AMD A8-3870K vs Intel Core i5-2500S

Comparative analysis of AMD A8-3870K and Intel Core i5-2500S processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps).

AMD A8-3870K

Intel Core i5-2500S

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD A8-3870K

CPU is newer: launch date 11 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 9% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.914 vs 2.684

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	December 2011 vs January 2011
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.914 vs 2.684

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500S

Around 23% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3 GHz
Around 54% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 100 Watt
Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1648 vs 1213
Around 45% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3399 vs 2340
Around 80% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 670 vs 373
Around 68% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1968 vs 1172
6.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 64.965 vs 9.482
Around 78% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.34 vs 0.191
3.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.505 vs 0.4
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 3.83 vs 3.344

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 100 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1648 vs 1213
PassMark - CPU mark	3399 vs 2340
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	670 vs 373
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1968 vs 1172
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	64.965 vs 9.482
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.34 vs 0.191
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.505 vs 0.4
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.83 vs 3.344

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD A8-3870K
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2500S

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1213

1648

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2340

3399

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

373

670

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1172

1968

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.914

2.684

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.482

64.965

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.191

0.34

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.4

1.505

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.344

3.83

Name	AMD A8-3870K	Intel Core i5-2500S
PassMark - Single thread mark	1213	1648
PassMark - CPU mark	2340	3399
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	373	670
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1172	1968
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.914	2.684
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	9.482	64.965
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.191	0.34
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.4	1.505
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	3.344	3.83
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	762
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	1721
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	762
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	1721

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD A8-3870K	Intel Core i5-2500S
Essentials
Architecture codename	Llano	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	December 2011	January 2011
Place in performance rating	2560	2564
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$75
Price now		$74.99
Processor Number		i5-2500S
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		20.88
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	228 mm	216 mm
L1 cache	128 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	1024 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	3 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Transistor count	1178 million	1160 million
Unlocked
Base frequency		2.70 GHz
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI
L3 cache		6144 KB (shared)
Maximum core temperature		69.1°C
Number of threads		4
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066/1333
Max memory channels		2
Maximum memory bandwidth		21 GB/s
Maximum memory size		32 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FM1	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	100 Watt	65 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Device ID		0x102
Graphics base frequency		850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics		Intel® HD Graphics 2000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring