AMD A10-6800K vs AMD PRO A10-8750B Comparison

AMD’s two quad-core desktop APUs, the PRO A10-8750B and the A10-6800K, represent different generations of the company’s hybrid architecture. The benchmark data available for direct comparison is limited to Geekbench tests, but the results are decisive: the older A10-6800K holds a clear performance lead in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The PRO A10-8750B, despite being a newer part, does not close the gap in these metrics, making the A10-6800K the stronger choice for users prioritizing raw CPU throughput in legacy applications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct head-to-head comparison between these two processors comes from Geekbench, and the results consistently favor the AMD A10-6800K. In the multi-core test, the A10-6800K scores 1140, while the PRO A10-8750B trails at 985. This translates to a delta of -13.6% for the PRO chip, meaning the A10-6800K is approximately 15.7% faster in multi-threaded performance. This is a substantial margin for two processors with the same core and thread count, indicating that the older Piledriver architecture’s higher clock speeds provide a tangible advantage.

The single-core Geekbench result tells a similar story. The A10-6800K scores 478, against 416 for the PRO A10-8750B. The delta here is -13%, again favoring the A10-6800K. This consistent ~13% advantage across both tests suggests that the A10-6800K’s higher base clock of 4.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz directly translate into superior performance per core, even though the PRO chip is built on a newer 28 nm process. For legacy software that relies heavily on single-threaded performance, this difference will be noticeable.

It is worth remembering the PRO A10-8750B has additional benchmark data from Cinebench (R15, R20, R23) that the A10-6800K lacks. However, without a direct A10-6800K result for those tests, a head-to-head comparison cannot be drawn from the data. In the only common benchmark suite, the A10-6800K wins both available tests, securing 2 wins out of 2 in the head-to-head category. The PRO A10-8750B does not win a single direct comparison, making the performance hierarchy unambiguous in this matchup.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD A10-6800K is faster. It achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 1140, while the AMD PRO A10-8750B scores 985. This gives the A10-6800K a 13.6% lead in this test.

Q: Is there a difference in single-core performance?

A: Yes, the A10-6800K also wins here. It scores 478 in Geekbench single-core, compared to 416 for the PRO A10-8750B, a 13% advantage.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread configuration?

A: Yes, both the AMD PRO A10-8750B and the AMD A10-6800K have 4 cores and 4 threads. Their performance differences come from other architectural factors, not core counts.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between the two?

A: The PRO A10-8750B has a TDP of 95 watts, while the A10-6800K has a slightly higher TDP of 100 watts. The A10-6800K uses more power but delivers higher benchmark scores.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The A10-6800K has higher clocks, with a base of 4.10 GHz and a boost of 4.40 GHz. The PRO A10-8750B operates at a 3.60 GHz base and a 4.00 GHz boost clock.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, the A10-6800K features an unlocked multiplier. The PRO A10-8750B does not have an unlocked multiplier, so its overclocking potential is limited compared to the K-series part.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-6800K is the clear winner in raw CPU performance based on the available data. Its 13% and 13.6% leads in Geekbench single-core and multi-core tests, respectively, make it the better choice for general-purpose computing, older games, and applications that rely heavily on CPU frequency. The higher 4.10 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost clocks are significant advantages in workloads that do not scale perfectly with additional cores, such as many legacy titles and single-threaded productivity software. Furthermore, its unlocked multiplier gives it headroom for manual overclocking, potentially extending its lead even further.

The AMD PRO A10-8750B, despite losing the head-to-head, still holds some cards. It is a newer design on a 28 nm process, which typically implies better power efficiency per clock. Its 95-watt TDP is 5 watts lower than the A10-6800K’s 100-watt rating, making it a slightly more power-conscious option for compact builds. It also features PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes, whereas the A10-6800K is limited to PCIe Gen 2. For users with modern SSDs or graphics cards that benefit from PCIe Gen 3 bandwidth, the PRO chip offers better connectivity. Its integrated Radeon R7 graphics are also a generational step up from the Radeon HD 8670D in the A10-6800K, though the data does not provide direct graphics benchmarks to quantify this.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The PRO A10-8750B has a lower base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the A10-6800K’s 4.10 GHz and 4.40 GHz. The PRO chip uses a 95-watt TDP, while the A10-6800K is rated at 100 watts. They also use different sockets: the PRO A10-8750B fits AMD Socket FM2+, while the A10-6800K uses AMD Socket FM2, meaning they are not directly interchangeable on the same motherboard.

Memory support is identical in capacity and bandwidth, with both supporting dual-channel DDR3 at 34.1 GB/s, and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ, with the PRO A10-8750B featuring Radeon R7 and the A10-6800K featuring Radeon HD 8670D. The PRO chip also has a larger L1 cache at 256 KB versus 192 KB, though both share a 4 MB L2 cache. The PRO A10-8750B is not multiplier-unlocked, whereas the A10-6800K is. Finally, the PRO A10-8750B was released later, on 2015-09-28, while the A10-6800K launched on 2013-05-31.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are two distinct generations of AMD’s APU design. The PRO A10-8750B is based on the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, manufactured on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. In contrast, the A10-6800K uses the older Piledriver architecture, codenamed Richland, built on a larger 32 nm process. This older chip packs 1,303 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, which is nearly the same physical size despite having significantly fewer transistors. The 28 nm node allows the PRO chip to integrate more transistors in the same space, potentially enabling more complex logic, yet the benchmark results show that the A10-6800K’s higher clocks overcome any architectural efficiency gains.

The PRO A10-8750B’s Steamroller core design is generally more efficient per clock than Piledriver, but the data shows a 13% deficit in Geekbench scores, which suggests that the clock speed advantage of the A10-6800K is too large to overcome. The L1 cache is larger on the PRO chip (256 KB vs 192 KB), but the L2 cache is identical at 4 MB. Neither processor has L3 cache or 3D V-Cache. The PRO chip also supports PCIe Gen 3, a newer standard than the A10-6800K’s PCIe Gen 2, which is a connectivity feature rather than a CPU core architectural change. The integrated graphics also reflect a generational shift from Radeon HD 8670D to Radeon R7, though no direct GPU benchmark data is provided for comparison.

The Verdict

Choosing between these two comes down to what you value more: raw CPU performance or platform modernity. The AMD A10-6800K is the decisive winner in the available benchmark data. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 1140 and single-core score of 478 are 13.6% and 13% higher, respectively, than the PRO A10-8750B’s scores of 985 and 416. For any user running CPU-bound tasks, the A10-6800K is the superior choice. Its unlocked multiplier also allows for manual overclocking, which could widen the gap further.

The PRO A10-8750B is not without merit. It offers a newer 28 nm process, a lower 95-watt TDP, PCIe Gen 3 support, and a more modern integrated GPU. However, the data does not show any CPU benchmark where it wins. If your primary concern is processor performance in applications that rely on clock speed and core efficiency, the A10-6800K is the better pick. If you need the lower power draw and newer platform features like PCIe Gen 3, the PRO chip is a reasonable alternative, but you must accept a significant performance compromise. For most builders, the A10-6800K’s benchmark dominance makes it the clear recommendation.