AMD A10-7870K vs Intel Core i5-2400S Comparison

The AMD A10-7870K and Intel Core i5-2400S represent two distinct approaches to the desktop CPU from different eras, and the benchmark data reflects a fascinating split. Across seven head-to-head tests, the AMD part secures five wins, while the Intel part takes two, yet the average benchmark scores are nearly identical (975 vs. 968). This divergence between overall averages and individual test outcomes reveals that the choice between these two processors depends entirely on the workload, as the Cinebench suite heavily favors the AMD A10-7870K, while Geekbench swings decisively toward the Intel Core i5-2400S.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the consistent margin AMD holds across the Cinebench family. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD A10-7870K scores 299 against 262 for the Intel Core i5-2400S, a delta of 14.1%. This advantage persists in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the AMD part achieves 1249 versus 1092, and in Cinebench R23 multicore, the scores are 2975 and 2601, respectively. In each of these multicore tests, the deltaPct holds steady at roughly 14.4%, indicating a uniform performance gap that is not workload-specific within the Cinebench engine.

Single-core Cinebench results follow the same trajectory. The AMD A10-7870K posts 176 in Cinebench R20 single-core, beating the Intel part’s 154 by 14.3%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD score of 420 tops the Intel score of 367 by 14.4%. This consistency across both single- and multi-threaded Cinebench tests suggests that the AMD architecture’s higher clock speeds provide a fundamental advantage in this rendering workload, regardless of thread count.

The story flips entirely in Geekbench. In Geekbench multicore, the Intel Core i5-2400S scores 1709, while the AMD A10-7870K manages only 1225, a delta of -28.3% in favor of Intel. This is a massive reversal, representing the single largest margin in either direction across all tests. The Geekbench single-core result reinforces this trend, with Intel scoring 593 against AMD’s 478, a -19.4% delta for Intel. These Geekbench results are particularly notable because they show Intel winning by a larger percentage than AMD wins any Cinebench test, meaning the Intel part’s strengths are more pronounced than AMD’s.

When interpreting these numbers, the percentile rankings provide context. Both CPUs sit at the 26th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are statistically equivalent in the broader performance distribution. The nearest rivals for the AMD A10-7870K include the Intel Core i3-4130, AMD Athlon X4 840, and Intel Core i3-4150T, all with an identical average score of 975 and a 0.0% delta, placing the AMD part in a crowded performance tier. The Intel Core i5-2400S’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U (968, +0.1% delta) and Intel Xeon X5570 (967, +0.1% delta), showing that its average score of 968 is similarly positioned within a tight cluster of processors. The data indicates that neither chip is a clear overall winner, but rather that each excels in specific benchmark environments.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial, starting with the manufacturing process. The AMD A10-7870K uses a 28 nm process node fabricated by GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core i5-2400S uses a 32 nm process from Intel’s own fabs. Despite the smaller process node, the AMD chip is physically larger and more complex, with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, compared to Intel’s 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. This nearly two-to-one transistor count difference does not translate into a performance advantage in the benchmarks, highlighting the efficiency of Intel’s Sandy Bridge design.

The core architectures themselves are generations apart. The AMD A10-7870K is based on the Steamroller architecture, with the codename Godaveri, while the Intel Core i5-2400S uses Sandy Bridge. Both have four cores and four threads, so raw thread counts are identical, but the cache hierarchies differ significantly. AMD provides 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. Intel, by contrast, offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but crucially adds 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This L3 cache presence is a major architectural differentiator that likely contributes to Intel’s strong Geekbench performance, as shared cache can reduce memory latency in certain workload patterns.

Clock speeds tell a clear story about their intended roles. The AMD A10-7870K runs at a base clock of 3.90 GHz with a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-2400S operates at a much lower 2.50 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. This 1.40 GHz base clock difference explains AMD’s dominance in Cinebench, which is heavily clock-sensitive. However, the Intel part compensates with a lower 65 W TDP compared to AMD’s 95 W TDP, indicating better power efficiency per unit of work. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked, which matters for overclocking but does not affect the stock benchmark results.

