AMD A10-7850K vs AMD Ryzen 3 2200U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive advantage for the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U across the two shared benchmark tests. In Geekbench multicore, the Ryzen 3 2200U scores 1880 against the A10-7850K's 1139, a 65.1% lead. This is a substantial margin, indicating the newer dual-core Zen part with four threads outperforms the older four-core Steamroller desktop chip in heavily threaded workloads.

The single-core gap is even more pronounced. The Ryzen 3 2200U records 911 points in Geekbench single-core, while the A10-7850K manages only 453. That translates to a 101.1% advantage, meaning the Ryzen part is more than twice as fast per thread. This result reflects a fundamental architectural leap: the Zen core's efficiency and instruction-per-clock advantage over the Steamroller design is starkly visible in this direct comparison.

The overall win tally is 2 for the Ryzen 3 2200U and 0 for the A10-7850K. No benchmark in the database favors the older chip. The Ryzen 3 2200U also holds a superior average benchmark score of 805 versus 796 for the A10-7850K, though this aggregate figure is close. The percentile rankings reinforce the picture: the Ryzen 3 2200U sits at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, while the A10-7850K sits at the 21st. Both are near the lower end of the performance distribution, but the Ryzen part does so with far lower power consumption and a more modern feature set.

Looking at nearest rivals, the Ryzen 3 2200U's average score of 805 ties it with the Intel Xeon X5482 at 805 (0% delta), sits 0.1% above the AMD Athlon X4 850 at 806, and trails the Intel Core i5-3320M by 0.3% (803). The A10-7850K's average of 796 places it 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G at 797, 0.2% ahead of the AMD A6-9400 at 794, and 0.6% behind the Intel Pentium Silver J5040 at 801. These close deltas show that both chips occupy a similar performance tier, but the Ryzen 3 2200U achieves parity or slight superiority while consuming far less power.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U leads the AMD A10-7850K by 65.1% in Geekbench multicore, scoring 1880 versus 1139.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U more than doubles the A10-7850K's single-core score, recording 911 against 453, a 101.1% advantage.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: No. The A10-7850K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Ryzen 3 2200U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Despite fewer physical cores, the Ryzen part wins all shared benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U supports DDR4 memory with a measured bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The A10-7850K supports DDR3 memory, and no bandwidth figure is recorded for it.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 2200U is listed as active production, while the A10-7850K is end-of-life.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The A10-7850K has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Ryzen 3 2200U has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The older chip runs at higher frequencies, yet still loses in every benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different AMD design eras. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, built on a 14 nm process node at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The A10-7850K uses the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Kaveri, fabricated on a 28 nm node, also at GlobalFoundries, with 2,411 million transistors on a larger 245 mm² die. The newer process allows the Ryzen part to pack more than double the transistor count into a smaller area.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A10-7850K has a simpler layout: 256 KB of L1 total and 4 MB of L2 total, with no L3 cache at all. The presence of shared L3 on the Ryzen part and its per-core L2 allocation reflect a more modern cache design that feeds higher IPC.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Ryzen 3 2200U pairs its CPU cores with Radeon Vega 3 graphics, while the A10-7850K uses a Radeon R7 iGPU. Both are integrated, but the Vega architecture in the Ryzen part is from a later generation. The memory controllers differ as well: the Ryzen 3 2200U uses dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, whereas the A10-7850K uses DDR3 with no recorded bandwidth figure.

The PCIe configurations are not identical. The Ryzen 3 2200U exposes 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the A10-7850K offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. That said, the Ryzen part is a mobile chip designed for power efficiency, so fewer lanes are expected. The market segments differ: the Ryzen 3 2200U is a mobile processor, while the A10-7850K is aimed at desktops.

Power characteristics diverge sharply. The Ryzen 3 2200U has a 15 W TDP, while the A10-7850K draws 95 W. This 80 W difference is not a trivial detail; it underpins the Ryzen part's suitability for thin laptops and its ability to deliver superior performance per watt. The A10-7850K's high power draw is consistent with its desktop heritage, but the data shows it does not convert that power into a performance advantage.

Specification Differences

The Ryzen 3 2200U and A10-7850K differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 2 cores and 4 threads; the A10-7850K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.40 GHz versus 4.00 GHz, respectively. The Ryzen part uses socket FP5, while the A10-7850K uses socket FM2+.

The process nodes are 14 nm for the Ryzen 3 2200U and 28 nm for the A10-7850K. Transistor counts are 4,950 million versus 2,411 million, and die sizes are 210 mm² versus 245 mm². The Ryzen 3 2200U has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The A10-7850K has 256 KB total L1 and 4 MB total L2, with no L3.

Memory support differs: DDR4 for the Ryzen part, DDR3 for the A10. The Ryzen 3 2200U has a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s; the A10-7850K has none listed. PCIe lanes are 8 versus 16, both Gen 3. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 3 versus Radeon R7. The Ryzen 3 2200U is mobile; the A10-7850K is desktop. Production status is active versus end-of-life. The multiplier is locked on the Ryzen part, unlocked on the A10-7850K. Release dates are 2018-01-07 for the Ryzen 3 2200U and 2014-01-13 for the A10-7850K. ECC memory support is false for both.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear outcome: the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. It beats the A10-7850K by 65.1% in multi-core and by 101.1% in single-core Geekbench tests. Those are not marginal wins; they are generational leaps. The fact that the Ryzen part achieves this with only 2 cores and 4 threads, against the A10's 4 cores and 4 threads, underscores how much more efficient the Zen architecture is than Steamroller.

The Ryzen 3 2200U also wins on power efficiency. Its 15 W TDP versus the A10-7850K's 95 W TDP means it delivers far more performance per watt. For mobile users, this is the only rational choice. The A10-7850K cannot match the Ryzen part's single-core speed, which matters for everyday responsiveness, nor its multi-core throughput, which matters for compiled workloads and multitasking.

The A10-7850K does retain two advantages worth noting. It has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 8 on the Ryzen part, which could matter for desktop expansion. It also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing manual overclocking, a feature absent on the Ryzen 3 2200U. However, the benchmark data shows that even with higher base and boost clocks, the A10-7850K loses decisively. Overclocking might narrow the gap, but no such data exists in the database to support that claim.

For anyone choosing between these two based on recorded performance, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the pick. It wins both head-to-head tests, holds a higher average benchmark score (805 versus 796), and does so at a fraction of the power draw. The A10-7850K's only paths to relevance are its additional PCIe lanes and unlocked multiplier, but neither appears in benchmark results. The database shows a clear winner: the Ryzen 3 2200U, by a wide margin.