AMD A10-7870K vs Intel Core i3-4370T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-4370T and AMD A10-7870K are both end-of-life desktop processors from 2015, but they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel chip is a low-power, dual-core part with Hyper-Threading, while the AMD is a higher-power, quad-core APU with a robust integrated GPU. Benchmark data shows the AMD part consistently edges out the Intel in every recorded Cinebench test, though the margins are narrow across the board.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-7870K wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons recorded in the data, but the victories are uniformly slim. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 299 against the Intel’s 287, a 4% advantage. That same 4% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the A10-7870K posts 1249 versus the i3-4370T’s 1199. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multicore, with the AMD at 2975 and the Intel at 2856 — again, a 4% gap.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD’s 176 beats the Intel’s 169 by 4%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD’s 420 tops the Intel’s 403, also by 4%. The consistency of this delta across all five benchmarks suggests a steady, if modest, performance advantage for the AMD part in this specific workload family, rather than a test-specific anomaly.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this closeness. The Intel i3-4370T carries an average benchmark score of 983, while the AMD A10-7870K sits at 975. Interestingly, the Intel part actually has the higher average score despite losing every head-to-head Cinebench test. This is because the AMD’s benchmark suite includes Geekbench results — a multicore score of 1225 and a single-core score of 478 — which drag its average down, while the Intel’s average is computed solely from its Cinebench results. Both processors land in the 26th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

Looking at nearest rivals, the Intel i3-4370T is bracketed by other Intel parts of similar vintage: the Xeon X3470 matches its 983 average exactly, while the i3-4130T and i7-875K both trail by 0.1% at 984, and the Xeon W5590 is 0.3% behind at 986. The AMD A10-7870K’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4130 and AMD Athlon X4 840, both matching its 975 average exactly, with the i3-4150T also at 975 and the i5-5257U just 0.1% ahead at 976.

Architecture Differences

The two chips diverge sharply in their underlying design. The Intel i3-4370T is built on Intel’s 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, using the Haswell architecture. It packs 2 physical cores with 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, running at a fixed 3.30 GHz base clock with no boost capability. Its cache layout is per-core: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

The AMD A10-7870K uses a 28 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a substantially larger 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. Its Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, provides 4 physical cores and 4 threads — no SMT equivalent — running at a 3.90 GHz base clock that boosts to 4.10 GHz. The AMD’s cache is configured differently: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all.

Memory bandwidth favors the AMD part significantly. Both support dual-channel DDR3, but the AMD’s memory bus delivers 34.1 GB/s versus the Intel’s 25.6 GB/s — a 33% higher theoretical ceiling. This advantage is likely tied to the AMD’s integrated Radeon R7 graphics, which share system memory and benefit from the extra bandwidth. The Intel’s integrated graphics are the HD 4600, a more modest IGP.

The power envelope is where the Intel pulls ahead decisively. The i3-4370T is rated at 35 W TDP, while the A10-7870K draws 95 W — nearly three times the power for a 4% performance edge in Cinebench. The Intel part is also locked (multiplier not unlocked), whereas the AMD features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory. The Intel was released on 2015-03-29 with a launch MSRP of $138; the AMD followed on 2015-05-27 with no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD A10-7870K wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests: R15 (299 vs 287), R20 (1249 vs 1199), and R23 (2975 vs 2856). Each victory is by a 4% margin.

Q: How do the single-core results compare?

A: The AMD also leads in single-core performance. It scores 176 versus 169 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 420 versus 403 in Cinebench R23 single-core, both 4% advantages.

Q: Is the Intel chip more power-efficient?

A: Yes, substantially. The Intel i3-4370T has a 35 W TDP, while the AMD A10-7870K is rated at 95 W. The AMD delivers its 4% performance lead while drawing roughly 2.7 times the power.

Q: Do both processors support overclocking?

A: No. The AMD A10-7870K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The Intel i3-4370T has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel has 2 cores and 4 threads via Hyper-Threading. The AMD has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: How do their integrated graphics compare?

A: The AMD uses Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel uses HD 4600. The AMD also has significantly higher memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s), which supports its integrated graphics performance.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear if narrow choice for raw CPU compute. The AMD A10-7870K wins every recorded benchmark head-to-head by exactly 4%, from Cinebench R15 through R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. If the sole criterion is Cinebench performance, the AMD is the pick — but the margin is thin enough that real-world differences will be barely perceptible in most applications.

However, the Intel i3-4370T counters with a massive efficiency advantage. Its 35 W TDP versus the AMD’s 95 W means the Intel achieves 96% of the AMD’s multi-core Cinebench R23 score (2856 vs 2975) while drawing less than 40% of the power. For thermally constrained or low-power builds, the Intel is clearly superior. The Intel also carries a $138 launch MSRP, while the AMD has no recorded launch price.

The AMD’s advantages extend beyond CPU cores. It offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, a higher 4.10 GHz boost clock, more total cache (4 MB L2 vs 4 MB L3 plus smaller per-core caches), and 33% more memory bandwidth. Its Radeon R7 integrated graphics are paired with that bandwidth advantage, making it the stronger choice for systems relying on the IGP.

The Intel counters with a smaller, denser 22 nm die (177 mm² vs 245 mm²) and a newer architecture generation. Its 4 MB of shared L3 cache provides a different cache hierarchy than the AMD’s larger L2, which may benefit certain workloads. The Intel also supports Hyper-Threading, effectively giving it 4 threads from 2 cores, though this does not translate into a performance win in the recorded benchmarks.

For buyers prioritizing efficiency, low heat output, or a locked, predictable platform, the Intel i3-4370T is the data-backed choice. For buyers who want the fastest Cinebench scores, an unlocked multiplier, or better integrated graphics bandwidth, the AMD A10-7870K edges ahead — just keep in mind the 60 W TDP penalty.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-4370T | AMD A10-7870K |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 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 |

| 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 | 4 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | Radeon R7 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |

| Launch MSRP | $138 | None |