CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4130 and AMD PRO A8-9600 are both active desktop processors that land in the same performance tier, but they achieve their results through fundamentally different designs. The benchmark data shows a remarkably tight race, with the Intel part winning all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, yet the margins are so narrow that the two CPUs effectively trade blows within a single percentage point across the board.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking aspect of this comparison is how closely the two processors match each other in every single test. The Intel Core i3-4130 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, but the largest margin is a mere 0.6% in Cinebench R20 single-core. That test shows the Intel part scoring 168 against the AMD's 167. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Intel part scores 285 versus 284 for the AMD PRO A8-9600, a 0.4% advantage. The Cinebench R20 multi-core result is nearly identical, with Intel at 1189 and AMD at 1184, again a 0.4% delta. The Cinebench R23 tests follow the same pattern: multi-core shows Intel at 2833 versus 2820 (0.5% lead), and single-core shows Intel at 400 versus 398 (0.5% lead).

These margins are so small that they fall well within normal run-to-run variance for any benchmark suite. The average benchmark scores confirm the parity: the Intel Core i3-4130 averages 975 across its benchmark set, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 averages 971. That is a 0.4% difference in average score. Both processors sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they perform better than roughly a quarter of all processors tracked. The nearest rival lists reinforce this picture. The Intel part's closest competitors include the AMD Athlon X4 840, Intel Core i3-4150T, and AMD A10-7870K, all with an average score of 975 and a 0% delta. The AMD PRO A8-9600's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-2400S at 968 (0.3% delta) and AMD Ryzen 7 3700U at 968 (0.4% delta), with the AMD A10-7870K at 975 (-0.4%) and the Intel Core i3-4130 itself at 975 (-0.4%).

The data suggests that in raw compute throughput, these two processors are effectively indistinguishable. The Intel part holds a slight edge in every test, but no workload would show a meaningful difference between them. What separates them is not performance but the platform and architectural characteristics around the silicon.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-4130 is built on the Haswell architecture, fabricated on Intel's 22 nm process node. It contains 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD PRO A8-9600 uses the Excavator architecture, built on GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process, with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The AMD part packs more than double the transistor count and a substantially larger die, yet it still cannot outrun the older Intel design.

Core configuration differs significantly. The Intel Core i3-4130 has 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz with no boost clock. The AMD PRO A8-9600 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, running at a base clock of 3.10 GHz with a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Despite having twice the physical cores, the AMD part matches rather than beats the Intel dual-core in multi-threaded workloads. The cache hierarchy also differs. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 320 KB of L1 cache total and 2 MB of L2 cache total, with no L3 cache at all. The lack of L3 cache on the AMD side is a notable architectural disadvantage that helps explain its performance parity despite more cores.

Memory support provides another differentiator. The Intel Core i3-4130 supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The AMD PRO A8-9600 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a rated memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD part also uses a different socket, AMD Socket AM4, compared to Intel Socket 1150 for the Intel part. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Intel part supports PCIe Gen 3, while the AMD part supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes for CPU only.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Intel Core i3-4130 includes Intel HD 4400 graphics, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 includes Radeon R7 graphics. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier. The release dates show a three-year gap, with the Intel part launching on 2013-08-31 and the AMD part launching on 2016-10-02. Neither part supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz. The AMD part can boost to 3.40 GHz, but the Intel part has no boost capability.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130 leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, Intel scores 168 versus AMD's 167, a 0.6% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 400 versus AMD's 398, a 0.5% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A8-9600's four physical cores give it an advantage in multi-core tests?

A: No. Despite having twice the physical core count, the AMD part loses every multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel wins 285 to 284. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, Intel wins 1189 to 1184. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel wins 2833 to 2820.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD PRO A8-9600 contains 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while the Intel Core i3-4130 contains 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD part has more than double the transistors but a larger process node at 28 nm versus 22 nm.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the AMD PRO A8-9600 supports DDR4 memory, with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Intel Core i3-4130 supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130 has an average benchmark score of 975, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 averages 971. Both sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i3-4130 is the faster processor, but only by a razor-thin margin. Across five Cinebench tests, the Intel part wins every single one, with deltas ranging from 0.4% to 0.6%. The average benchmark score favors Intel by 4 points out of 975, which is a 0.4% difference. The AMD PRO A8-9600 never wins a single head-to-head test, yet its performance is so close that it would be impossible to distinguish the two in real-world use without specialized measurement tools.

However, the choice between these two processors depends on more than raw scores. The AMD PRO A8-9600 offers a newer platform with DDR4 memory support, a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and four physical cores. The Intel Core i3-4130 counters with a more efficient design, using a smaller 22 nm process node and lower 54 W TDP compared to the AMD part's 65 W TDP. The Intel part also has L3 cache, which the AMD part lacks entirely.

For users who already own a DDR3 platform on Intel Socket 1150, the Intel Core i3-4130 is the straightforward choice. It matches or slightly beats the AMD part in every benchmark while consuming less power. For users building on a newer AM4 platform with DDR4 memory, the AMD PRO A8-9600 provides comparable performance with the benefits of a newer memory standard and two additional physical cores, even if those cores do not translate into benchmark wins.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i3-4130 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: 3.40 GHz for Intel versus 3.10 GHz for AMD, with the AMD part adding a 3.40 GHz boost clock that the Intel part lacks. TDP differs, with Intel at 54 W and AMD at 65 W. Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1150 versus AMD Socket AM4. Process nodes differ: 22 nm for Intel versus 28 nm for AMD. Transistor counts and die sizes differ substantially: 1,400 million transistors on 177 mm² for Intel versus 3,100 million on 250 mm² for AMD.

Cache configurations are entirely different. Intel offers 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. AMD offers 320 KB total L1 and 2 MB total L2, with no L3 cache. Memory support differs: DDR3 for Intel versus DDR4 for AMD, with the AMD part specifying 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe support shows Intel at Gen 3 versus AMD at Gen 3 with 8 lanes for CPU only. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 4400 versus Radeon R7. Release dates differ by roughly three years, with Intel launching on 2013-08-31 and AMD on 2016-10-02. Part numbers also differ: SR1NP for Intel and AD960BAGM44AB for AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-4130 wins every benchmark in the data set. It leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core by 0.4%, Cinebench R20 multi-core by 0.4%, Cinebench R20 single-core by 0.6%, Cinebench R23 multi-core by 0.5%, and Cinebench R23 single-core by 0.5%. It also holds the higher average benchmark score at 975 versus 971. The Intel part achieves this with a lower TDP of 54 W versus 65 W, a smaller die at 177 mm² versus 250 mm², and fewer transistors at 1,400 million versus 3,100 million. The Intel part also provides L3 cache, which the AMD part lacks entirely.

The AMD PRO A8-9600 does not win any benchmark, but it offers advantages in other areas. It supports DDR4 memory with a specified bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, whereas the Intel part is limited to DDR3. It has four physical cores, which the Intel part cannot match in core count. It uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform, which is a newer socket with longer platform longevity. The AMD part also includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics, which may offer different graphics capabilities than Intel HD 4400, though the data does not include graphics benchmarks. The AMD part's boost clock of 3.40 GHz matches the Intel part's base clock, and its higher transistor count and die size suggest a more complex silicon design.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the Intel Core i3-4130 is the pick. For users prioritizing platform modernity with DDR4 support and a four-core configuration, the AMD PRO A8-9600 offers a compelling alternative, even if it trails slightly in every measured benchmark.