AMD A10-7860K vs AMD Ryzen 3 3250U Comparison

The benchmark data splits these two AMD processors cleanly by workload, with the Ryzen 3 3250U winning four of the five head-to-head comparisons, but the A10-7860K taking the single most demanding multi-threaded test. The Ryzen 3 3250U leads decisively in single-core performance and Geekbench multi-core, while the A10-7860K counters with a substantial Cinebench R23 multi-core victory. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical—908 for the Ryzen 3 3250U versus 904 for the A10-7860K—placing both in the 24th percentile of all CPUs, which means neither offers a meaningful aggregate advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 3250U dominates single-threaded workloads outright. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 776 against the A10-7860K’s 392, a 98% delta that is the largest margin in the entire comparison. Geekbench single-core tells the same story: 722 versus 447, a 61.5% advantage. This makes the Ryzen 3 3250U the clear choice for applications that rely on per-core responsiveness, such as everyday desktop navigation, spreadsheet work, and lightly threaded legacy software.

The Ryzen 3 3250U also wins the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test with 353 points versus 279, a 26.5% margin, and takes Geekbench multi-core with 1467 versus 1103, a 33% lead. These results suggest that despite having only two physical cores, the Ryzen 3’s four threads and modern architecture handle mixed workloads more efficiently than the A10-7860K’s four older Steamroller cores.

The A10-7860K’s single win is significant, however. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2778 against the Ryzen 3 3250U’s 2010, a 27.6% reversal. This is the only test where the A10-7860K’s four physical cores overcome the Ryzen 3’s architectural advantages. The A10-7860K also has a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1166, a test the Ryzen 3 3250U does not appear in, and a Cinebench R20 single-core score of 164, which is far below the Ryzen 3’s R23 single-core result.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Ryzen 3 3250U uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 148 mm² and 3,500 million transistors. It features 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Its cache structure includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip is a mobile part on the AMD Socket FP5, with a 15 W TDP, and supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

The A10-7860K uses the older Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm process, also from GlobalFoundries, with a much larger die at 245 mm² but fewer transistors at 2,411 million. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with higher clocks of 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. Its cache is simpler: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. It is a desktop part on the AMD Socket FM2+, with a 65 W TDP, supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, and has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

The integrated graphics also differ: the Ryzen 3 3250U carries Radeon Vega 3, while the A10-7860K has Radeon R7. The Ryzen 3 3250U is still in active production, while the A10-7860K is end-of-life. The Ryzen 3 3250U was released in January 2020, roughly four years after the A10-7860K’s February 2016 launch.

The Verdict

For most users, the Ryzen 3 3250U is the superior processor. It wins four of the five head-to-head benchmarks, including both Geekbench tests and the two single-core tests, with margins ranging from 26.5% to 98%. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile devices, whereas the A10-7860K’s 65 W TDP requires a desktop-class cooling solution. The Ryzen 3 3250U also has a modern memory interface with DDR4 and faster 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the A10-7860K’s DDR3 at 34.1 GB/s.

The A10-7860K is only preferable in one specific scenario: sustained multi-core rendering where the workload scales across four physical cores. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 2778 is 27.6% higher than the Ryzen 3 3250U’s 2010, and it offers four cores versus two. However, this advantage does not translate to Geekbench multi-core, where the Ryzen 3 3250U leads by 33%, indicating that the A10-7860K’s core count is not universally beneficial.

The data suggests that the Ryzen 3 3250U is the better all-around choice for general computing, single-threaded tasks, and even many multi-threaded applications. The A10-7860K is a niche pick for older desktop builds where the unlocked multiplier and four physical cores are prioritized, but its architectural age and higher power draw are clear drawbacks. Both sit at the 24th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a performance leader—but the Ryzen 3 3250U is the more modern and efficient option.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3250U wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 776 points versus 392 for the A10-7860K, a 98% advantage, and Geekbench single-core with 722 versus 447, a 61.5% lead.

Q: Why does the A10-7860K win the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The A10-7860K has four physical cores and four threads, compared to the Ryzen 3 3250U’s two cores and four threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the A10-7860K scores 2778 versus 2010, a 27.6% margin.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The Ryzen 3 3250U has a 15 W TDP, while the A10-7860K has a 65 W TDP. The Ryzen 3 3250U is designed for mobile use on the AMD Socket FP5, whereas the A10-7860K is a desktop part on the AMD Socket FM2+.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 3250U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the A10-7860K supports DDR3 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: The Ryzen 3 3250U is listed as Active production, while the A10-7860K is End-of-life.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 3250U has an average benchmark score of 908, and the A10-7860K has 904. Both sit in the 24th percentile of all CPUs, with a 0.4% delta in favor of the Ryzen 3 3250U.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory belongs to the Ryzen 3 3250U in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 776 against the A10-7860K’s 392. That 98% delta is nearly double the performance, reflecting the massive architectural gap between Zen and Steamroller in per-thread efficiency. The A10-7860K’s higher 4.00 GHz boost clock cannot compensate for the Ryzen 3’s superior instruction handling.

Geekbench single-core shows a similar but slightly smaller gap: 722 versus 447, a 61.5% win for the Ryzen 3 3250U. This test reinforces the single-thread narrative, with the Ryzen 3 3250U delivering over 60% more performance in a workload that does not scale with core count.

In Geekbench multi-core, the Ryzen 3 3250U scores 1467 against 1103, a 33% lead. This is notable because the A10-7860K has twice as many physical cores, yet the Ryzen 3 3250U’s four threads and newer architecture still win by a third. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test also goes to the Ryzen 3 3250U with 353 versus 279, a 26.5% margin, showing that the A10-7860K’s core advantage is inconsistent across different benchmark suites.

The A10-7860K’s sole win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 2778 versus 2010, a 27.6% reversal. This is the only test where the A10-7860K’s four cores outmuscle the Ryzen 3 3250U, and it is the most modern and demanding multi-core test in the comparison. The A10-7860K also posts a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1166, but the Ryzen 3 3250U has no corresponding R20 result for direct comparison.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ fundamentally: the Ryzen 3 3250U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the A10-7860K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Clock speeds favor the A10-7860K, with a 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, versus the Ryzen 3 3250U’s 2.60 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Power consumption is starkly different: 15 W for the Ryzen 3 3250U versus 65 W for the A10-7860K.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP5 for the Ryzen 3 3250U and AMD Socket FM2+ for the A10-7860K. The process nodes differ at 14 nm for the Ryzen 3 3250U and 28 nm for the A10-7860K, leading to different transistor counts (3,500 million versus 2,411 million) and die sizes (148 mm² versus 245 mm²). Cache configurations are also distinct: the Ryzen 3 3250U has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3, while the A10-7860K has 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3.

Memory support separates the two: DDR4 for the Ryzen 3 3250U and DDR3 for the A10-7860K, with bandwidths of 38.4 GB/s and 34.1 GB/s, respectively. The integrated graphics differ as Radeon Vega 3 versus Radeon R7. The A10-7860K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, which the Ryzen 3 3250U lacks. Production status also differs: Active for the Ryzen 3 3250U and End-of-life for the A10-7860K.