AMD PRO A8-8650B vs Intel Core i5-5300U Comparison

The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks, taking 5 of 7 tests, but the Intel Core i5-5300U delivers a decisive victory in the Geekbench suite. This split creates a clear verdict: the AMD part is the stronger multi-threaded rendering option, while the Intel chip is the better choice for general-purpose and single-threaded workloads as measured by Geekbench. Both processors sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their architectural differences.

The Verdict

The AMD PRO A8-8650B is the pick for users prioritizing Cinebench rendering performance. It leads the Intel Core i5-5300U by 16.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (275 vs 230) and by 16.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (2734 vs 2287). Its advantage is consistent across every Cinebench iteration, from R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. The AMD chip wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head benchmarks, making it the default choice for compute-heavy rendering tasks.

The Intel Core i5-5300U is the pick for mixed everyday workloads where Geekbench scores matter. It crushes the AMD part in Geekbench multi-core (1540 vs 1060, a 45.3% lead) and Geekbench single-core (791 vs 441, a 79.4% lead). These are not marginal differences; the Intel chip is nearly 80% faster in single-threaded Geekbench performance. For users running applications that scale with Geekbench-style integer and floating-point workloads, the Intel chip is the clear winner despite losing the Cinebench matchups.

Neither chip is a performance leader — both rank at the 24th percentile versus all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (895 for Intel, 887 for AMD). The AMD PRO A8-8650B is a desktop part with a 65W TDP, while the Intel Core i5-5300U is a 15W mobile chip, so the performance parity in Cinebench is notable given the power envelope difference. The verdict comes down to workload: render with AMD, run general applications with Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins in every Cinebench test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 275 versus 230. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 1148 versus 960. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2734 versus 2287. The single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: R20 single-core is 162 versus 135, and R23 single-core is 386 versus 322. The deltaPct is remarkably consistent at roughly -16.4% to -16.7% across all five Cinebench tests, meaning the AMD part holds a steady, predictable advantage in this benchmark family.

The Intel Core i5-5300U wins decisively in Geekbench. The multi-core score of 1540 versus 1060 represents a 45.3% lead, and the single-core score of 791 versus 441 represents a 79.4% lead. These are the largest margins in the entire head-to-head comparison. Notably, the Intel chip wins Geekbench multi-core despite having only 2 cores and 4 threads, compared to the AMD part's 4 cores and 4 threads. This suggests the Intel architecture extracts far more performance per thread in Geekbench's workload.

The practical split is clear: Cinebench favors AMD, Geekbench favors Intel. There is no overlap in wins — every Cinebench test goes to AMD, and every Geekbench test goes to Intel. Users should match their benchmark of choice to their intended application.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-5300U is built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B uses a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel chip has 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Intel chip features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 256 KB of L1 cache total and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The transistor counts reflect the process differences: Intel packs 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die, while AMD uses 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die.

Memory bandwidth favors AMD, with 34.1 GB/s versus Intel's 25.6 GB/s, though both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configurations. PCIe support also differs: AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well — Intel uses HD 5500, AMD uses Radeon R7. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The market segments are opposite: Intel's chip is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1168 socket, while AMD's is a desktop part on the AMD Socket FM2+ socket. The TDP gap is substantial — 15W for Intel versus 65W for AMD — which explains why the Intel chip is designed for portable devices despite its lower core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i5-5300U has 2 cores. Both have 4 threads.

Q: Does the AMD chip win all benchmark tests?

A: No. The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins all five Cinebench tests, but the Intel Core i5-5300U wins both Geekbench tests, including a 79.4% margin in single-core.

Q: Which chip has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i5-5300U's 2.30 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No, both are end-of-life parts. The Intel Core i5-5300U was released in 2015-02-28, and the AMD PRO A8-8650B was released in 2015-09-28.

Q: Which chip has better single-threaded performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel chip leads by 79.4% (791 vs 441). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip leads by 16.6% (386 vs 322).

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The Intel Core i5-5300U has an average benchmark score of 895, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B has an average score of 887. Both sit at the 24th percentile versus all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD PRO A8-8650B's most consistent victories come in the Cinebench family. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 275 versus the Intel's 230, a 16.4% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows the same 16.4% delta with scores of 1148 and 960. Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap slightly to 16.3%, with 2734 versus 2287. The single-core Cinebench tests show similar margins: R20 single-core is 16.7% in AMD's favor (162 vs 135), and R23 single-core is 16.6% in AMD's favor (386 vs 322). Across all five Cinebench tests, the AMD chip's advantage is remarkably stable, hovering between 16.3% and 16.7%.

The Intel Core i5-5300U's victories are far more dramatic in percentage terms. In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel chip scores 1540 against the AMD's 1060, a 45.3% lead. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel chip scores 791 against the AMD's 441, a 79.4% lead. These are the two largest deltas in the entire comparison. The Intel chip achieves this despite having half the cores of the AMD part, which points to a significant per-core efficiency advantage in Geekbench's workload.

The benchmark data tells a story of specialization. The AMD chip's wins are narrow but consistent — every Cinebench test falls within a tight 16.3% to 16.7% range. The Intel chip's wins are wide but limited to a single benchmark family — the Geekbench margins are 45.3% and 79.4%, far exceeding any Cinebench delta. For users who know which benchmark matters for their software, the choice is straightforward: Cinebench-heavy workloads go to AMD, Geekbench-heavy workloads go to Intel.

The overall win count favors AMD at 5 wins versus Intel's 2 wins, but the average benchmark scores are nearly identical (895 vs 887). This suggests the Geekbench wins carry more weight in the average calculation, or that the benchmark distribution is uneven. Either way, the data supports a workload-specific verdict rather than an overall winner.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. Core count: 2 for Intel versus 4 for AMD. Threads: 4 for both, but Intel uses Hyper-Threading on 2 cores while AMD uses 4 physical cores. Base clock: 2.30 GHz for Intel versus 3.20 GHz for AMD. Boost clock: 2.90 GHz for Intel versus 3.90 GHz for AMD. TDP: 15W for Intel versus 65W for AMD.

Process technology: 14 nm for Intel versus 28 nm for AMD. Foundry: Intel versus GlobalFoundries. Transistors: 1,300 million for Intel versus 2,411 million for AMD. Die size: 82 mm² for Intel versus 245 mm² for AMD. L1 cache: 64 KB per core for Intel versus 256 KB total for AMD. L2 cache: 256 KB per core for Intel versus 4 MB total for AMD. L3 cache: 3 MB shared for Intel versus none for AMD.

Memory bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s for Intel versus 34.1 GB/s for AMD. PCIe: Gen 2 with 12 lanes for Intel versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes for AMD. Integrated graphics: Intel HD 5500 versus Radeon R7. Socket: Intel BGA 1168 versus AMD Socket FM2+. Market segment: Mobile for Intel versus Desktop for AMD. Release date: 2015-02-28 for Intel versus 2015-09-28 for AMD. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $315; the AMD chip has no launch MSRP listed.