AMD A10-7870K vs Intel Core i7-950 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The AMD A10-7870K wins every recorded multi-core benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2975 versus 2780 for the Intel Core i7-950, a 7% advantage. The gap is similar in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD scores 299 versus 280 (6.8% ahead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-950 have more threads?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i7-950 supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading on its 4 cores, while the AMD A10-7870K has 4 threads total. Despite this thread disadvantage, the AMD part still wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference?

A: The AMD A10-7870K leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 176 versus 164 (7.3% ahead). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the margin is 420 versus 392 (7.1% ahead). The Intel i7-950 does not close the gap in any single-threaded test.

Q: Which CPU has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The AMD A10-7870K is built on a 28 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-950 uses a 45 nm process. The AMD chip also integrates a Radeon R7 graphics solution, whereas the Intel part has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: Are both chips end-of-life products?

A: Yes. Both are listed as End-of-life in the database. The AMD A10-7870K was released in 2015, and the Intel Core i7-950 was released in 2009. Both are desktop market segment parts.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals in average score?

A: The AMD A10-7870K has an average benchmark score of 975, matching the Intel Core i3-4130, AMD Athlon X4 840, and Intel Core i3-4150T exactly (0% delta). The Intel Core i7-950 averages 957, with the AMD Opteron 4386 at 0% delta and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600 slightly behind at -0.1%.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-7870K wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmark tests, but the margins reveal where each part is competitive. The smallest wins for AMD come in Cinebench R15 multi-core (6.8% ahead) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (7% ahead). The largest advantage appears in Cinebench R20 single-core at 7.3%.

The Intel Core i7-950 does not win any recorded benchmark against the AMD part. However, its strength lies in thread count: 8 threads versus 4. In workloads that scale with thread count, the Intel chip can keep pace despite its lower clock speeds. The data shows the AMD part maintains a lead in every test, but the Intel chip's 8-thread capability keeps the multi-core gap relatively narrow compared to what the clock speed difference might suggest.

For users running modern, lightly threaded applications, the AMD A10-7870K is clearly superior. For older workloads that were optimized for multi-threading, the Intel Core i7-950 still delivers competitive results, trailing by only 6.8% to 7% in multi-core tests despite a much older architecture.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A10-7870K uses the Steamroller architecture on the Godaveri codename, fabricated on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-950 uses the Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel. It contains 731 million transistors on a slightly larger 263 mm² die.

The AMD chip integrates a Radeon R7 graphics solution, making it a complete APU package. The Intel part has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The AMD processor also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel chip is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD A10-7870K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-950 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel design relies on a large L3 pool to compensate for its older process technology.

Memory architecture also separates these two. The AMD part uses dual-channel DDR3 with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel chip uses triple-channel DDR3, though the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. The AMD CPU has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. Neither supports ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is clock speed. The AMD A10-7870K runs at a 3.90 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.10 GHz. The Intel Core i7-950 runs at 3.07 GHz base and 3.33 GHz boost. That is a significant 0.83 GHz gap at base and 0.77 GHz at boost.

Thread count differs: 4 threads on AMD versus 8 threads on Intel. TDP also diverges sharply. The AMD chip draws 95 watts, while the Intel part is rated at 130 watts, despite the Intel being built on an older and larger process.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FM2+ versus Intel Socket 1366. The AMD part uses a 28 nm process, the Intel a 45 nm process. Transistor count is 2,411 million versus 731 million. Die size is 245 mm² versus 263 mm².

The AMD CPU includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics; the Intel has none. PCIe support: Gen 3 with 16 lanes versus Gen 2. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel is locked. Release dates differ by about six years: May 2015 versus June 2009.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD A10-7870K scores 299 against 280 for the Intel Core i7-950, a 6.8% win. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD scores 1249 versus 1167, a 7% margin.

Single-core results follow the same direction. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the AMD posts 176 versus 164, which is 7.3% higher. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 420 versus 392, a 7.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows 2975 for AMD versus 2780 for Intel, again 7% apart.

The AMD A10-7870K also has Geekbench results recorded: 1225 multi-core and 478 single-core. The Intel Core i7-950 has no Geekbench scores in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

The consistency of the 7% delta across all five tests is notable. Whether single-core or multi-core, the AMD part maintains nearly the same advantage. This suggests the performance gap is systemic, tied to the newer architecture and higher clock speeds, rather than workload-specific.

The Intel Core i7-950's 8 threads do help it stay within striking distance. In multi-core tests, the gap is 7%, not the much larger margin that a raw clock speed comparison might imply. The AMD's 2,411 million transistors and 28 nm process provide efficiency, but the Intel's triple-channel memory and 8 MB L3 cache keep it competitive in throughput-oriented tasks.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for general use: the AMD A10-7870K. It wins all five recorded benchmarks with margins between 6.8% and 7.3%. It offers higher clock speeds, a smaller process node, integrated graphics, and an unlocked multiplier. The 4-thread limitation does not prevent it from outperforming the Intel Core i7-950 in every recorded test.

The Intel Core i7-950 remains relevant only for specific scenarios. Its 8 threads and 8 MB of L3 cache are assets in heavily threaded legacy workloads. Users with existing Socket 1366 motherboards might find it a reasonable performer, but the data shows it trails the AMD part in all measured categories.

For a builder choosing between these two today, the AMD A10-7870K is the better pick. It is faster in single-core and multi-core tasks, runs cooler on paper with a 95 watt TDP versus 130 watts, and includes graphics capability. The Intel part's triple-channel memory and larger L3 cache do not translate into benchmark wins.

The average benchmark score tells the same story. The AMD A10-7870K averages 975, which places it even with several Intel Core i3 and AMD Athlon parts. The Intel Core i7-950 averages 957, slightly behind. Both sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs, but the AMD part achieves that position with fewer threads and a more modern design.

The verdict is straightforward: choose the AMD A10-7870K for its performance, efficiency, and feature set. Choose the Intel Core i7-950 only if you have a specific platform requirement for Socket 1366 and value the extra threads in narrow multi-threaded workloads. Otherwise, the AMD part wins on every recorded metric.