AMD PRO A8-9600 vs Intel Xeon W5590 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusual matchup: the Intel Xeon W5590, a server/workstation processor from 2009, and the AMD PRO A8-9600, a desktop part from 2016, land within a hair of each other in every recorded test. The Intel Xeon W5590 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are consistently thin, ranging from 1.2% to 1.7%. The average benchmark scores reflect this near-parity: the Xeon W5590 sits at 986, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 records 971, a difference of roughly 1.5%.

The database shows the Xeon W5590 in the 27th percentile of all CPUs, with the AMD part just one point lower at the 26th percentile. Neither processor can be described as a performance leader in the current landscape, but each has a distinct profile. The Xeon W5590 is the pick for workloads that benefit from simultaneous multithreading, as its 8 threads give it a structural advantage over the AMD part's 4 threads. The AMD PRO A8-9600, however, brings a modern socket, DDR4 memory support, and integrated Radeon R7 graphics, features that the Intel part lacks entirely.

For a system builder with an existing Socket 1366 platform, the Xeon W5590 offers a marginal performance edge across the board. For a new build on Socket AM4, the AMD PRO A8-9600 provides a more contemporary feature set, including PCIe Gen 3 and onboard graphics, at the cost of a small performance deficit. The data does not favor either processor decisively; it favors the platform context.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon W5590 is built on the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Gainestown, using a 45 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The die contains 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² footprint. It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.33 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The cache hierarchy is generous: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 over a triple-channel bus, yielding 32.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and the part supports ECC memory. It runs on Intel Socket 1366 with PCIe Gen 2 and carries a 130 W TDP. The launch MSRP is $1600. It is end-of-life, with a release date in August 2009.

The AMD PRO A8-9600 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, manufactured on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The transistor count is 3,100 million, spread across a 250 mm² die. It offers 4 cores and 4 threads, so no multithreading, with a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Cache is smaller: 320 KB of L1 total and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, providing 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, which is higher than the Intel part despite the narrower bus. ECC memory is not supported. The socket is AMD Socket AM4, with PCIe Gen 3 limited to 8 lanes from the CPU. Integrated Radeon R7 graphics are present, a feature entirely absent from the Xeon W5590. The TDP is a modest 65 W, less than half that of the Intel chip. It remains in production, with an October 2016 release date.

The architectural gap is wide. The Xeon W5590 is a high-TDP server part with triple-channel memory and ECC support, designed for reliability and memory bandwidth. The AMD PRO A8-9600 is a low-power desktop APU with integrated graphics, dual-channel DDR4, and a modern socket. The performance parity in Cinebench, despite these differences, is the most striking aspect of the recorded data.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon W5590 wins every recorded benchmark, but the margin is never large. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 288 against 284, a 1.4% lead. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 1204 and 1184, a 1.7% edge. The single-core tests follow the same pattern: R20 single-core shows 169 versus 167, a 1.2% gap, and R23 single-core shows 404 versus 398, a 1.5% gap. The largest relative advantage, 1.7%, appears in both R20 multi-core and R23 multi-core.

The AMD PRO A8-9600 does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head set. However, it wins in areas not captured by Cinebench scores. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics mean the system can output video without a discrete GPU, which the Xeon W5590 cannot do at all. The memory bandwidth is higher at 38.4 GB/s versus 32.0 GB/s, and the memory is DDR4, which is a more modern standard. The TDP of 65 W versus 130 W makes the AMD part far easier to cool and power in a compact desktop chassis. The production status is active, meaning availability is not constrained by end-of-life status.

For a pure CPU compute workload, the Xeon W5590 is the winner in every measured case. For a system where graphics output, power draw, and modern platform features matter, the AMD PRO A8-9600 has the clear functional advantages.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 is faster in all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core it scores 288 versus 284, and in R20 multi-core it scores 1204 versus 1184, a 1.7% difference. In R23 multi-core, it scores 2867 versus 2820, also a 1.7% edge.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A8-9600 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD PRO A8-9600 includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon W5590 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for video output on that platform.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 supports ECC memory, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 does not. The Xeon also uses triple-channel DDR3, while the AMD part uses dual-channel DDR4.

Q: What are the TDPs of these two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 has a TDP of 130 W, and the AMD PRO A8-9600 has a TDP of 65 W. The AMD part draws less than half the power of the Intel part.

Q: How close are the average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 has an average benchmark score of 986, and the AMD PRO A8-9600 has an average of 971. The closest rival to the Xeon is the Intel Core i7-875K at 984, a 0.2% delta, and the closest rival to the AMD part is the AMD A10-7870K at 975, a -0.4% delta.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon W5590 has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD PRO A8-9600 has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The base clocks are 3.33 GHz and 3.10 GHz, respectively.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The five head-to-head results form a consistent pattern: the Intel Xeon W5590 leads in every test, but by margins that would be imperceptible in real-world use. The smallest gap is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon scores 169 and the AMD part scores 167, a 1.2% difference. The largest gaps, 1.7%, appear in both Cinebench R20 multi-core and Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Breaking down the multi-core results, the Xeon's advantage in threaded workloads is likely tied to its 8 threads versus 4 threads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon posts 288 against 284, a 1.4% lead. In R20 multi-core, the gap widens slightly to 1204 versus 1184. In R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 2867 and the AMD part scores 2820. The margins remain small despite the architectural differences, suggesting that the Excavator cores in the AMD part are more efficient per clock, or that the memory bandwidth difference compensates for the lack of multithreading.

Single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon leads 169 to 167, a 1.2% edge. In R23 single-core, the Xeon leads 404 to 398, a 1.5% edge. The higher boost clock of the Xeon, 3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, likely contributes to this small but consistent advantage.

The database places the Xeon W5590 at the 27th percentile of all CPUs and the AMD PRO A8-9600 at the 26th percentile. Their nearest rivals confirm the performance tier. The Xeon's closest neighbor is the Intel Core i7-875K with an average score of 984, a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i3-4130T also at 984. The AMD part's nearest neighbor is the AMD A10-7870K at 975, a -0.4% delta, with the Intel Core i3-4130 at 975 as well. These rival scores show that both processors sit in a dense cluster of mid-range parts from different eras.

The wins for the Xeon W5590 are unambiguous in the recorded data, with 5 wins and 0 losses. However, the magnitude of those wins, never exceeding 1.7%, means that the choice between these two processors should be driven by platform needs rather than raw performance. The Xeon W5590 offers ECC memory, triple-channel bandwidth, and 8 threads. The AMD PRO A8-9600 offers integrated graphics, DDR4 support, a 65 W TDP, and an active production status. The benchmark scores are nearly identical; the feature sets are not.