AMD A10-7860K vs Intel Xeon X5550 Comparison

# AMD A10-7860K vs Intel Xeon X5550

The AMD A10-7860K and Intel Xeon X5550 are both end-of-life desktop and server processors, respectively, that land in the same performance tier. The recorded data shows the AMD part winning every single head-to-head benchmark, but the margins are narrow enough that the Xeon remains competitive in specific workloads. Both CPUs sit at the 24th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with the A10-7860K posting an average benchmark score of 904 against the Xeon's 888. This is a matchup of two older architectures with different strengths, and the benchmark results reveal exactly where each one pulls ahead.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-7860K wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons, but the deltas are consistent and modest. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the A10 scores 279 against the Xeon's 259, a 7.7% advantage. That same 7.7% delta carries over to Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the A10 posts 1166 versus 1083. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2778 for the AMD chip and 2580 for the Intel chip, again a 7.7% gap.

Single-core results tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the A10-7860K scores 164, which is 7.9% ahead of the Xeon's 152. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 392 for the AMD part and 364 for the Intel part, a 7.7% lead. The consistency of these margins across all five tests suggests a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than any workload-specific quirk. The A10's base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost of 4.00 GHz simply outpace the Xeon's 2.67 GHz base and 3.07 GHz boost.

The nearest rivals in the database further contextualize these scores. The A10-7860K's average score of 904 puts it within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-940 and Core i5-5350U (both at 903), and 0.2% ahead of the Core i5-4258U (902). It trails the Core i3-4330T (908) by 0.4%. The Xeon X5550's average of 888 matches the Core i3-6100 exactly (0% delta), sits 0.1% ahead of the Pentium G4560T and AMD PRO A8-8650B (both 887), and 0.2% ahead of the Core i7-860 (886). Neither chip is a performance outlier; they are firmly mid-pack in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-7860K is the outright winner in every benchmark recorded, so it takes the multi-core and single-core categories across all Cinebench versions. The data shows a 7.7% to 7.9% lead in each test, meaning the A10 is consistently faster for both threaded and single-threaded workloads. This makes it the better choice for general desktop use, light content creation, and any task that relies on per-core performance.

The Intel Xeon X5550 does not win any of the recorded benchmarks, but its value lies elsewhere. It has 8 threads versus the A10's 4, which gives it a structural advantage in heavily threaded applications, even if the recorded Cinebench scores do not reflect that. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the A10 does not, making it suitable for error-sensitive workloads like file servers or long-running computation. Its triple-channel memory bus (versus the A10's dual-channel) provides a wider memory path, though the database does not list a bandwidth figure for the Xeon to compare against the A10's 34.1 GB/s.

The A10-7860K's integrated Radeon R7 graphics is another clear differentiator. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, so the A10 is the only one of the two that can run a display without a discrete GPU. For a basic office build or a media PC, that is a decisive advantage.

Architecture Differences

The A10-7860K uses AMD's Steamroller architecture on the Godaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Xeon X5550 uses Intel's Nehalem architecture on the Gainestown codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel. It has 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die, which is a smaller transistor count but a larger physical die, reflecting the older and less dense manufacturing process.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The A10 has 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. For a four-core chip, that works out to 256 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 across the whole CPU, plus the large L3 pool. The Xeon's L3 cache is a major architectural advantage for workloads that repeatedly access a large working set, even though the recorded benchmarks do not show it overcoming the A10's clock speed lead.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR3, but the A10 uses a dual-channel bus while the Xeon uses triple-channel. The A10 lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s; the Xeon's bandwidth is not recorded. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the A10 does not. PCIe generation differs as well: the A10 has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon has PCIe Gen 2. The A10 also has an unlocked multiplier, the Xeon does not. The Xeon uses Socket 1366, the A10 uses Socket FM2+.

The release dates are far apart: the Xeon launched in March 2009, the A10 in February 2016. The Xeon is a server and workstation part, while the A10 is a desktop part.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The AMD A10-7860K wins all multi-core tests. It scores 279 in Cinebench R15, 1166 in R20, and 2778 in R23, each about 7.7% ahead of the Xeon X5550's 259, 1083, and 2580, respectively.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon X5550 have any performance advantage?

A: The recorded data shows no benchmark wins for the Xeon. It does have 8 threads versus 4, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache, but in the measured Cinebench tests it trails the A10 by 7.7% to 7.9% across the board.

Q: Can the Xeon X5550 support error-correcting memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon X5550 supports ECC memory. The AMD A10-7860K does not support ECC.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD A10-7860K includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon X5550 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The A10-7860K's average score of 904 is within 0.4% of the Core i3-4330T, i7-940, i5-5350U, and i5-4258U. The Xeon X5550's average of 888 is within 0.2% of the Core i3-6100, Pentium G4560T, AMD PRO A8-8650B, and Core i7-860.

Q: Are both CPUs still in production?

A: No, both are end-of-life. The Xeon X5550 was released in March 2009, and the A10-7860K in February 2016.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD A10-7860K wins every recorded benchmark, with a consistent 7.7% to 7.9% lead over the Intel Xeon X5550 in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. If the decision is purely about raw CPU performance, the A10 is the better part.

However, the Xeon X5550 has its own reasons to exist. It supports ECC memory, has 8 threads, and offers 8 MB of shared L3 cache, all of which matter for server or workstation reliability and certain threaded workloads. Its triple-channel memory bus is an architectural advantage for memory-heavy tasks, even though the database does not quantify that benefit. The Xeon also targets a completely different market segment, so the comparison is not entirely apples-to-apples.

For a desktop user who wants a functional system without a discrete GPU, the A10-7860K is the clear pick because of its integrated Radeon R7 graphics and higher clock speeds. For a user who needs ECC memory or is building a legacy server platform, the Xeon X5550 is the only one of the two that fits that role. The benchmark scores favor the A10, but the feature set favors the Xeon in its intended environment.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A10-7860K | Intel Xeon X5550 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.67 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.07 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 95 W |

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

| Architecture | Steamroller | Nehalem |

| Codename | Godaveri | Gainestown |

| 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 Support | DDR3 | DDR3 |

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

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

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | End-of-life |

| Release Date | February 2016 | March 2009 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | AD786KYBJABOXAD786KYBJCSBXAD786KYBI44JC | SLBF5 |