AMD PRO A8-8650B vs Intel Core i5-5350U Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data splits these two processors cleanly by workload type. The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head tests, taking every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 result by roughly 19.6% to 19.8%. The Intel Core i5-5350U wins the other 2 tests, and it wins them decisively: Geekbench multicore shows a 57.6% advantage for Intel, while Geekbench singlecore shows a 96.8% advantage. The database places both parts at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores sit close together at 903 for the Intel and 887 for the AMD.

For buyers choosing between these two, the decision rests on the application mix. The AMD PRO A8-8650B is the pick for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, which the Cinebench suite captures. The Intel Core i5-5350U is the pick for single-threaded and memory-sensitive tasks, which the Geekbench suite captures, and its margin there is so large that it overcomes the AMD's Cinebench lead in the overall average score. The Intel's average benchmark score of 903 edges out the AMD's 887, even though the AMD wins more individual tests. That outcome is explained by the scale of the Intel's Geekbench wins versus the narrowness of the AMD's Cinebench wins.

The nearest rival data reinforces this split. The Intel Core i5-5350U sits within 0.6% of the Intel Core i7-940, the Intel Core i5-4258U, the AMD A10-7860K, and the Intel Core i3-4330T. The AMD PRO A8-8650B sits within 0.2% of the Intel Pentium G4560T, the Intel Xeon X5550, the Intel Core i7-860, and the Intel Core i3-6100. Neither part is a performance outlier in its peer group; they are both mid-pack chips whose strengths are workload-specific.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-5350U is a 14 nm part from Intel's Broadwell family, specifically the Broadwell-U mobile variant. It uses 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. The AMD PRO A8-8650B is a 28 nm part from AMD's Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Intel part is built by Intel's own foundry, while the AMD part is built by GlobalFoundries.

Core and thread counts differ. The Intel has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel relies on Hyper-Threading to reach 4 threads, while the AMD uses four physical cores without simultaneous multi-threading. This explains why the AMD wins multi-threaded Cinebench tests despite the Intel's higher single-thread efficiency.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Intel has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The AMD has a total of 256 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2, and no L3 cache at all. The AMD's larger L2 must compensate for the missing L3, and the data shows it does so adequately in Cinebench but not in Geekbench.

Memory bandwidth differs in favor of the AMD. The Intel supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The AMD also supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory but has a recorded bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The AMD's 14% bandwidth advantage does not translate into Geekbench wins, which suggests the Intel's memory controller and cache design are more effective per byte.

The integrated graphics differ: the Intel ships with Intel HD 6000, while the AMD ships with Radeon R7. The PCIe interfaces also differ, with the Intel using Gen 2 with 12 CPU lanes and the AMD using Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The AMD's newer PCIe generation and additional lanes give it an expansion advantage on paper, though the benchmark data does not cover I/O performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are consistent and one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 275 against the Intel's 221, a 19.6% deficit for the Intel. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the AMD scores 1148 against 923, again a 19.6% deficit. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD scores 2734 against 2198, also a 19.6% deficit. The pattern is exact: across three generations of Cinebench, the AMD's multicore advantage stays fixed at 19.6%. The AMD's four physical cores provide a stable throughput advantage over the Intel's two cores with four threads.

The single-core Cinebench results show a similar but slightly larger gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD scores 162 against the Intel's 130, a 19.8% deficit. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 386 against 310, a 19.7% deficit. This is notable because the Intel has a higher boost clock on paper (2.90 GHz versus 3.90 GHz for the AMD), yet the AMD's higher base clock (3.20 GHz) and Steamroller core design win these tests. The AMD's per-core performance in Cinebench is simply stronger, and the data does not support the Intel's architectural advantage in this specific workload.

The Geekbench results reverse the picture dramatically. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel scores 1671 against the AMD's 1060, a 57.6% advantage for the Intel. In Geekbench single-core, the Intel scores 868 against the AMD's 441, a 96.8% advantage. The Intel's single-core Geekbench score is nearly double the AMD's, and the multicore score is over 57% higher despite having half the physical cores. This is the strongest signal in the dataset that Geekbench rewards the Intel's Broadwell architecture far more than Cinebench does.

The wins are split 2 for the Intel and 5 for the AMD, but the magnitude of the Intel's Geekbench wins (57.6% and 96.8%) far exceeds the magnitude of the AMD's Cinebench wins (all near 19.6%). The average benchmark score of 903 for the Intel versus 887 for the AMD reflects this asymmetry. A buyer who runs Geekbench-style workloads should choose the Intel without hesitation. A buyer who runs Cinebench-style rendering workloads should choose the AMD, but the advantage is narrower in percentage terms.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors in the database:

• Cores: Intel 2, AMD 4.
• Threads: Intel 4, AMD 4.
• Base Clock: Intel 1800.00 MHz, AMD 3.20 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Intel 2.90 GHz, AMD 3.90 GHz.
• TDP: Intel 15 W, AMD 65 W.
• Socket: Intel BGA 1168, AMD Socket FM2+.
• Architecture: Broadwell versus Steamroller.
• Codename: Broadwell-U versus Godaveri.
• Generation: Core i5 (Broadwell-U) versus A8 (Godaveri).
• Process Node: 14 nm versus 28 nm.
• Foundry: Intel versus GlobalFoundries.
• Transistors: 1,900 million versus 2,411 million.
• Die Size: 133 mm² versus 245 mm².
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core versus 256 KB total.
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core versus 4 MB total.
• L3 Cache: 3 MB shared versus none.
• Memory Bandwidth: 29.9 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s.
• PCIe: Gen 2, 12 lanes versus Gen 3, 16 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 6000 versus Radeon R7.
• Market Segment: Mobile versus Desktop.
• Release Date: 2015-02-28 versus 2015-09-28.
• Launch MSRP: $315 for the Intel, none recorded for the AMD.
• Part Number: SR268 versus AD865BYBI44JC.

Fields that are identical include DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, non-ECC memory, locked multipliers, end-of-life production status, and a lack of v-cache or total L3 data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i5-5350U has 2 physical cores. Both have 4 threads total, but the Intel reaches that count through Hyper-Threading.

Q: Why does the AMD win Cinebench but lose Geekbench?

A: The database shows the AMD wins all Cinebench tests by 19.6% to 19.8%, while the Intel wins Geekbench multicore by 57.6% and Geekbench single-core by 96.8%. The Cinebench suite favors the AMD's four physical cores, while the Geekbench suite favors the Intel's Broadwell architecture and per-core efficiency.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-5350U has a TDP of 15 W, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B has a TDP of 65 W. The Intel is a mobile part with a much lower power envelope, while the AMD is a desktop part with a significantly higher power draw.

Q: Which processor has the 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. The Intel Core i5-5350U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The AMD is higher on both metrics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-5350U has an average benchmark score of 903, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B has an average score of 887. Both sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, and both have nearest rivals within 0.6% of their average score.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus. The AMD has a higher recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel has 29.9 GB/s. Neither supports ECC memory.