scale with core count and raw frequency.

The Intel Core i3-5157U wins in Geekbench workloads, and it wins big. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 1568 versus 1060—a 47.9% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 778 versus 441—a 76.4% advantage. These are the largest deltas in the entire head-to-head set. Geekbench is known for testing memory latency, encryption, and compression patterns, and the Intel’s Broadwell architecture with its 14 nm process appears to execute these workloads far more efficiently per clock than the AMD’s Steamroller design. The Intel’s single-core Geekbench score of 778 is nearly double the AMD’s 441, which is a remarkable gap given that the AMD has a higher base clock.

The practical split: for rendering, video encoding, or any Cinebench-style multi-threaded workload, the AMD is the clear choice. For general desktop responsiveness, file compression, or mixed integer workloads as measured by Geekbench, the Intel has the edge. The AMD’s higher memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s vs 29.9 GB/s) does not help it in Geekbench, suggesting the Intel’s architectural efficiency outweighs raw bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B scores 2734 versus the Intel Core i3-5157U’s 2203, giving the AMD a 19.4% lead.

Q: How large is the Intel’s Geekbench single-core advantage?

A: The Intel scores 778 in Geekbench single-core versus the AMD’s 441, which is a 76.4% difference—the largest margin in any test.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i3-5157U and the AMD PRO A8-8650B have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: Which chip has more physical cores?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i3-5157U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B offers 34.1 GB/s of dual-channel DDR3 bandwidth, while the Intel Core i3-5157U offers 29.9 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has an average benchmark score of 887, while the Intel Core i3-5157U scores 877—a negligible 1.1% difference.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a stark split between two benchmark families. In Cinebench, the AMD PRO A8-8650B wins every single test by a narrow but consistent margin. The closest race is Cinebench R20 single-core, where the AMD scores 162 against the Intel’s 130, a 19.8% delta. The other Cinebench tests all land near 19.3-19.4%, indicating a stable performance gap that does not widen or shrink across different rendering versions. This consistency suggests the AMD’s advantage comes from its higher base clock (3.20 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and its four physical cores, which provide more raw execution resources for Cinebench’s workload.

The Geekbench results flip the script entirely. The Intel Core i3-5157U wins Geekbench multi-core with 1568 against the AMD’s 1060—a 47.9% delta that is more than double the AMD’s Cinebench lead. The single-core Geekbench test is even more lopsided: Intel’s 778 versus AMD’s 441, a 76.4% delta. These are not marginal wins; they are generational gaps. The Intel’s Broadwell architecture, despite being on a smaller 14 nm node and having fewer cores, clearly executes Geekbench’s instruction mix much more efficiently. The AMD’s Steamroller cores, while clocked higher, appear to have significantly lower instructions-per-clock in these tests.

Looking at the aggregate scores, the two chips are nearly tied. The AMD’s average benchmark score is 887, and the Intel’s is 877, a 10-point difference that places them in the same performance percentile (24th vs 23rd). The nearest rival data reinforces this: the AMD’s closest competitor is the Intel Pentium G4560T with a 0% delta, while the Intel’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 2300U with a -0.3% delta. Both chips are effectively interchangeable in overall performance, but their workload-specific strengths are sharply defined. If you run Cinebench, you pick the AMD. If you run Geekbench, you pick the Intel. The data offers no middle ground.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-5157U | AMD PRO A8-8650B |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | N/A | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Steamroller |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Godaveri |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 245 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 256 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | N/A |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | Radeon R7 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2015-09-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $315 | N/A |

| Part Number | SR26M | AD865BYBI44JC |