AMD PRO A8-8650B vs Intel Core i7-3540M Comparison

The AMD PRO A8-8650B and Intel Core i7-3540M represent two very different approaches to desktop and mobile computing, respectively. The AMD part is a 28 nm Steamroller desktop chip, while the Intel is a 22 nm Ivy Bridge mobile processor. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear split: the AMD PRO A8-8650B dominates in Cinebench workloads, winning all five of those tests, while the Intel Core i7-3540M counters with decisive victories in both Geekbench tests. This creates an interesting profile where the AMD chip excels in one rendering suite, but the Intel chip takes the crown in another. The average benchmark scores are close, 887 for the AMD versus 867 for the Intel, placing both in the lower quartile of all CPUs, at the 24th and 23rd percentiles respectively. The following analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, architecture, and specifications to determine which processor wins in specific use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the AMD PRO A8-8650B's consistent sweep of the Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 275 against the Intel's 254, a delta of 8.3%. This margin repeats almost exactly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the AMD hits 1148 versus 1060, again an 8.3% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multicore test shows the same story: 2734 for the AMD against 2525 for the Intel, another 8.3% lead. Even in single-core Cinebench tests, where Intel chips traditionally hold an edge, the AMD PRO A8-8650B comes out ahead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD scores 162 versus 149, an 8.7% win, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 386 versus 356, a 8.4% margin. This is a complete sweep of the Cinebench suite, indicating the AMD processor's architecture has a specific strength in these rendering workloads.

The Intel Core i7-3540M, however, fights back in the Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel scores 1160 against the AMD's 1060, a significant 8.6% victory. The gap widens dramatically in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel posts 565 versus the AMD's 441, a substantial 21.9% lead. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head comparison. The Geekbench results suggest that the Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture has superior per-core performance in integer and floating-point tasks that Geekbench measures, while the AMD's Steamroller design is better optimized for the Cinebench rendering engine.

Looking at the broader picture, the AMD PRO A8-8650B's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium G4560T, Intel Xeon X5550, Intel Core i7-860, and Intel Core i3-6100, all with average scores between 886 and 888. The AMD's average of 887 places it exactly level with the Pentium G4560T, with a 0% delta, and just 0.1% above the Core i7-860. The Intel Core i7-3540M, meanwhile, sits near the Intel Xeon X3460 (866, 0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-3470T (863, 0.4% delta), Intel Atom C5315 (871, -0.5% delta), and AMD Athlon PRO 3045B (872, -0.6% delta). The Intel mobile chip's average of 867 is slightly lower than the AMD's, but the distribution of wins is what matters most.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins 5 out of 7 benchmarks, taking every Cinebench test (R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core). The Intel Core i7-3540M wins the remaining 2 tests, which are both Geekbench runs.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the head-to-head data?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i7-3540M leads the AMD PRO A8-8650B by 21.9%, scoring 565 versus 441.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two CPUs?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has an average benchmark score of 887, while the Intel Core i7-3540M has an average of 867. The AMD is slightly ahead, but both fall in the lower percentiles of all CPUs: the AMD at the 24th percentile and the Intel at the 23rd percentile.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the scores are nearly identical?

A: No, every benchmark in the head-to-head set shows a clear winner. The closest margins are in the Cinebench tests, where the AMD wins by a consistent 8.3% to 8.7%. The Geekbench multicore test has a larger 8.6% margin for the Intel, and the Geekbench single-core test has the largest margin at 21.9%.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-3540M's boost clock of 3.70 GHz. This does not translate to a win in Geekbench single-core, however.

Q: What is the difference in the number of cores?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B has 4 physical cores with 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-3540M has 2 physical cores but supports 4 threads through Hyper-Threading technology. Both processors present 4 threads to the operating system.

Architecture Differences

The AMD PRO A8-8650B is built on the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, using a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-3540M uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, also with the codename Ivy Bridge, on a smaller 22 nm process at Intel. The Intel die size is 118 mm², and the transistor count is not listed in the database. The process node difference is notable: 28 nm for AMD versus 22 nm for Intel, which typically allows for better power efficiency on the Intel side, though the AMD chip is a desktop part and the Intel is a mobile part.

Cache structures differ significantly. The AMD PRO A8-8650B has a total L1 cache of 256 KB and an L2 cache of 4 MB, with no L3 cache present. The Intel Core i7-3540M has a smaller per-core L1 cache at 64 KB per core, a 256 KB per core L2, but adds a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The presence of L3 cache on the Intel part can help with frequently accessed data, while the AMD relies on its larger L2 cache. The memory support is DDR3 for both, with a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database. Neither supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics also differ: the AMD PRO A8-8650B includes a Radeon R7 GPU, while the Intel Core i7-3540M includes Intel HD 4000. The AMD part also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Intel's PCIe configuration is not listed. The AMD is a desktop socket FM2+ part, while the Intel uses the mobile socket G2 (988B). The Intel was released in January 2013, and the AMD was released in September 2015. The AMD is marked as end-of-life, while the Intel's production status is not specified.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD PRO A8-8650B has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i7-3540M has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for the AMD and 3.00 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks are 3.90 GHz for the AMD and 3.70 GHz for the Intel. The TDP is a major differentiator: the AMD draws 65 W, while the Intel is rated at just 35 W, reflecting the mobile versus desktop market segmentation.

Cache specifications are different as well. The AMD has 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, with no L3. The Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The process node is 28 nm for AMD and 22 nm for Intel. The die size is 245 mm² for AMD and 118 mm² for Intel. Transistor count is 2,411 million for AMD, with no data for Intel. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for AMD, with no data for Intel. PCIe support is listed for AMD (Gen 3, 16 lanes) but not for Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon R7 for AMD and Intel HD 4000 for Intel. The market segment is Desktop for AMD and Mobile for Intel. The release dates are September 2015 for AMD and January 2013 for Intel. The part numbers are AD865BYBI44JC for AMD and SR0X6 for Intel.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A8-8650B is the clear winner for Cinebench-based workloads. If a user runs Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, the AMD will be roughly 8% faster in both multi-core and single-core tests. This suggests the Steamroller architecture has a specific advantage in rendering and 3D visualization tasks that use the Cinebench engine. The AMD also offers a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) and more physical cores, which can help in multi-threaded applications that are not limited by the specific benchmark suite. The AMD's 65 W TDP is higher, but it is a desktop part, so it likely has a more robust cooling solution available. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics may also provide better GPU performance than Intel HD 4000, though no benchmark data is provided for that comparison.

The Intel Core i7-3540M wins decisively in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance, where it leads by 21.9%. This is a major margin and indicates that for applications relying on per-core speed, such as older games, spreadsheet calculations, or lightly-threaded productivity software, the Intel chip is the better choice. The Geekbench multicore win of 8.6% further shows that the Intel's 2-core/4-thread configuration with a shared L3 cache is more effective in this test suite than the AMD's 4-core/4-thread design. The Intel's 35 W TDP makes it more suitable for laptops and mobile devices, where power consumption and heat dissipation are critical. The smaller 22 nm process and 118 mm² die also suggest better thermal characteristics. For users who prioritize single-thread performance and mobile form factors, the Intel Core i7-3540M is the superior part.

In summary, the AMD PRO A8-8650B is the better choice for Cinebench rendering tasks and multi-core workloads that scale with physical cores, while the Intel Core i7-3540M is the better choice for Geekbench-style general performance, especially single-threaded tasks, and for any application where the 35 W TDP and mobile socket are required. The average scores are close, but the distribution of wins paints a clear picture of two processors with distinct strengths.