AMD A10-7890K vs AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data contains a single direct comparison: Cinebench R15 multi-core. In this test, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U scores 553, while the AMD A10-7890K scores 303. That is a delta of 45.2% in favor of the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U. The older desktop part trails by a wide margin, a result that reflects the generational gap between the two designs rather than a close contest.

Looking at the broader benchmark database, the A10-7890K has its own recorded results across several Cinebench versions. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 3009, and its single-core score is 424. In Cinebench R20, it posts 1263 multi-core and 178 single-core. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U does not have matching entries for those exact tests in the database, so cross-version comparisons are not possible. However, the one shared test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, is decisive: the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is 82.5% faster in raw score terms (553 vs. 303), even though the delta percentage is recorded as 45.2% because the database calculates it relative to the higher score.

The average benchmark score for the A10-7890K is 1035, placing it at the 28th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U posts a nearly identical average score of 1024, also at the 28th percentile. This is a curious outcome: despite the massive Cinebench R15 multi-core gap, the aggregate score across all tests lands both parts at the same percentile. The explanation lies in the mix of tests available for each chip. The A10-7890K has five recorded Cinebench scores, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has four, including Geekbench tests that the A10 lacks. The Ryzen's Geekbench multi-core score of 2540 and single-core score of 867 pull its average up, while the A10's older Cinebench scores drag its average down less than expected.

The nearest rivals in the database further contextualize the two parts. The A10-7890K sits within 0.3% of the AMD A10-9700 (1034), the AMD A8-7680 (1036), the AMD A12-9800E (1033), and the Intel Core i7-4558U (1038). The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U matches the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T exactly at 1024, and sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-975 (1023), the Intel Processor N150 (1025), and the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 (1022). In other words, both processors occupy the same performance tier in the aggregate, even though their architectural identities are very different.

Where Each One Wins

The A10-7890K wins in no head-to-head benchmark categories in the database. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U wins the only direct comparison, Cinebench R15 multi-core, by a wide margin. That single win is substantial enough to define the competitive relationship between the two.

For single-threaded workloads, the database does not provide a shared test. The A10-7890K's Cinebench R20 single-core score is 178, and its R23 single-core score is 424. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U's Geekbench single-core score is 867. These tests are not directly comparable, but the Ryzen's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz (recorded as 2000.00 base, 3.60 boost) versus the A10's 4.00 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost suggests the older chip may hold its own in lightly threaded tasks. However, no head-to-head single-threaded measurement exists in the data to confirm that.

In multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has a clear structural advantage thanks to simultaneous multithreading (SMT): 4 cores and 8 threads versus the A10's 4 cores and 4 threads. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result confirms this: the Ryzen's thread count, combined with a newer architecture, produces a score 82.5% higher. For users running rendering, video encoding, or other parallel workloads, the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is the stronger choice according to the recorded data.

For legacy compatibility, the A10-7890K offers a desktop socket (AMD Socket FM2+) and an unlocked multiplier, making it a candidate for overclocking on older platforms. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U, by contrast, is a mobile part on Socket FP5 with a locked multiplier. The A10 also has a higher boost clock (4.30 GHz vs. 3.60 GHz), which may benefit single-threaded responsiveness in older software that does not scale across cores.

Architecture Differences

The A10-7890K uses the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, built on a 14 nm process, also at GlobalFoundries. The process node difference, 28 nm versus 14 nm, is the most fundamental architectural gap between the two: the Ryzen's smaller transistors enable higher efficiency and more complex logic within the same power envelope.

The A10-7890K has 2,411 million transistors on a die size of 245 mm². The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U's transistor count is not recorded in the database, but its die size is 246 mm², nearly identical to the A10. Despite similar die sizes, the Zen architecture packs more compute resources into that area, including SMT support and a larger cache hierarchy.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The A10-7890K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. For a 4-core chip, that translates to roughly 384 KB of L1 total and 2 MB of L2 total, plus the shared L3. The inclusion of L3 cache in the Ryzen is a major architectural upgrade over the A10, which relies solely on L1 and L2.

The integrated graphics also differ. The A10-7890K pairs with a Radeon R7 GPU, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The database does not record specific graphics benchmarks for either, but the Vega 8 is a newer GPU architecture designed for the Zen generation. Memory support follows the platform: the A10 uses DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Ryzen uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The A10-7890K provides Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U provides Gen 3, 8 lanes (CPU only). The desktop part has more PCIe lanes for expansion, while the mobile part is more constrained, reflecting its intended use in laptops and compact systems.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The A10-7890K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has 4 cores and 8 threads. The A10's base clock is 4.00 GHz with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, whereas the Ryzen's base clock is listed as 2000.00 MHz (effectively 2.00 GHz) with a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The A10 has a much higher base clock, but the Ryzen's boost clock is also lower.

Thermal design power (TDP) differs dramatically: the A10-7890K is rated at 95 W, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is rated at 15 W. This is a 6.3x difference in power envelope, making the Ryzen far more suitable for thin-and-light mobile designs. The A10 is a desktop part on Socket FM2+, while the Ryzen is a mobile part on Socket FP5.

Memory support differs: the A10 uses DDR3, the Ryzen uses DDR4. Memory bandwidth is higher on the Ryzen at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s on the A10. The A10 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Ryzen does not. The A10's production status is end-of-life, while the Ryzen is active. The A10 was released in January 2016, and the Ryzen in January 2019. The A10's market segment is desktop, and the Ryzen's is mobile.

The A10-7890K has a larger L1 cache (256 KB total) and L2 cache (4 MB total) compared to the Ryzen's per-core values, but the Ryzen adds a shared 4 MB L3 cache that the A10 lacks entirely. The Ryzen also has a newer integrated GPU (Radeon Vega 8) versus the A10's Radeon R7. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is decisively faster in the only shared multi-core test, Cinebench R15, scoring 553 versus the A10-7890K's 303, a 45.2% delta in favor of the Ryzen.

Q: Do the two processors have the same average benchmark score?

A: Almost. The A10-7890K has an average benchmark score of 1035, and the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has an average score of 1024. Both sit at the 28th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: Why does the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U have a much lower TDP despite similar performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is built on a 14 nm process with a 15 W TDP, while the A10-7890K uses a 28 nm process with a 95 W TDP. The smaller process node allows the Ryzen to achieve comparable aggregate performance at a fraction of the power.

Q: Does the A10-7890K have any advantages over the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U?

A: The A10-7890K has a higher base clock (4.00 GHz vs. 2.00 GHz) and boost clock (4.30 GHz vs. 3.60 GHz), an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, more PCIe lanes (16 vs. 8), and a desktop socket (FM2+) suitable for older platforms.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two chips?

A: The A10-7890K has 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache, giving it a more modern hierarchy that includes a last-level cache.

Q: Are these processors comparable for upgrade decisions?

A: No. The A10-7890K is an end-of-life desktop part on Socket FM2+ with DDR3 support, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U is an active mobile part on Socket FP5 with DDR4 support. They target different platforms, power envelopes, and use cases.