AMD A10-7700K vs AMD A10-7850K Comparison

AMD A10-7700K and AMD A10-7850K are both 28 nm Kaveri desktop processors on the AMD Socket FM2+ platform, sharing the same Steamroller architecture, 4 cores and 4 threads, 256 KB of L1 cache, 4 MB of L2 cache, and a Radeon R7 integrated graphics solution. The benchmark data shows a near-perfect split between the two parts: the A10-7700K takes the multi-core Geekbench test, while the A10-7850K counters in single-core performance, leaving the head-to-head record at one win apiece. Despite the A10-7850K’s higher base and boost clocks, its average benchmark score of 796 sits slightly below the A10-7700K’s 801, a reversal that makes the mid-range comparison more nuanced than a simple clock-speed hierarchy.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench multi-core test is the A10-7700K’s strongest showing. It scores 1155, which is 1.4% ahead of the A10-7850K’s 1139. This is a modest but clear margin, and it flips the expectation set by the A10-7850K’s higher 3.70 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost clocks versus the A10-7700K’s 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The data suggests that the A10-7700K’s memory bandwidth configuration — rated at 34.1 GB/s with a dual-channel DDR3 bus — may provide a slight edge in the multi-threaded workload, since the A10-7850K’s memory bandwidth and bus fields are not specified in the database. In single-core performance, the tables turn. The A10-7850K scores 453, which is 1.3% better than the A10-7700K’s 447. This result aligns directly with the clock-speed advantage: the A10-7850K’s 4.00 GHz boost is 0.20 GHz higher than the A10-7700K’s 3.80 GHz boost, and that 5.3% frequency lead translates into a 1.3% benchmark lead, indicating diminishing returns from the extra clock headroom on single-threaded tasks.

Looking at the broader average benchmark score, the A10-7700K achieves 801, while the A10-7850K lands at 796. That 5-point gap means the A10-7700K sits at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, whereas the A10-7850K is at the 21st percentile. In the nearest rivals table, the A10-7700K ties exactly with the Intel Xeon E5530 and Intel Pentium Silver J5040, both at 801 with a 0% delta. The A10-7850K, by comparison, is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G (797) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD A6-9400 and AMD A10-5800B (both 794). The A10-7700K’s nearest rival list also includes the Intel Core i5-3320M at 803 (a -0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U at 805 (a -0.5% delta), which shows that the A10-7700K is competitive with a range of older mobile and desktop parts despite its low percentile ranking.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same foundational architecture: Steamroller, codenamed Kaveri, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. The die size is identical at 245 mm², and the transistor count is the same at 2,411 million. There is no L3 cache on either chip, and both rely on 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2 cache. The memory support is DDR3 for both, and neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe implementation is also identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes, CPU-only. The integrated graphics are the same Radeon R7 solution on both parts, and both have an unlocked multiplier, making them equally overclockable from that perspective. The production status is end-of-life for both, and the release date is the same: January 13, 2014.

The only architectural differences in the data are the clock speeds and the memory bus details. The A10-7850K has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the A10-7700K runs at 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The A10-7700K is explicitly listed with dual-channel memory and a 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth figure, whereas the A10-7850K’s memory bus and bandwidth fields are null in the database. This is a notable distinction, though it is unclear whether the A10-7850K’s null values represent an identical dual-channel configuration or an unmeasured specification. The part numbers differ — AD770KXBI44JAAD770KXBI44JABOX for the A10-7700K and AD785KXBI44JAAD785KXBJABOX for the A10-7850K — but this is a labeling difference, not a functional one.

Where Each One Wins

The A10-7700K wins the multi-core workload, which is the more demanding test for a 4-core, 4-thread part. Its 1.4% advantage in Geekbench multi-core (1155 vs 1139) suggests that sustained all-core throughput benefits from the A10-7700K’s memory configuration, despite the A10-7850K’s higher clocks. This makes the A10-7700K the better choice for tasks that scale across all four cores, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or compiling, where the memory bandwidth can prevent core starvation. The fact that the A10-7700K’s average benchmark score (801) is higher than the A10-7850K’s (796) reinforces this, as the average likely weights multi-core performance more heavily.

The A10-7850K wins the single-core test, scoring 453 versus 447, a 1.3% margin. This is the expected outcome for a chip with a 0.20 GHz higher boost clock. Single-threaded workloads — legacy games, everyday desktop responsiveness, or lightly threaded productivity apps — will see a slight edge on the A10-7850K. However, the magnitude of the win is small, and the A10-7850K’s lower average benchmark score (796 vs 801) indicates that its single-core advantage does not compensate for its multi-core deficit in overall performance. For users who prioritize raw multi-core throughput, the A10-7700K is the clear winner; for those who need maximum single-thread speed and are willing to accept a slightly lower average score, the A10-7850K is the pick.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in exactly four specification fields. The base clock is 3.40 GHz on the A10-7700K and 3.70 GHz on the A10-7850K, a 0.30 GHz gap. The boost clock is 3.80 GHz on the A10-7700K and 4.00 GHz on the A10-7850K, a 0.20 GHz gap. The memory bus is listed as dual-channel for the A10-7700K, while the A10-7850K has no value recorded. Similarly, the memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for the A10-7700K, and the A10-7850K has no value recorded. All other fields — cores, threads, TDP (95 W for both), socket, architecture, codename, generation, process node, foundry, transistors, die size, cache, memory support, ECC support, PCIe, integrated graphics, market segment, production status, release date, multiplier unlock, and part number — are either identical or, in the case of the part number, a unique identifier for each SKU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core benchmark score?

A: The AMD A10-7700K scores 1155 in Geekbench multi-core, which is 1.4% higher than the AMD A10-7850K’s 1139.

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

A: The AMD A10-7850K scores 453 in Geekbench single-core, which is 1.3% higher than the AMD A10-7700K’s 447.

Q: Are the clock speeds different between the two processors?

A: Yes. The A10-7700K has a 3.40 GHz base clock and a 3.80 GHz boost clock, while the A10-7850K has a 3.70 GHz base clock and a 4.00 GHz boost clock.

Q: Do the two processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache on either part.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The A10-7700K has an average benchmark score of 801, which is 5 points higher than the A10-7850K’s 796. The A10-7700K sits at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, while the A10-7850K is at the 21st percentile.

Q: Are there any differences in memory support?

A: The A10-7700K is listed with a dual-channel DDR3 memory bus and 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth. The A10-7850K’s memory bus and bandwidth specifications are not recorded in the database, though both support DDR3 memory.