AMD A10-7860K vs Intel Core i7-860 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A10-7860K has an average benchmark score of 904, while the Intel Core i7-860 scores 886. That puts the AMD part roughly 2% ahead in the aggregate.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded rendering workloads?

A: The AMD A10-7860K wins all recorded multi-core tests, from Cinebench R15 (279 vs. 259, a 7.7% lead) to Cinebench R23 (2778 vs. 2574, a 7.9% lead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-860 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows five wins for the AMD A10-7860K and zero for the Intel Core i7-860.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: The AMD A10-7860K leads by 7.9% in Cinebench R20 single-core (164 vs. 152) and by 8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (392 vs. 363).

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i7-860 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD A10-7860K is rated at 65 watts. The AMD part delivers its benchmark wins at a lower thermal envelope.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: Yes, both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration. The AMD A10-7860K lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel Core i7-860 does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A10-7860K is built on the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, using a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The die contains 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² surface. The Intel Core i7-860 uses the older Nehalem architecture, codenamed Lynnfield, on Intel's 45 nm process, packing 774 million transistors into a 296 mm² die. The process node gap is significant: 28 nm versus 45 nm, which helps explain the AMD part's lower TDP despite a higher base clock.

The cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD A10-7860K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-860 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor's L3 cache gives it a larger total cache pool, but the AMD part's smaller, closer cache hierarchy does not hurt it in the recorded tests.

The AMD A10-7860K is a 4-core, 4-thread processor with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Core i7-860 is a 4-core, 8-thread processor with Hyper-Threading, running at 2.80 GHz base and 3.47 GHz boost. The thread count advantage belongs to Intel, but the clock speed advantage belongs to AMD, and the benchmark results show the higher clocks winning out in the tested workloads.

The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Core i7-860 has no integrated graphics recorded. The AMD part also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, whereas the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 2 with 16 CPU lanes. The AMD A10-7860K has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel Core i7-860 does not. Both processors use DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC memory. Release dates are far apart: the Intel chip launched in September 2009, the AMD chip in February 2016. Both are end-of-life desktop parts.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-7860K wins every recorded benchmark in this comparison. That includes all five head-to-head tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core, and Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core. The margins are consistent, ranging from 7.7% to 8%. The AMD part also holds a higher Geekbench score in the database, with 1103 multi-core and 447 single-core, though no Geekbench result is recorded for the Intel Core i7-860.

For rendering workloads, the AMD A10-7860K is the clear choice. Its multi-core scores are ahead in every Cinebench iteration, and the single-core results show an even slightly larger edge. The AMD part's higher base and boost clocks, 3.60 GHz and 4.00 GHz versus 2.80 GHz and 3.47 GHz, appear to drive these wins despite the Intel chip's 8-thread advantage.

The Intel Core i7-860 does not win any recorded test. Its only structural advantages are the 8 MB of shared L3 cache, the 8-thread capability, and the larger die. None of these translate into a benchmark win in the measured data. The Intel part's percentile ranking among all CPUs is 24, identical to the AMD part, but its average score of 886 trails the AMD average of 904.

For users prioritizing integrated graphics, the AMD A10-7860K is also the only option with a recorded iGPU, the Radeon R7. The Intel Core i7-860 has no integrated graphics in the database. For users prioritizing a lower thermal footprint, the AMD part's 65 W TDP versus Intel's 95 W TDP is another advantage. For users who need an unlocked multiplier, the AMD chip offers it, while the Intel chip is locked.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category.

The AMD A10-7860K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-860 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD base clock is 3.60 GHz versus 2.80 GHz for Intel. The AMD boost clock is 4.00 GHz versus 3.47 GHz for Intel. TDP is 65 watts for AMD and 95 watts for Intel.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FM2+ for the A10-7860K, Intel Socket 1156 for the Core i7-860. The architecture is Steamroller for AMD, Nehalem for Intel. The codenames are Godaveri and Lynnfield. The process nodes are 28 nm (GlobalFoundries) and 45 nm (Intel). Transistor counts are 2,411 million versus 774 million. Die sizes are 245 mm² versus 296 mm².

Cache configurations are entirely different. AMD: 256 KB L1, 4 MB L2, no L3. Intel: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 8 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel for both, but AMD lists 34.1 GB/s bandwidth while Intel has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe support differs: AMD is Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, Intel is Gen 2 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics: AMD has Radeon R7, Intel has none. The multiplier is unlocked on AMD, locked on Intel. Release dates differ by over six years: February 2016 for AMD, September 2009 for Intel. Both are end-of-life desktop parts, both lack ECC support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the AMD A10-7860K, with all five recorded tests going in its favor.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD A10-7860K scores 279 against 259 for the Intel Core i7-860, a 7.7% advantage. This is the smallest margin in the comparison, but it sets the pattern: the AMD part wins even in an older rendering test where the Intel chip's 8 threads might be expected to help.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 7.9% lead for AMD, with scores of 1166 versus 1081. The single-core variant of R20 also favors AMD, 164 versus 152, again a 7.9% margin. The consistency of the multi-core and single-core deltas suggests the AMD clock advantage is the dominant factor, not thread count.

Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern: AMD scores 2778, Intel scores 2574, a 7.9% lead. The R23 single-core test gives AMD its largest win at 8%, with 392 versus 363.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce the head-to-head results. The AMD A10-7860K averages 904, the Intel Core i7-860 averages 886. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-940 at 903 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i3-4330T at 908 (-0.4% delta). The Intel Core i7-860's nearest rivals include the AMD PRO A8-8650B at 887 (-0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i3-6100 at 888 (-0.3% delta). Both CPUs sit at the 24th percentile of all processors, meaning they occupy the same performance tier in the broader database, but the AMD part sits at the top of that tier.

The data indicates that the AMD A10-7860K's higher clocks and newer 28 nm process outweigh the Intel Core i7-860's thread count and larger L3 cache in every measured workload. The Intel chip's 8-thread capability does not produce a win in any Cinebench test, and its 95 W TDP buys no performance advantage in these results. The AMD part is simply faster in the recorded benchmarks, with margins between 7.7% and 8% across the board.