AMD A10-7860K vs Intel Core i3-6100 Comparison

The AMD A10-7860K and Intel Core i3-6100 sit at the same 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database, yet their average scores tell different stories. The AMD part averages 904 points, while the Intel part averages 888 points, a gap of roughly 1.8%. That overall average, however, hides a stark split in workload types. The A10-7860K wins five of the seven head-to-head tests, all of them Cinebench variants, while the Core i3-6100 takes the two Geekbench tests by large margins. This is not a case of one chip being simply faster; it is a case of two chips with fundamentally different strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-7860K is the clear winner in Cinebench workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 279 against 224 for the Intel part, a 24.6% advantage. That pattern repeats across every Cinebench test in the database: R20 multi-core shows 1166 versus 934 (24.8% ahead), R23 multi-core shows 2778 versus 2226 (24.8% ahead), and even the single-core Cinebench tests favor AMD, with R20 single-core at 164 versus 131 (25.2% ahead) and R23 single-core at 392 versus 314 (24.8% ahead). If your workload is built around Cinebench-style rendering, the AMD part is the faster choice by a consistent quarter.

The Intel Core i3-6100 dominates Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 1605 against 1103 for the AMD chip, a 31.3% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the gap widens to 43.1%, with Intel at 785 and AMD at 447. The database shows that Geekbench exercises the CPU differently than Cinebench, and the Intel architecture responds far better to those specific instructions. For general desktop responsiveness, browser work, and typical office tasks that resemble Geekbench's mix, the Core i3-6100 is the stronger performer.

The practical split is straightforward. The AMD A10-7860K wins where raw multi-threaded rendering is the priority, and it also wins in single-thread Cinebench tests despite having a lower base clock. The Intel Core i3-6100 wins where memory latency and per-core efficiency matter, as evidenced by the Geekbench results. Neither chip is a universal victor, and the choice depends entirely on which benchmark family matches your software.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD A10-7860K uses the Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm process, built by GlobalFoundries, with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. It has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. Its cache layout includes 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. The memory support is DDR3, running dual-channel at 34.1 GB/s. The integrated graphics is a Radeon R7. The multiplier is unlocked, and the socket is AMD Socket FM2+.

The Intel Core i3-6100 uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process, built by Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 150 mm² die. It has 2 physical cores and 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and no boost clock. Its cache layout is different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The memory support is DDR4, again dual-channel at 34.1 GB/s. The integrated graphics is Intel HD 530. The multiplier is locked, and the socket is Intel Socket 1151.

The process node difference is significant: 28 nm versus 14 nm. The Intel chip uses roughly 42% fewer transistors on a smaller die, which contributes to its lower 51 W TDP versus the AMD part's 65 W TDP. The AMD chip compensates with more physical cores and a higher boost clock. The cache strategy also differs, with Intel relying on a shared L3 pool while AMD uses a larger L2. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

Choose the AMD A10-7860K if your primary software is Cinebench-based rendering. The data shows a consistent 24.6% to 25.2% lead over the Core i3-6100 across all five Cinebench tests in the database. The four physical cores and the ability to boost to 4.00 GHz give it a measurable edge in these workloads. The unlocked multiplier also means it can be tuned further, though the database does not include overclocked results.

Choose the Intel Core i3-6100 if your workloads resemble Geekbench. The 31.3% lead in multi-core and 43.1% lead in single-core Geekbench scores indicate a major advantage in latency-sensitive and single-threaded tasks. The newer 14 nm process, shared L3 cache, and DDR4 memory support all contribute to this efficiency. The lower 51 W TDP also makes it easier to cool in compact systems.

The average scores are close, 904 versus 888, and both chips sit at the 24th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the AMD part are the Intel Core i7-940, Core i5-5350U, and Core i5-4258U, all within 0.2% of its average score. The Intel part's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon X5550, Pentium G4560T, and AMD PRO A8-8650B, all within 0.2%. Neither chip is a performance outlier, but each has a clear domain of superiority.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD A10-7860K scores 2778 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i3-6100 scores 2226. The AMD part leads by 24.8%.

Q: Which CPU has better single-core Geekbench performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-6100 scores 785 in Geekbench single-core, compared to 447 for the AMD A10-7860K. The Intel part leads by 43.1%.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: No. The AMD A10-7860K supports DDR3 memory, while the Intel Core i3-6100 supports DDR4 memory. Both run dual-channel at 34.1 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The AMD A10-7860K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i3-6100 has 2 cores and 4 threads, using Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count.

Q: Can either CPU be overclocked?

A: The AMD A10-7860K has an unlocked multiplier, indicating overclocking support. The Intel Core i3-6100 has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked in the traditional sense.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-6100 has a base clock of 3.70 GHz, while the AMD A10-7860K has a base clock of 3.60 GHz. However, the AMD part boosts to 4.00 GHz, while the Intel part has no boost clock.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD A10-7860K comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 164 against 131, a 25.2% lead. That is the highest delta in favor of AMD across all tests. The other Cinebench results are nearly identical in margin: R15 multi-core at 24.6%, R20 multi-core at 24.8%, R23 multi-core at 24.8%, and R23 single-core at 24.8%. The consistency of these margins suggests a stable architectural advantage in Cinebench workloads, not a test-specific anomaly.

The largest win for the Intel Core i3-6100 comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 785 against 447, a 43.1% lead. That is nearly double the margin of its multi-core Geekbench win, which shows 1605 against 1103, a 31.3% lead. The single-core advantage is particularly stark, indicating that Intel's Skylake core is far more efficient per clock in this benchmark. The multi-core Geekbench result is notable because the Intel part achieves its higher score with only 2 physical cores, relying on 4 threads, while the AMD part uses 4 physical cores.

The win count is 5 for AMD and 2 for Intel. However, the magnitude of Intel's wins is larger. The average of Intel's two wins is a 37.2% margin, while the average of AMD's five wins is 24.9%. This means the Intel part loses more tests but wins by bigger margins, while the AMD part wins more tests but by smaller margins. The overall average score still favors AMD slightly, 904 versus 888, but the choice is workload-dependent.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in several key specification fields. The AMD A10-7860K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-6100 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The base clocks are 3.60 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, with the AMD part adding a 4.00 GHz boost clock that the Intel part lacks. TDP is 65 W for AMD and 51 W for Intel. The sockets are different: AMD Socket FM2+ versus Intel Socket 1151.

The process nodes differ significantly: 28 nm for AMD versus 14 nm for Intel. Transistor counts are 2,411 million versus 1,400 million, and die sizes are 245 mm² versus 150 mm². Cache layouts are entirely different: the AMD part has 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3, while the Intel part has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 for AMD and DDR4 for Intel, both dual-channel at 34.1 GB/s.

The integrated graphics are Radeon R7 for AMD and Intel HD 530 for Intel. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel part is locked. The AMD part is end-of-life, while the Intel part is active. Release dates are February 2016 for AMD and August 2015 for Intel. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes and neither supports ECC memory. These differences explain the benchmark results: AMD's extra cores and boost clock drive Cinebench wins, while Intel's newer process, L3 cache, and higher per-core efficiency drive Geekbench wins.