AMD PRO A8-8650B vs Intel Pentium G4600T Comparison

The data is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A8-8650B wins every single benchmark recorded in this comparison, taking all five head-to-head tests by margins between 4.7% and 4.9%. The Intel Pentium G4600T, despite its newer 14 nm Kaby Lake architecture and lower 35 W TDP, finishes behind the older 28 nm Steamroller part in every workload measured. For any user choosing strictly on performance, the AMD PRO A8-8650B is the correct pick. The Intel chip is not without merit — it matches the AMD part in overall percentile ranking (both sit at the 24th percentile of all CPUs) and offers a dramatically lower thermal envelope — but there is no benchmark result in this data set where the Pentium comes out ahead. The verdict is simple: the AMD PRO A8-8650B wins on performance; the Intel Pentium G4600T wins on efficiency and platform modernity.

The Verdict

The AMD PRO A8-8650B is the faster processor in this pairing, and the margin is consistent across every test. It leads by 4.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (275 vs 262), by 4.9% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1148 vs 1092), by 4.9% in Cinebench R20 single-core (162 vs 154), by 4.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (2734 vs 2602), and by 4.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core (386 vs 367). These are not isolated wins — the AMD part is uniformly ahead, which suggests a genuine performance advantage rather than benchmark-specific noise.

However, the Intel Pentium G4600T is not without its own case. It draws only 35 W compared to the AMD part's 65 W, which means it can be cooled more easily and integrated into more compact systems. It also uses DDR4 memory and sits on the Intel Socket 1151 platform, which is a newer ecosystem than the AMD Socket FM2+ that the PRO A8-8650B requires. For users who prioritize power consumption and platform longevity over raw compute, the Pentium is the sensible choice. For users who need the last few percentage points of Cinebench performance, the AMD part is the only option that delivers.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins in every single benchmark category recorded. This includes both multi-core and single-core tests, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The largest margin is 4.9%, seen in Cinebench R20 single-core (162 vs 154) and Cinebench R23 single-core (386 vs 367). The smallest margin is 4.7%, in Cinebench R15 multi-core (275 vs 262). There is no workload in the data where the Intel Pentium G4600T takes the lead.

The Intel Pentium G4600T's wins are not in benchmarks but in platform attributes. It has a 35 W TDP versus the AMD part's 65 W, making it the lower-power option by a wide margin. It also supports DDR4 memory with a higher theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, compared to the AMD part's DDR3 support at 34.1 GB/s. For a compact desktop or a system where heat output and power draw are critical constraints, the Pentium is the better fit. The data does not show any performance scenario where the Intel part wins, but its efficiency profile is a clear advantage in the right context.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The Intel Pentium G4600T is built on Kaby Lake, a 14 nm architecture fabricated by Intel, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B uses Steamroller, a 28 nm design produced by GlobalFoundries. This is a two-generation process node gap, and it explains much of the power consumption difference: the Intel part draws 35 W versus the AMD part's 65 W.

Core and thread counts differ as well. The Intel chip has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD chip has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD part also has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, whereas the Intel part is fixed at 3.00 GHz with no boost capability. Cache configurations are also distinct: the Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 256 KB of L1 total and 4 MB of L2 total, with no L3 cache at all.

Memory support is another major divider. The Intel Pentium G4600T uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD PRO A8-8650B uses DDR3 with dual-channel support and a theoretical bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both processors have the same PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes from the CPU) and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel HD 630 on the Pentium versus Radeon R7 on the AMD part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B wins all multi-core tests. It leads by 4.7% in Cinebench R15 (275 vs 262), by 4.9% in Cinebench R20 (1148 vs 1092), and by 4.8% in Cinebench R23 (2734 vs 2602).

Q: Does the Intel Pentium G4600T have any performance advantage at all?

A: No. Across all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD PRO A8-8650B wins every single test. The Intel part's advantages are in power draw (35 W vs 65 W) and memory type (DDR4 vs DDR3), not in benchmark scores.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The AMD PRO A8-8650B leads by 4.9% in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 162 versus 154; in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 386 versus 367.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall CPU ranking?

A: Both sit at the 24th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Pentium G4600T has an average benchmark score of 895, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B has an average score of 887.

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600T supports DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, which is higher than the AMD PRO A8-8650B's DDR3 bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Pentium G4600T is listed as Active, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B is End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD PRO A8-8650B's clean sweep is the defining feature of this comparison. The smallest victory comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD part scores 275 against the Intel's 262, a 4.7% margin. The largest margins are all 4.9%, appearing in Cinebench R20 single-core (162 vs 154), Cinebench R20 multi-core (1148 vs 1092), and Cinebench R23 single-core (386 vs 367). Cinebench R23 multi-core falls in between at 4.8% (2734 vs 2602).

These margins are remarkably consistent, hovering just under 5% across all tests. This uniformity suggests the AMD part's advantage is structural — likely stemming from its higher base clock (3.20 GHz vs 3.00 GHz) and additional physical cores (4 vs 2), even though both chips have 4 threads. The Intel part's newer architecture and 14 nm process node do not translate into a performance lead in these workloads.

It is also worth remembering the AMD PRO A8-8650B has additional benchmark data not available for the Intel part. In Geekbench, the AMD chip scores 1060 multi-core and 441 single-core. These scores are not part of the direct head-to-head comparison, but they reinforce the picture of a capable budget desktop processor. The Intel Pentium G4600T has no Geekbench results in the data pack, so no direct comparison can be made on that test.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Pentium G4600T | AMD PRO A8-8650B |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Steamroller |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not listed | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 245 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 630 | Radeon R7 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2015-09-28 |

| Part Number | SR35R | AD865BYBI44JC |

The specification table highlights the generational divide. The Intel part is newer (released 2017 vs 2015), smaller (14 nm vs 28 nm), and more power-efficient (35 W vs 65 W). The AMD part counters with more cores (4 vs 2), a higher base clock (3.20 GHz vs 3.00 GHz), a boost clock (3.90 GHz), and a larger total cache (4 MB L2 vs 3 MB L3). Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both support dual-channel memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. ECC memory is not supported by either. The Intel part's DDR4 support gives it a higher theoretical memory bandwidth, but the AMD part's benchmark wins show that bandwidth advantage does not translate into Cinebench performance.