AMD A10-7860K vs Intel Core i7-940 Comparison

FAQ

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

A: The AMD A10-7860K wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 279 against the Intel Core i7-940's 264, a 5.7% advantage. The margin widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD scores 1166 versus 1102, a 5.8% lead.

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

A: The AMD A10-7860K leads in every single-core test as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 164 against 155 for the Intel Core i7-940, a 5.8% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a similar gap: 392 versus 370, a 5.9% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD A10-7860K has an average benchmark score of 904, while the Intel Core i7-940 scores 903. The deltaPct between them is a razor-thin 0.1% in favor of the AMD chip. Both sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-940 have more threads than the AMD A10-7860K?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i7-940 has 4 cores and 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading, while the AMD A10-7860K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite the thread deficit, the AMD chip still outperforms the Intel part in all tested benchmarks.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD A10-7860K runs at a 3.60 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.00 GHz. The Intel Core i7-940 operates at a 2.93 GHz base clock with a 3.20 GHz boost. The AMD chip's higher clocks contribute to its consistent benchmark wins.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. Both are end-of-life products. The AMD A10-7860K was released on 2016-02-01, while the Intel Core i7-940 launched much earlier, on 2008-11-16.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A10-7860K and Intel Core i7-940 represent fundamentally different design philosophies from different eras. The AMD chip uses the Steamroller architecture on the Godaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors into a 245 mm² die. The Intel part is based on the older Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, manufactured on a 45 nm process at Intel. It contains just 731 million transistors spread across a larger 263 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD A10-7860K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel Core i7-940 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The Intel part's large L3 cache is a notable architectural advantage, yet it doesn't translate into benchmark victories.

The AMD processor integrates a Radeon R7 graphics solution directly on the die, while the Intel Core i7-940 has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the AMD chip a more complete package for systems without a discrete GPU. The AMD part also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Intel chip is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

Memory architecture diverges as well. Both support DDR3, but the AMD A10-7860K uses a dual-channel memory bus with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-940 uses a triple-channel memory bus, though its memory bandwidth figure is not listed. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The AMD A10-7860K has an unlocked multiplier, making it amenable to overclocking. The Intel Core i7-940 has a locked multiplier, restricting direct overclocking attempts. Power characteristics differ sharply: the AMD chip has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel part draws 130 W. The AMD processor also uses a different socket (AMD Socket FM2+) compared to Intel Socket 1366.

The Verdict

The benchmark data tells a clear story: the AMD A10-7860K wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i7-940. Across five tests spanning Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 (both multi-core and single-core), the AMD chip leads by margins ranging from 5.7% to 5.9%. The wins are consistent and narrow, suggesting the AMD processor holds a small but uniform performance advantage.

Who should pick the AMD A10-7860K? Users who want integrated graphics, a lower 65 W TDP, and an unlocked multiplier for potential overclocking. The chip's 4.00 GHz boost clock and Radeon R7 graphics make it a self-contained desktop solution. The fact that it achieves these results with half the threads of the Intel part (4 versus 8) underscores the efficiency of its higher clock speeds.

Who should pick the Intel Core i7-940? The data offers few performance reasons to choose it. It trails in every benchmark, consumes double the power (130 W versus 65 W), and lacks integrated graphics. Its only architectural advantages are the 8 MB L3 cache and triple-channel memory bus, but these do not manifest as benchmark wins. Users with existing Socket 1366 platforms or those needing triple-channel memory might consider it, but purely on benchmark performance, the AMD chip is the superior choice.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 904 for AMD versus 903 for Intel — and both sit at the 24th percentile. The deltaPct of 0.1% between them is essentially negligible in aggregate terms. However, the head-to-head results show that the AMD chip wins every specific test, meaning its aggregate score is pulled up by consistent small victories rather than one outlier result.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A10-7860K | Intel Core i7-940 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.93 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 130 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FM2+ | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Steamroller | Nehalem |

| Codename | Godaveri | Bloomfield |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 45 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,411 million | 731 million |

| Die Size | 245 mm² | 263 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 256 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 4 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | None | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2016-02-01 | 2008-11-16 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-7860K dominates the head-to-head results with a perfect 5-0 record against the Intel Core i7-940. Every test shows the AMD chip ahead, with margins that cluster tightly between 5.7% and 5.9%.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD A10-7860K scores 279 against 264 for the Intel Core i7-940. That 5.7% delta is the smallest margin of the five tests. The Intel chip's 8 threads help it stay relatively close, but the AMD part's higher clocks prevail.

Cinebench R20 multi-core widens the gap slightly. The AMD chip scores 1166, while the Intel chip manages 1102, yielding a 5.8% advantage. This pattern repeats across the newer R23 multi-core test, where the AMD A10-7860K scores 2778 versus 2626, again a 5.8% lead.

Single-core results show the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD A10-7860K scores 164 against 155 for the Intel Core i7-940, a 5.8% margin. The largest delta comes in Cinebench R23 single-core: 392 versus 370, a 5.9% advantage for the AMD part. This is the biggest win of the entire comparison.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Whether the test is multi-core or single-core, from R15 to R23, the AMD A10-7860K beats the Intel Core i7-940 by roughly 5.7% to 5.9%. There is no test where the Intel chip manages to close the gap or flip the result. The data suggests the AMD processor's higher clock speeds (3.60 GHz base, 4.00 GHz boost versus 2.93 GHz base, 3.20 GHz boost) provide a decisive advantage that the Intel chip's additional threads and larger L3 cache cannot overcome.

The Intel Core i7-940's best showing is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where its 8 threads narrow the deficit to 5.7%. Its worst showing is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the lack of high clocks and older architecture result in a 5.9% gap. Across the board, the AMD A10-7860K proves itself the faster processor in every measurable way within this benchmark suite.