AMD PRO A8-9600 vs AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Comparison

The AMD PRO A8-9600 and AMD Ryzen 7 3700U are both AMD processors, but they target completely different computing environments. The PRO A8-9600 is a desktop part built on the aging Excavator architecture, while the Ryzen 7 3700U is a mobile chip based on the newer Zen+ design. Despite their similar average benchmark scores—971 for the PRO A8-9600 and 968 for the Ryzen 7 3700U—the data reveals a stark performance split across different workload types, making the choice between them heavily dependent on the user's platform and priorities. This analysis uses the provided benchmark data to break down where each processor excels, what separates them architecturally, and which one is the right fit for a given scenario.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clear division of labor, though it is heavily skewed in one direction. The Ryzen 7 3700U is the outright performance winner in multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its commanding lead in the Cinebench R15 multicore test. In that specific benchmark, the Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672, while the PRO A8-9600 manages only 284, a massive 57.7% deficit for the desktop chip. This indicates that the Ryzen 7 3700U's simultaneous multithreading (SMT) provides a significant advantage in applications that can utilize more than four threads.

However, the PRO A8-9600 holds its own in single-core performance, where the data is more nuanced. The PRO A8-9600's boost clock of 3.40 GHz is lower than the Ryzen 7 3700U's 4.00 GHz, but the desktop part still posts a higher Cinebench R20 single-core score of 167. The Ryzen 7 3700U has no score for that specific test, but its Cinebench R15 single-core score is 139, and its Geekbench single-core score is 682. This suggests the older Excavator architecture, with its higher base clock of 3.10 GHz, is competitive in lightly-threaded tasks, though the lack of directly comparable single-core benchmarks makes a definitive judgment difficult.

The PRO A8-9600's only clear win is in the average benchmark score comparison, where it edges out the Ryzen 7 3700U by a mere 0.4% (971 vs 968). This is a statistical tie, but it does highlight that the desktop chip is not universally slower. For a user focused on legacy desktop compatibility and basic office tasks, the PRO A8-9600 is functionally adequate, but the data does not support it winning any multi-core benchmark. The Ryzen 7 3700U is the clear winner for any modern, multi-threaded mobile workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are generations apart in design philosophy. The PRO A8-9600 is built on the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, using a 28 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It contains 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. This is a monolithic design with four cores and four threads, meaning it lacks SMT. Its cache hierarchy is relatively modest, with 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, but no L3 cache at all. This lack of L3 cache is a significant architectural limitation, as it forces the CPU to rely more heavily on slower system memory.

In contrast, the Ryzen 7 3700U is a Zen+ architecture part, codenamed Picasso, manufactured on a more advanced 12 nm process. This process shrink allows for a higher transistor count of 4,940 million, packed into a smaller 210 mm² die. The Ryzen 7 3700U has four cores and eight threads, doubling the thread count of the PRO A8-9600 through SMT. Its cache design is more modern, featuring 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. This larger, multi-level cache hierarchy is typical of modern CPUs and helps mitigate memory latency.

The platform support also differs significantly. The PRO A8-9600 uses the AMD Socket AM4, a desktop socket that supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It also provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The Ryzen 7 3700U uses the AMD Socket FP5, a mobile socket, and while it also supports dual-channel DDR4 memory, the factory data does not list its total memory bandwidth. Both processors feature integrated graphics, with the PRO A8-9600 sporting a Radeon R7 and the Ryzen 7 3700U featuring a Radeon Vega 10. The Ryzen 7 3700U's TDP of 15 watts is drastically lower than the PRO A8-9600's 65 watts, reflecting its mobile design intent for battery-powered devices.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is significantly better. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, it scores 672 compared to the PRO A8-9600's 284, a difference of 57.7% in favor of the Ryzen 7 3700U.

Q: Is the PRO A8-9600 faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, the PRO A8-9600 scores 167. However, the Ryzen 7 3700U has no score for this test. The Ryzen 7 3700U does have a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 139 and a Geekbench single-core score of 682.

Q: How many threads does each processor have?

A: The AMD PRO A8-9600 has 4 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has 8 threads. This gives the Ryzen 7 3700U a substantial advantage in multi-threaded workloads.

Q: Do they use the same CPU socket?

A: No. The PRO A8-9600 uses the AMD Socket AM4 (desktop), while the Ryzen 7 3700U uses the AMD Socket FP5 (mobile). They are not interchangeable.

Q: What is the difference in their process nodes?

A: The PRO A8-9600 is built on a 28 nm process, while the Ryzen 7 3700U is built on a 12 nm process. The smaller node for the Ryzen 7 3700U allows for a higher transistor count and better power efficiency.

Q: Which processor has L3 cache?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has L3 cache, which is 4 MB shared. The PRO A8-9600 has no L3 cache, having only L1 and L2 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD PRO A8-9600 | AMD Ryzen 7 3700U |

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

| Architecture | Excavator | Zen+ |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 12 nm |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Cache (L1) | 320 KB | 96 KB (per core) |

| Cache (L2) | 2 MB | 512 KB (per core) |

| Cache (L3) | None | 4 MB (shared) |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 210 mm² |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Radeon Vega 10 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2016-10-02 | 2019-01-05 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the data is the Cinebench R15 multicore test, and it is a decisive victory for the Ryzen 7 3700U. The Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672, while the PRO A8-9600 scores 284. This represents a 57.7% performance deficit for the PRO A8-9600, which is a massive gap that clearly illustrates the generational leap in multi-threaded efficiency and the benefit of having 8 threads versus 4.

Looking at other data points, the Ryzen 7 3700U also shows strength in the Geekbench tests, scoring 2377 in multi-core and 682 in single-core. The PRO A8-9600 has no Geekbench scores listed. In Cinebench R20, the PRO A8-9600 scores 1184 in multi-core and 167 in single-core, while the Ryzen 7 3700U has no scores for that benchmark version. The Ryzen 7 3700U's Cinebench R15 single-core score of 139 is lower than the PRO A8-9600's implied single-core performance based on its R20 score, but the tests are not directly comparable. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the PRO A8-9600 at 971 and the Ryzen 7 3700U at 968, a difference of only 0.4%. This suggests that in a mixed workload, they might perform similarly, but in pure multi-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 7 3700U is far superior.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the choice depends entirely on your platform and workload. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is the clear winner for anyone who needs multi-threaded performance, which is the standard for modern productivity. Its 57.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore is the single biggest performance gap in the comparison. If you are buying a laptop or a low-power mini PC, the Ryzen 7 3700U is the only logical choice, as it offers vastly better multi-core performance in a 15-watt package.

The AMD PRO A8-9600 is not without merit, but its strengths are limited to legacy desktop use. Its higher base clock of 3.10 GHz and its competitive single-core score in Cinebench R20 suggest it can handle basic tasks without issue. It also uses the AM4 socket, which might be useful for someone upgrading an older desktop system. However, its lack of L3 cache, lower thread count, and drastic multi-core deficit make it a poor choice for anything beyond basic office work or legacy applications. The data shows that the PRO A8-9600 is effectively a slightly better version of its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-2400S, by a 0.3% margin, but it is far outclassed in multi-threaded tasks by the Ryzen 7 3700U. For any modern, performance-sensitive workload, the Ryzen 7 3700U is the definitive pick.