AMD A10-7870K vs Intel Core i3-4130T Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a split picture. The AMD A10-7870K wins the majority of head-to-head tests, taking 5 of 7 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core i3-4130T wins 2. However, the magnitude and nature of those wins matter more than the simple count.

In Cinebench tests, the AMD A10-7870K is consistently ahead by roughly 18% across all variants. The R15 multicore score shows 299 versus 245, a delta of -18.1% (from the Intel side). The R20 multicore score is 1249 versus 1024, and the R23 multicore score is 2975 versus 2440, both with similar deltas. Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the AMD part leads, posting 176 versus 144 in R20 and 420 versus 344 in R23.

The Intel Core i3-4130T strikes back decisively in Geekbench. Its multicore score of 1787 crushes the AMD's 1225, a 45.9% advantage. The single-core gap is even larger: 903 versus 478, an 88.9% lead. These are not marginal differences; they represent fundamentally different performance profiles.

Who should pick which? Data suggests users prioritizing sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, as measured by Cinebench, should favor the AMD A10-7870K. Its four physical cores and higher clock speeds deliver a consistent edge in those specific tests. The Intel Core i3-4130T, despite having only 2 cores, demonstrates vastly superior efficiency in Geekbench, likely due to its Hyper-Threading implementation and architectural advantages. Users running applications that scale with the Geekbench workload pattern, particularly single-threaded tasks, should choose the Intel part.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 984 for the Intel versus 975 for the AMD. Both sit at essentially the same percentile of all CPUs, 27th for Intel and 26th for AMD. This means neither chip dominates the other in overall capability; they simply excel in different test families. The Intel i3-4130T also offers a dramatically lower 35W TDP versus the AMD's 95W, making it the clear choice for power-constrained or compact builds, provided the application mix favors its strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The AMD A10-7870K has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-4130T has 2 cores but supports 4 threads via Hyper-Threading.

Q: Is the AMD A10-7870K faster in every benchmark?

A: No. While the AMD wins all four Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multi-core), the Intel Core i3-4130T wins both Geekbench tests by substantial margins, 45.9% in multicore and 88.9% in single-core.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130T has a 35W TDP, while the AMD A10-7870K has a 95W TDP. This is a significant difference for system cooling and power supply requirements.

Q: Which CPU supports faster base clocks?

A: The AMD A10-7870K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel Core i3-4130T has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and no boost clock.

Q: Do both CPUs support overclocking?

A: The AMD A10-7870K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i3-4130T does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-4130T has an average benchmark score of 984, placing it at the 27th percentile. The AMD A10-7870K has an average score of 975, placing it at the 26th percentile. Their nearest rivals show they are essentially tied: the Intel's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-875K at 984, and the AMD's closest is the Intel Core i3-4130 at 975.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-4130T is built on the Haswell architecture, manufactured on a 22 nm process node by Intel. It integrates 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The AMD A10-7870K uses the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, on a 28 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die.

Cache structures differ substantially. The Intel chip offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 3 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip provides 256 KB of L1 cache total, 4 MB of L2 cache, and no L3 cache at all. This means the Intel part relies on a three-level cache hierarchy, while the AMD part uses a simpler two-level design with a larger L2 pool.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The Intel Core i3-4130T includes Intel HD 4400 graphics, while the AMD A10-7870K integrates a Radeon R7 GPU. Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode, but the AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel chip. Neither supports ECC memory.

The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, enabling user overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD also lists a production status of end-of-life, whereas the Intel's status is not specified. The Intel uses an Intel Socket 1150, while the AMD uses an AMD Socket FM2+. Both support PCIe Gen 3, but the AMD specifies 16 lanes for CPU only.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-4130T | AMD A10-7870K |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Architecture | Haswell | Steamroller |

| Codename | Haswell | Godaveri |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 245 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | None |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | Radeon R7 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2013-08-31 | 2015-05-27 |

| Production Status | Not specified | End-of-life |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear split between two benchmark suites. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD A10-7870K scores 299 against the Intel's 245, an 18.1% advantage. The R20 multicore test shows 1249 versus 1024, an 18% gap. The R23 multicore test shows 2975 versus 2440, again 18% in favor of AMD. The single-core Cinebench tests follow the same pattern: R20 single-core has AMD at 176 versus Intel at 144, an 18.2% lead, and R23 single-core has AMD at 420 versus Intel at 344, an 18.1% lead.

The Geekbench results invert the picture completely. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i3-4130T scores 1787 versus the AMD's 1225, a 45.9% margin. The Geekbench single-core test is even more lopsided: Intel scores 903 versus AMD's 478, an 88.9% advantage. These are the two largest delta values in the entire head-to-head set, indicating that the Intel architecture is dramatically more efficient in the workloads Geekbench exercises.

The wins are distributed 5 for AMD and 2 for Intel, but the average benchmark scores tell a story of near-parity. The Intel's average is 984, and the AMD's is 975, a difference of less than 1%. Both CPUs sit within 1 percentile point of each other in the global ranking, 27th versus 26th. The nearest rival data confirms this: the Intel Core i3-4130T is matched exactly by the Intel Core i7-875K at 984, and the AMD A10-7870K is matched exactly by the Intel Core i3-4130 at 975.

In practical terms, the Cinebench results suggest the AMD A10-7870K handles rendering and compute-heavy tasks with a consistent, if modest, edge. The Geekbench results suggest the Intel Core i3-4130T is vastly superior for tasks that stress single-thread performance or specific integer workloads. The choice between these two comes down to the application mix, with no clear overall winner given the near-identical average scores.