AMD A10-7890K vs AMD PRO A10-9700 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD PRO A10-9700 wins every single head-to-head test against the AMD A10-7890K. Across five Cinebench workloads, the PRO A10-9700 takes all five wins, with margins ranging from 0.6% to 1%. The PRO A10-9700 also holds a higher average benchmark score of 1045 versus 1035 for the A10-7890K, and it sits at the 29th percentile of all CPUs compared to the A10-7890K's 28th percentile.

For builders choosing between these two, the decision hinges more on platform than on raw performance. The PRO A10-9700 runs on AMD Socket AM4 with DDR4 memory support, while the A10-7890K uses the older AMD Socket FM2+ with DDR3. The PRO A10-9700 is still listed as Active in production, whereas the A10-7890K is End-of-life. If you have an AM4 board or want a path to a modern platform, the PRO A10-9700 is the clear pick. If you are stuck with an FM2+ board and need a drop-in upgrade, the A10-7890K remains viable — but its performance is essentially a dead heat with the PRO chip, losing by only 1% or less in every test.

The A10-7890K does offer one unique advantage: it has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is possible. The PRO A10-9700's multiplier is locked. For an enthusiast with an FM2+ board and good cooling, the A10-7890K could potentially be pushed beyond stock speeds, but the data here reflects only stock performance.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process, but they use different microarchitectures. The AMD PRO A10-9700 uses the Excavator architecture under the Bristol Ridge codename, while the AMD A10-7890K uses the older Steamroller architecture under the Godaveri codename. The PRO A10-9700 belongs to the A10 (Bristol Ridge) generation, whereas the A10-7890K belongs to the A10 (Godaveri) generation.

The PRO A10-9700 packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, while the A10-7890K has 2,411 million transistors on a slightly smaller 245 mm² die. Despite the PRO chip's higher transistor count, its cache configuration is smaller in L2: 2 MB versus the A10-7890K's 4 MB. Both have no L3 cache. The PRO A10-9700 has 320 KB of L1 cache, while the A10-7890K has 256 KB.

Both chips feature four cores and four threads, and both integrate Radeon R7 graphics. Neither supports ECC memory. The key platform differences are memory type — DDR4 for the PRO A10-9700 versus DDR3 for the A10-7890K — and PCIe lane count, with the PRO chip offering 8 CPU lanes and the A10-7890K offering 16 CPU lanes, both at Gen 3. The PRO A10-9700 also has a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 95 watts for the A10-7890K.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results paint a consistent picture of near-parity with a slight edge to the PRO A10-9700. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the PRO A10-9700 scores 306 against the A10-7890K's 303, a 1% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the same 1% delta: 1275 versus 1263. The single-core tests are even tighter. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the PRO A10-9700 scores 179 versus 178, a 0.6% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core sees the PRO A10-9700 at 3037 versus 3009, a 0.9% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 428 versus 424, also 0.9%.

These differences are small enough that they would be imperceptible in everyday use. However, the consistency matters: the PRO A10-9700 wins every workload, and it does so while running at lower stock clocks (3.50 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) compared to the A10-7890K (4.00 GHz base, 4.30 GHz boost). This suggests the Excavator architecture is more efficient per clock than Steamroller, compensating for the 500 MHz disadvantage in base clock and 500 MHz in boost clock.

Looking at the broader competitive landscape, the PRO A10-9700's average score of 1045 ties it exactly with the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 and puts it within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-6350HQ (1046) and 0.2% of the AMD Athlon X4 950 (1047). The A10-7890K's average of 1035 places it 0.1% behind the AMD A8-7680 (1036) and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i7-4558U (1038). Both chips sit in the same performance tier, roughly equivalent to low-end Intel desktop parts from a few generations back.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 306 versus 303 for the A10-7890K, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3037 versus 3009. The margin is consistently around 1%.

Q: Is the A10-7890K worth considering despite losing every benchmark?

A: Yes, but only for platform-specific reasons. The A10-7890K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the PRO A10-9700 is locked. If you already own an FM2+ motherboard, the A10-7890K is a direct upgrade path. The performance difference in stock form is minimal — under 1% in all tests.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700 supports DDR4 memory, while the AMD A10-7890K supports DDR3. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The PRO A10-9700 offers higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s for the A10-7890K.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: Both processors integrate Radeon R7 graphics. The data does not provide separate graphics benchmarks, so the comparison is limited to the fact that both have the same integrated graphics brand.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700 is listed as Active in production, while the AMD A10-7890K is End-of-life. The PRO A10-9700 was released on 2017-07-26, and the A10-7890K was released on 2016-01-10.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The PRO A10-9700 ties the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 at an average score of 1045 and sits within 0.1% of the AMD PRO A10-8770 and 0.2% of the AMD Athlon X4 950. The A10-7890K is 0.1% behind the AMD A8-7680 and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i7-4558U.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A10-9700 wins every benchmark in the data, so in pure performance terms, it is the superior chip. Its wins come in both multi-core and single-core tests, with margins of 0.6% to 1%. It also wins on platform modernity: AM4 socket, DDR4 memory support, and active production status. The lower TDP of 65 watts versus 95 watts makes it more suitable for compact or power-conscious builds. The PRO A10-9700 also has a higher transistor count (3,100 million versus 2,411 million), which may indicate better architectural efficiency despite its lower clock speeds.

The AMD A10-7890K has no benchmark wins, but it holds advantages in other areas. Its unlocked multiplier is the standout feature for overclocking enthusiasts. It also has double the L2 cache (4 MB versus 2 MB), higher stock clock speeds (4.00 GHz base, 4.30 GHz boost), and more CPU PCIe lanes (16 versus 8). For someone building a system with multiple PCIe devices, the extra lanes could matter. The A10-7890K also has a slightly smaller die at 245 mm² versus 250 mm², though this is unlikely to affect real-world decisions.

For a new build, the PRO A10-9700 is the obvious choice. It wins all tests, runs cooler, uses modern DDR4 memory, and is still being produced. For an upgrade to an existing FM2+ system, the A10-7890K is the only option that fits without a motherboard swap, and its overclocking headroom could help close the small performance gap. The data shows that in stock form, the two are nearly identical in compute performance, so the decision should rest on platform fit and overclocking preference rather than benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD PRO A10-9700 | AMD A10-7890K |

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

| Architecture | Excavator | Steamroller |

| Codename | Bristol Ridge | Godaveri |

| Generation | A10 (Bristol Ridge) | A10 (Godaveri) |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 95 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket FM2+ |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 3,100 million | 2,411 million |

| Die Size | 250 mm² | 245 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 256 KB |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 4 MB |

| L3 Cache | None | None |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU) | Gen 3, 8 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Radeon R7 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

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

| Release Date | 2017-07-26 | 2016-01-10 |

| Part Number | AD970BAGM44AB | AD789KXDI44JCAD789KXDJCHBX |