Intel Core i5 4570  vs AMD A8 5545M 

For today's demanding programs, sometimes a Dual Core just won't do. Since multi-threaded applications require a lot of power, a Quad Core will perform better and load much faster. For this matchup, we're comparing Quad Cores between a Desktop and a Laptop CPU: the Intel Core i5 4570 versus the AMD A8 5545M.

The 4570 is an i5 desktop processor, which is part of Intel's mainstream Quad Core lineup. It has 3.2 GHz, with 4 threads and 6MB cache. It's quite a beast when it comes to processing power, but its HD4600 GPU is quite weak, and is not recommended for gaming or other graphic intensive applications. This whole package has a power consumption of 84W TDP.

In contrast is the 5545M, a budget Quad Core for laptops based on AMD's Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). It has slower specs in general: clocked at 1.7 GHz, with 4 threads and 4MB cache. But the APU's distinguishing feature is its powerful onboard GPU, which is faster than Intel's stock integrated graphics. Even better, it only consumes 19W TDP of power.

Tests show that the desktop performance of the higher specced 4570 is absolutely superior: it led by 219% in the PassMark test, and by 175% in the Single Core performance benchmark.

In conclusion, choose what best suits your needs: if you're after a performance powerhouse, then opt for the blazing fast Intel Core i5 4570. But if you're looking for a budget Quad Core with improved graphics, then we recommend the great value of the AMD A8 5545M.