AMD A10-7850K vs Intel Core i5-3610ME Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-7850K and Intel Core i5-3610ME occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution, both sitting at the 21st percentile among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are remarkably close: the A10-7850K records 796, while the i5-3610ME posts 788, a difference of roughly 1%. Yet the data reveals that these two processors achieve parity through entirely different means.

The A10-7850K delivers its strongest showing in Geekbench multi-core testing, where it scores 1139. The i5-3610ME has no directly comparable Geekbench multi-core score in the database, but its Cinebench R20 multi-core result of 961 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2289 indicate solid throughput for a dual-core part with four threads. The AMD part's quad-core design with no simultaneous multithreading gives it a raw core-count advantage, and the 1139 Geekbench multi-core figure reflects that architectural choice.

In single-core workloads, the i5-3610ME demonstrates the strength of Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 323 and Cinebench R20 single-core score of 135 show competitive per-thread performance. The A10-7850K's Geekbench single-core score sits at 453, which places it in a similar neighborhood relative to its multi-core output.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database helps contextualize these numbers. The A10-7850K's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G, which scores 797 on average, a delta of -0.1% from the A10's 796. The AMD A6-9400 trails by 0.2%, and the A10-5800B is 0.3% behind. Interestingly, the Intel Pentium Silver J5040 posts 801, putting it 0.6% ahead of the A10-7850K. For the i5-3610ME, the Intel Core i5-4210U matches its 788 average score exactly, while the AMD Opteron 3350 HE and Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 each sit 0.2% behind, and the Core 2 Extreme QX9770 trails by 0.2% as well.

The Cinebench results for the i5-3610ME show scaling across versions. Its R15 multi-core score of 230, R20 multi-core score of 961, and R23 multi-core score of 2289 demonstrate progressively heavier workloads. The single-core progression from R20's 135 to R23's 323 follows a similar pattern. These numbers indicate that the Intel part maintains consistent relative performance as rendering complexity increases.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-7850K wins in scenarios that leverage raw core count. Its 4 physical cores and 4 threads, combined with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz, make it well suited for multi-threaded desktop applications that can distribute work across all cores equally. The 1139 Geekbench multi-core score reflects this advantage. The unlocked multiplier on the A10-7850K also gives users flexibility to push clock speeds higher, though the database does not record specific overclocking results.

The Intel Core i5-3610ME wins in power-sensitive environments. Its 35 W TDP represents a substantial efficiency advantage over the AMD part's 95 W TDP. For mobile deployments, the i5-3610ME's lower thermal envelope means thinner cooling solutions and longer battery life in laptop configurations. The 2.70 GHz base clock and 3.30 GHz boost clock are lower than the AMD part's frequencies, but the Ivy Bridge architecture compensates with strong per-clock efficiency, as evidenced by the Cinebench single-core scores.

The i5-3610ME also wins in single-threaded rendering tasks. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 323 and R20 single-core score of 135 indicate that applications relying on a single thread will see competitive performance despite the lower clock speeds. The dual-core design with Hyper-Threading (4 threads total) handles lightly threaded workloads without wasting power on idle cores.

For desktop users building a system where multi-core throughput is the priority, the A10-7850K's 4 MB L2 cache and 256 KB L1 cache provide ample on-chip storage for frequently accessed data. The i5-3610ME counters with a different cache layout: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3. This hierarchical approach benefits workloads with shared data patterns across threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A10-7850K records an average benchmark score of 796, while the Intel Core i5-3610ME posts 788, a difference of 8 points or roughly 1%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core performance?

A: The A10-7850K scores 1139 in Geekbench multi-core. The i5-3610ME scores 961 in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 2289 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, showing strong scaling across Cinebench versions.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD A10-7850K has a TDP of 95 W, while the Intel Core i5-3610ME has a TDP of 35 W, making the Intel part significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The A10-7850K runs at 3.70 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. The i5-3610ME runs at 2.70 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost, so the AMD part has higher frequencies in both states.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each processor?

A: For the A10-7850K, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G is the nearest rival with an average score of 797 (-0.1% delta). For the i5-3610ME, the Intel Core i5-4210U matches its 788 average score exactly.

Q: Do both processors sit at the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the AMD A10-7850K and the Intel Core i5-3610ME are at the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Specification Differences

The AMD A10-7850K is a desktop processor with 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-3610ME is a mobile processor with 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the Intel part's 2.70 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost.

The TDP difference is substantial: 95 W for the A10-7850K versus 35 W for the i5-3610ME. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FM2+ interface, while the Intel processor uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B). The A10-7850K has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i5-3610ME does not.

Memory support differs as well. The A10-7850K supports DDR3 memory, while the database does not list specific memory types for the i5-3610ME. The Intel part uses dual-channel memory bus architecture, while the AMD part's memory bus configuration is not recorded. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ significantly: the A10-7850K features Radeon R7 graphics, while the i5-3610ME includes Intel HD 4000. The A10-7850K supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while PCIe information is not available for the Intel part.

The release dates show a generational gap: the A10-7850K launched on 2014-01-13, while the i5-3610ME launched on 2012-05-31. The AMD processor is marked as end-of-life, while production status for the Intel part is not specified in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A10-7850K uses the Steamroller architecture under the Kaveri codename, part of the A10 generation. It is built on a 28 nm process node at GlobalFoundries, with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy consists of 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, with no L3 cache present.

The Intel Core i5-3610ME uses the Ivy Bridge architecture under the same codename, part of the Core i5 generation. It is built on a 22 nm process node at Intel, with a die size of 118 mm² (transistor count not recorded). The cache layout differs fundamentally: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB shared L3.

The process node advantage belongs to Intel at 22 nm versus AMD's 28 nm, which typically allows for better power efficiency and higher transistor density. The smaller die size of 118 mm² for the Intel part versus 245 mm² for the AMD part reflects both the process difference and the simpler dual-core design.

The A10-7850K's lack of L3 cache means all 4 MB of L2 serves the entire processor. The i5-3610ME's shared 3 MB L3 provides a pool for frequently accessed data across both cores, while per-core L1 and L2 allocations handle immediate working sets.

The integrated graphics architectures reflect their respective design philosophies. The Radeon R7 in the AMD part is designed for desktop visual performance, while the Intel HD 4000 in the i5-3610ME targets mobile efficiency. Neither part supports ECC memory, and both are limited to DDR3-class memory systems.

The market segments tell the story: the A10-7850K is a desktop chip with an unlocked multiplier for enthusiast adjustment, while the i5-3610ME is a mobile chip with fixed multipliers for predictable power behavior. The production status of the AMD part is end-of-life, while the Intel part's status is not recorded in the database.