AMD A10-6800K vs Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows no direct head-to-head benchmark overlap between the AMD A10-6800K and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770. The AMD processor carries Geekbench scores, while the Intel processor carries Cinebench scores. This makes a direct score-for-score comparison impossible, but the aggregate data still provides a clear picture. The AMD A10-6800K posts an average benchmark score of 809, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 posts 790. That is a 2.4% gap in favor of the AMD part in the database's overall averaging.

Looking at the AMD A10-6800K specifically, its Geekbench multicore score is 1140, and its single-core score is 478. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770, meanwhile, shows Cinebench R23 multicore at 2295 and single-core at 324. These are different workloads and different rendering engines, so the raw numbers cannot be compared across the two suites. However, the percentile placement is telling: the AMD A10-6800K sits at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 sits at the 21st percentile. That is effectively a statistical tie in overall standing, with the AMD part holding a one-percentile edge.

The nearest rivals for each processor reinforce where they sit. The AMD A10-6800K's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-870S, which matches its 809 average score exactly, a 0% delta. The AMD Athlon X4 850 trails by 0.4% at 806, and the Intel Xeon X5482 also sits at 805, another 0.4% gap. The Intel Core i7-5550U is the only rival ahead, at 813, which is a 0.5% lead over the A10-6800K. For the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770, the nearest rival is the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 at 789, a 0.1% difference. The AMD Opteron 3350 HE also scores 789, another 0.1% gap. The Intel Core i5-4210U and Intel Core i5-3610ME both sit at 788, 0.3% behind.

The data indicates that neither processor dominates its peer group by a wide margin. The AMD part's 809 average is 0.4% ahead of its nearest non-identical rival, while the Intel part's 790 average is 0.1% ahead of its nearest rival. These are marginal differences, suggesting both CPUs are clustered tightly with their contemporaries. The biggest measurable win in the entire comparison is the AMD A10-6800K's average score advantage of 19 points over the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770, which translates to roughly 2.4%. That is the single largest numeric gap in the dataset, and it favors the AMD processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A10-6800K has an average benchmark score of 809, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has 790. The AMD part leads by 19 points.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in overall percentile ranking?

A: The AMD A10-6800K ranks at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 ranks at the 21st percentile. The AMD part holds a one-percentile advantage.

Q: What is the closest rival to each processor?

A: The AMD A10-6800K's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-870S, which matches its 809 average score exactly. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770's closest rival is the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, which scores 789, a 0.1% difference.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD A10-6800K has a base clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz. The AMD part runs 0.90 GHz higher at base.

Q: Does the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 have a boost clock?

A: No, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has no boost clock listed in the data. The AMD A10-6800K has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two processors?

A: Both processors are listed as end-of-life in the database. The AMD A10-6800K was released on 2013-05-31, and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 was released on 2008-03-23.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A10-6800K is built on the Piledriver architecture, specifically the Richland codename, using a 32 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 uses the Core 2 architecture under the Yorkfield codename, on a 45 nm process node from Intel. The process node difference is significant: the AMD part uses a 32 nm process, while the Intel part uses a 45 nm process, meaning the AMD chip is fabricated on a more recent, denser manufacturing technology.

Transistor counts differ substantially. The AMD A10-6800K contains 1,303 million transistors on a die size of 246 mm². The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 contains 820 million transistors across a die configuration of 2x 107 mm², which totals 214 mm². Despite the smaller transistor count, the Intel die area is smaller overall, but the AMD chip packs roughly 59% more transistors into a 15% larger die, reflecting the denser 32 nm process.

Cache hierarchies diverge as well. The AMD A10-6800K has 192 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, which totals 256 KB across four cores, and 12 MB of shared L2 cache. The Intel part offers significantly more L2 cache, three times the AMD part's 4 MB, which matters for workloads that repeatedly access large working sets.

Integrated graphics are a major architectural split. The AMD A10-6800K includes a Radeon HD 8670D integrated graphics processor, a key feature for systems without a discrete GPU. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has no integrated graphics of its own; the data notes that graphics are available "on certain motherboards (Chipset feature)," meaning the platform, not the CPU, provides display output. This is a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle video output.

Memory support also differs. The AMD A10-6800K supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 memory, also with a dual-channel bus, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. The AMD part's memory bandwidth is a concrete specification, while the Intel part's is absent from the data.

Specification Differences

The AMD A10-6800K has a base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock listed. This gives the AMD part a 0.90 GHz base clock advantage and an additional 0.30 GHz boost headroom beyond its own base.

Thermal design power differs markedly. The AMD A10-6800K has a TDP of 100 watts, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has a TDP of 136 watts. The Intel part draws 36 watts more under the database's thermal ratings, a substantial difference for cooling requirements and power delivery.

Sockets are incompatible. The AMD A10-6800K uses AMD Socket FM2, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 uses Intel Socket 775. These are entirely different platforms, meaning motherboard selection is mutually exclusive between the two.

The AMD A10-6800K has a launch MSRP of $142, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has no launch MSRP recorded. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, allowing overclocking on compatible motherboards.

Memory support differs in breadth. The AMD A10-6800K supports only DDR3, while the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3. The AMD part has a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel part has none recorded.

Both processors have four cores and four threads, PCIe Gen 2 support, and no ECC memory support. Both are desktop market segments, end-of-life production status, and have unlocked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-6800K wins on clock speed, with a 4.10 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost versus the Intel part's 3.20 GHz base and no boost. This higher clock rate likely explains its Geekbench single-core score of 478, which is a strong result for a CPU from its era. The AMD part also wins on power efficiency, with a 100 watt TDP versus 136 watts for the Intel part, and on integrated graphics, as the Radeon HD 8670D is built into the CPU, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic systems.

The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 wins on cache capacity, with 12 MB of shared L2 cache versus 4 MB on the AMD part. This larger cache can benefit workloads that reuse large datasets, such as video encoding or database operations. The Intel part also wins on memory compatibility, supporting DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3, offering more flexibility for older motherboard configurations.

The average benchmark score favors the AMD A10-6800K at 809 versus 790, a 2.4% edge. The percentile ranking also favors the AMD part, 22nd versus 21st. However, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 has a broader benchmark portfolio in the database, with five Cinebench scores spanning R15, R20, and R23, while the AMD part has only two Geekbench scores. The Intel part's Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2295 and single-core score of 324 show it remains functional in modern rendering workloads.

The Verdict

The data suggests the AMD A10-6800K is the better choice for a system that needs integrated graphics, lower power consumption, and higher clock speeds out of the box. Its 100 watt TDP, Radeon HD 8670D integrated graphics, and 4.10 GHz base clock make it suited for a compact desktop where a discrete GPU is not desired and efficiency matters. Its 22nd percentile ranking and 809 average score place it slightly ahead of the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 in overall database standing.

The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 is the better choice for a system that relies on large cache and memory flexibility. Its 12 MB shared L2 cache and support for DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 make it adaptable to older platforms. Its 136 watt TDP and lack of integrated graphics mean it requires a discrete GPU and a more robust cooling solution, but its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2295 shows it can still handle rendering tasks.

For a user prioritizing integrated graphics, lower power draw, and higher clock speeds, the AMD A10-6800K is the pick. For a user prioritizing cache capacity, memory compatibility, and a proven rendering workload record, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 is the pick. Both are end-of-life products, and both sit near the bottom of the database's percentile rankings, but the AMD part holds a narrow overall advantage in average score and percentile placement.