AMD A10-6800K vs Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 Comparison

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 and AMD A10-6800K are two desktop processors from different eras and design philosophies, yet they land at nearly the same performance tier. The Intel part is a 2008-era quad-core flagship built on a 45 nm process, while the AMD chip is a 2013-era quad-core APU from the Piledriver generation. Despite the five-year gap, their average benchmark scores are separated by a razor-thin margin: the QX9775 posts an average score of 813, while the A10-6800K records 809. That places the Intel part a marginal 0.5% ahead of the AMD part in the average-score comparison, and both CPUs sit at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two processors do not share a single common benchmark test, which complicates direct comparison. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 has results across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 suites, while the AMD A10-6800K has results only in Geekbench multicore and single-core tests. No head-to-head benchmark results exist in the data, so the comparison rests on average scores and nearest-rival relationships.

Looking at the average benchmark score, the Intel QX9775 edges ahead with 813 versus 809 for the A10-6800K, a delta of 0.5%. That is a negligible gap, effectively a statistical tie. The nearest rivals for each chip confirm the parity: the QX9775's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-5550U at exactly the same 813 average score (0% delta), followed by the Intel Xeon X3440 at 815 (-0.2%), and the Intel Core i5-L16G7 at 816 (-0.4%). The A10-6800K's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-870S at 809 (0% delta), with the AMD Athlon X4 850 and Intel Xeon X5482 both at 806 (0.4% delta for each). The two chips are effectively interchangeable in aggregate performance, with the A10-6800K also appearing as the fourth nearest rival to the QX9775 at 809 with a 0.5% delta.

Within the Intel chip's own benchmark suite, the Cinebench results show a consistent pattern of multicore strength relative to single-core. In Cinebench R20, the QX9775 scores 992 in multicore versus 139 in single-core, a ratio of roughly 7.1:1. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 2363 versus 333 single-core, a ratio of about 7.1:1 again. The Cinebench R15 multicore score is 238. These numbers indicate that the four physical cores scale well under multithreaded rendering workloads, though the single-core scores are low in absolute terms — the R20 single-core score of 139 and R23 single-core score of 333 reflect the chip's age and lack of modern IPC improvements.

For the AMD A10-6800K, the Geekbench results show a multicore score of 1140 and a single-core score of 478. The multicore-to-single-core ratio here is about 2.4:1, which is far lower than the Intel chip's ratio. This suggests that the AMD part gains less from multithreading in Geekbench, likely because the Piledriver architecture uses shared floating-point units between core pairs, which limits true parallel scaling in certain workloads. However, the A10's single-core score of 478 is substantially higher than the QX9775's Cinebench single-core scores, though the benchmarks differ so direct comparison is not possible.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural gap between these two CPUs is vast. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 uses the Core 2 architecture, specifically the Yorkfield die, manufactured on Intel's 45 nm process with 820 million transistors across a dual-die package (2x 107 mm²). It has four cores and four threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock. The cache layout is distinctive: 64 KB of L1 per core and 6 MB of L2 per die, meaning each dual-core die has its own 6 MB L2 cache for a total of 12 MB across the package. There is no L3 cache.

The AMD A10-6800K uses the Piledriver architecture, specifically the Richland die, built on GlobalFoundries' 32 nm process with 1,303 million transistors on a single 246 mm² die. It also has four cores and four threads, but the base clock is significantly higher at 4.10 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The cache configuration is simpler: 192 KB of total L1 and 4 MB of shared L2. No L3 cache. The AMD chip integrates a Radeon HD 8670D graphics processor, whereas the Intel chip has no integrated graphics at all.

The process node difference is notable: 45 nm versus 32 nm. The AMD chip packs roughly 59% more transistors (1,303 million versus 820 million) on a larger single die (246 mm² versus 2x 107 mm²). This reflects the different design targets: Intel focused on high clock speeds for the era with a dual-die approach, while AMD integrated a GPU and memory controller on a single die. The memory support differs as well — the Intel chip uses DDR2 (depending on motherboard), while the AMD chip uses DDR3 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Intel chip supports ECC memory; the AMD chip does not. PCIe generation also differs: Gen 1 on Intel versus Gen 2 on AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 has an average benchmark score of 813, which is 0.5% higher than the AMD A10-6800K's 809. Both CPUs sit at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the AMD A10-6800K have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD A10-6800K integrates a Radeon HD 8670D GPU. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two?

A: 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 QX9775 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz with no boost clock.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 supports ECC memory. The AMD A10-6800K does not support ECC.

Q: What process nodes are these processors built on?

A: The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 is built on Intel's 45 nm process, while the AMD A10-6800K is built on GlobalFoundries' 32 nm process.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 and the AMD A10-6800K have unlocked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 uses the LGA 771 socket, while the AMD A10-6800K uses Socket FM2. The Intel chip has a TDP of 150 watts, significantly higher than the AMD chip's 100 watts. The base clocks differ: 3.20 GHz for Intel versus 4.10 GHz for AMD, and the AMD chip has a 4.40 GHz boost clock while the Intel chip has none. The process nodes differ (45 nm versus 32 nm), as do the transistor counts (820 million versus 1,303 million) and die sizes (2x 107 mm² versus 246 mm²).

The cache configurations are different: the Intel chip has 64 KB L1 per core and 6 MB L2 per die, while the AMD chip has 192 KB total L1 and 4 MB total L2. Memory support differs: DDR2 for Intel versus DDR3 for AMD, with the AMD chip offering dual-channel support and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. ECC support is present only on the Intel chip. PCIe generation is Gen 1 on Intel and Gen 2 on AMD. Integrated graphics exist only on the AMD chip (Radeon HD 8670D). The Intel chip was released on 2008-03-23 with a launch MSRP of $1499, while the AMD chip was released on 2013-05-31 with a launch MSRP of $142. Both have unlocked multipliers and are end-of-life products.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 wins on raw multicore rendering performance within its own benchmark suite, as evidenced by the Cinebench R20 multicore score of 992 and Cinebench R23 multicore score of 2363. The 7.1:1 ratio between multicore and single-core scores in R20 and R23 indicates that the four physical cores are highly effective at parallel workloads. It also supports ECC memory, which is a requirement for certain workstation and server-style tasks. The 150-watt TDP and dual-die design suggest it was built for maximum throughput rather than efficiency.

The AMD A10-6800K wins on clock speed, with a base clock of 4.10 GHz and a boost of 4.40 GHz, both well above the Intel chip's 3.20 GHz. This higher clock speed likely benefits single-threaded workloads, as reflected in its Geekbench single-core score of 478. The integrated Radeon HD 8670D GPU makes it a more versatile package for systems that do not require a discrete graphics card. Its lower 100-watt TDP and support for DDR3 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth make it a more modern and power-efficient platform. The AMD chip also has a significantly lower launch MSRP of $142 versus $1499, though pricing is not a factor in performance evaluation.

In terms of ecosystem features, the AMD chip supports PCIe Gen 2 versus Gen 1 on Intel, and it uses the Socket FM2 platform that was current in 2013. The Intel chip's LGA 771 socket and DDR2 memory support tie it to an older platform. For users prioritizing multithreaded Cinebench-style rendering, the Intel QX9775 delivers higher absolute multicore scores in its test suite. For users prioritizing clock speed, integrated graphics, and a more modern memory interface, the AMD A10-6800K is the better fit. The aggregate average scores show a 0.5% advantage for Intel, but the two chips are fundamentally different tools for different system builds.