AMD A10-5800B vs Intel Core i3-7100 Comparison

# Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two desktop processors into very different roles. The AMD A10-5800B, a 2012-era quad-core part, does not win a single recorded benchmark against the Intel Core i3-7100. The Intel chip takes both available head-to-head tests, and the margin is substantial in each case. However, the story is not simply about which processor is faster; it is about what each design prioritizes.

The AMD A10-5800B belongs to the Trinity generation, built on the Piledriver architecture. It offers four physical cores and four threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Its integrated graphics, the Radeon HD 7660D, is a notable feature for a desktop APU of its era. The processor targets systems where CPU and GPU sit in a single package, reducing the need for a discrete graphics card. Its 100 W TDP and support for DDR3 memory indicate a platform designed for mainstream builds in the early 2010s.

The Intel Core i3-7100, released in January 2017, is a Kaby Lake dual-core part with Hyper-Threading, giving it four threads. Its base clock is 3.90 GHz, and it has no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency. The 14 nm process node and 51 W TDP make it far more power-efficient on paper. It supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, which is notably higher than the AMD part's 29.9 GB/s. The Intel HD 630 integrated graphics handle display output, though the A10-5800B's Radeon HD 7660D is likely the stronger GPU solution for gaming without a discrete card.

Where each one wins, then, is a question of workload. The AMD A10-5800B wins in the context of an all-in-one APU package, where the integrated GPU matters more than raw CPU throughput. The Intel Core i3-7100 wins in every recorded CPU benchmark, especially in single-threaded performance, which the Geekbench scores show with clarity. For users running lightly threaded applications, or for those who value a modern platform with DDR4 and PCIe Gen 3, the Intel chip is the clear choice. For users who need a single chip that can handle both processing and graphics in a legacy AM2 socket motherboard, the AMD part retains a purpose.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Geekbench score?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 scores 722 in Geekbench single-core, while the AMD A10-5800B scores 459. That is a 36.4% advantage for Intel.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core performance?

A: In Geekbench multi-core, the Intel Core i3-7100 scores 1501, and the AMD A10-5800B scores 1128. The Intel chip leads by 24.9%.

Q: Does the AMD A10-5800B have more physical cores?

A: Yes, the AMD A10-5800B has four physical cores and four threads. The Intel Core i3-7100 has two physical cores but four threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-7100 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD A10-5800B supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD A10-5800B is listed as end-of-life, while the Intel Core i3-7100 is listed as active.

Q: Do both processors have unlocked multipliers?

A: No, neither the AMD A10-5800B nor the Intel Core i3-7100 has an unlocked multiplier.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers two Geekbench tests, and the Intel Core i3-7100 wins both. The first is Geekbench multi-core, where the Intel chip scores 1501 against the AMD A10-5800B's 1128. The delta is 24.9%, meaning the AMD part trails by nearly a quarter of the Intel score. This is a significant gap, and it suggests that even though the AMD chip has four physical cores, its older Piledriver architecture and lower memory bandwidth (29.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s) hold it back in multi-threaded workloads.

The second test is Geekbench single-core, and here the Intel advantage is even larger. The Core i3-7100 scores 722, while the A10-5800B scores 459. That is a 36.4% deficit for AMD. Single-core performance is heavily dependent on instructions per clock and architecture efficiency, and Kaby Lake's 14 nm process and modern core design far outclass the 32 nm Piledriver design from 2012. The Intel chip's fixed 3.90 GHz clock, while not as high as the AMD part's 4.20 GHz boost, delivers far more work per cycle.

Looking at the broader benchmark averages, the two chips sit close in the database's aggregate scoring. The AMD A10-5800B has an average benchmark score of 794, and the Intel Core i3-7100 has an average of 781. That is a difference of about 1.7% in favor of AMD, but this aggregate includes only the Geekbench tests for the AMD part, while the Intel chip has additional Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 results that pull its average down. In direct head-to-head Geekbench comparisons, Intel wins clearly.

The nearest rivals for each chip further contextualize the results. The AMD A10-5800B sits near the AMD A6-9400 (average score 794, delta -0.1%) and the AMD A10-7850K (average score 796, delta -0.3%), indicating that its performance is typical for its class. The Intel Core i3-7100 is close to the AMD A10-5800K (average score 778, delta 0.4%) and the Intel Pentium G4520 (average score 778, delta 0.4%), showing that it competes with both AMD and Intel parts in the same performance tier. The percentile ranking for both chips is 21, meaning they sit in the lower fifth of all CPUs in the database.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The AMD A10-5800B has four cores and four threads, while the Intel Core i3-7100 has two cores and four threads. The AMD chip's base clock is 3.80 GHz with a boost clock of 4.20 GHz; the Intel chip has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and no boost clock. TDP is a major distinction: the AMD part draws 100 W, while the Intel part draws 51 W.

The sockets are incompatible. The AMD A10-5800B uses AMD Socket FM2, while the Intel Core i3-7100 uses Intel Socket 1151. Memory support differs as well: the AMD chip uses DDR3, and the Intel chip uses DDR4. Both have dual-channel memory buses, but the memory bandwidth is higher for Intel at 38.4 GB/s versus AMD's 29.9 GB/s.

PCIe support also diverges. The AMD A10-5800B uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Intel Core i3-7100 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available to the CPU. The integrated graphics differ: AMD pairs its CPU with the Radeon HD 7660D, while Intel uses the HD 630. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The production status is another clear difference. The AMD A10-5800B is end-of-life, while the Intel Core i3-7100 is active. The release dates are separated by more than four years: the AMD part launched in October 2012, and the Intel part in January 2017.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is wide. The AMD A10-5800B is built on the Piledriver architecture, with the codename Trinity. It uses a 32 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries, with 1,303 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. Its cache layout includes 192 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of shared L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel Core i3-7100, by contrast, uses the Kaby Lake architecture, also known as Kaby Lake, on a 14 nm process node from Intel. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Intel chip. Its cache is organized differently: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache.

The process node difference is stark: 32 nm versus 14 nm. That alone explains much of the power and efficiency gap, as the Intel chip delivers higher performance at roughly half the TDP (51 W versus 100 W). The AMD chip's reliance on shared L2 cache without L3 is an older design choice, while the Intel chip's per-core L1 and L2 plus a shared L3 is a more modern topology.

Memory architecture further separates the two. The AMD A10-5800B supports DDR3, which caps its memory bandwidth at 29.9 GB/s. The Intel Core i3-7100 supports DDR4, achieving 38.4 GB/s. In memory-sensitive workloads, this bandwidth advantage compounds the Intel chip's architectural lead.

The integrated graphics also reflect their respective eras. The AMD Radeon HD 7660D is a more capable GPU relative to its time, fitting for an APU that aimed to replace a discrete graphics card in budget builds. The Intel HD 630 is a basic iGPU, sufficient for desktop tasks and light media playback but not a gaming solution. The AMD part's 100 W TDP likely accommodates the stronger GPU block, whereas Intel's 51 W TDP keeps the whole package lean.

In terms of platform features, the Intel chip's PCIe Gen 3 support and DDR4 memory make it compatible with modern motherboards and storage devices, while the AMD chip's PCIe Gen 2 and DDR3 tie it to an older ecosystem. The Intel part also benefits from a newer production status, remaining active in the market, while the AMD part is end-of-life. The data shows a generational leap in efficiency, memory bandwidth, and single-thread performance, even if the AMD chip retains a physical core count advantage that helps in some multi-threaded tasks.