Memory support is similar on paper: both use DDR3 with dual-channel memory buses. However, the AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure provided. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ, with AMD featuring Radeon R7 and Intel featuring HD 2000, though no graphics benchmarks are included in the data to quantify any performance difference.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split recommendation. For users running Cinebench-based rendering workloads, the AMD A10-7870K is the definitive choice, offering a consistent 14.4% advantage across multicore tests and a 14.3-14.4% edge in single-core tests. This margin is substantial and uniform, suggesting that the AMD part’s higher clock speeds provide a reliable performance boost in this specific application type. The 3.90 GHz base clock versus 2.50 GHz base clock is the most plausible explanation for this consistent lead, and the lack of L3 cache does not impede Cinebench performance.

Conversely, for users running Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel Core i5-2400S is superior by a wide margin. The 28.3% multicore advantage and 19.4% single-core advantage in Geekbench are larger than any AMD lead in Cinebench, indicating that the Intel architecture’s memory hierarchy and processing efficiency are better suited to this benchmark’s mixed workload. The 6 MB shared L3 cache may be the deciding factor here, as Geekbench tends to stress memory access patterns more than Cinebench’s rendering loops.

For a general-purpose user, the average benchmark scores of 975 for AMD and 968 for Intel are within 1% of each other, which is within noise for most real-world applications. Both CPUs sit at the same 26th percentile, and their nearest rivals are comparably performing chips. Neither part offers a compelling overall advantage, so the selection should be driven by the specific software stack. Notably, the Intel part’s 65 W TDP versus AMD’s 95 W TDP makes it the more power-efficient option, which could matter for system builders prioritizing low heat output or small form factors, despite the lack of direct performance-per-watt metrics in the data.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the AMD A10-7870K and Intel Core i5-2400S:

• Base clock: 3.90 GHz (AMD) vs. 2.50 GHz (Intel)
• Boost clock: 4.10 GHz (AMD) vs. 3.30 GHz (Intel)
• TDP: 95 W (AMD) vs. 65 W (Intel)
• Socket: AMD Socket FM2+ (AMD) vs. Intel Socket 1155 (Intel)
• Architecture: Steamroller (AMD) vs. Sandy Bridge (Intel)
• Codename: Godaveri (AMD) vs. Sandy Bridge (Intel)
• Generation: A10 (Godaveri) (AMD) vs. Core i5 (Sandy Bridge) (Intel)
• Process node: 28 nm (AMD) vs. 32 nm (Intel)
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries (AMD) vs. Intel (Intel)
• Transistors: 2,411 million (AMD) vs. 1,160 million (Intel)
• Die size: 245 mm² (AMD) vs. 216 mm² (Intel)
• L1 cache: 256 KB (AMD) vs. 64 KB per core (Intel)
• L2 cache: 4 MB (AMD) vs. 256 KB per core (Intel)
• L3 cache: None (AMD) vs. 6 MB shared (Intel)
• Memory bandwidth: 34.1 GB/s (AMD) vs. Not provided (Intel)
• Integrated graphics: Radeon R7 (AMD) vs. Intel HD 2000 (Intel)
• Release date: 2015-05-27 (AMD) vs. 2011-01-08 (Intel)
• Multiplier unlocked: Yes (AMD) vs. No (Intel)
• Part number: AD787KXDI44JCAD787KXDJCBOXAD787KXDJCSBX (AMD) vs. SR00S (Intel)

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The AMD A10-7870K wins 5 out of 7 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-2400S wins 2, but the Intel wins are by larger margins.

Q: What is the largest performance delta in the head-to-head data?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench multicore, where the Intel Core i5-2400S beats the AMD A10-7870K by 28.3%, with scores of 1709 versus 1225.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD A10-7870K has an average benchmark score of 975, while the Intel Core i5-2400S scores 968, a difference of only 7 points, and both sit at the 26th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The AMD A10-7870K has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-2400S has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

Q: Which CPU has more cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-2400S has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, plus 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, while the AMD A10-7870K has 256 KB L1, 4 MB L2, and no L3 cache.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both the AMD A10-7870K and Intel Core i5-2400S have 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading or SMT support indicated for either part.