AMD A10-7890K vs Intel Core i3-4330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-7890K wins every recorded Cinebench comparison against the Intel Core i3-4330, but the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 303 against 298 for the Intel, a 1.7% advantage. The same pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the A10-7890K posts 1263 versus 1245, a 1.4% lead. Single-core results follow suit: the AMD chip reaches 178 in Cinebench R20 single-core, while the Core i3-4330 manages 175, again a 1.7% gap. In Cinebench R23, the AMD processor records 3009 multi-core and 424 single-core, against 2966 and 418 for the Intel part, with both deltas sitting at 1.4%. Across all five head-to-head tests, the A10-7890K claims five wins and the Core i3-4330 none.

These margins are small enough to be within run-to-run variation in many workloads, but the direction is consistent. The average benchmark score tells a slightly different story: the A10-7890K averages 1035, while the Core i3-4330 averages 1020, a gap of roughly 1.5%. Both processors sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating that neither part punches far above its class. The AMD chip's nearest rival, the AMD A10-9700, scores 1034 with a 0.1% delta, effectively a tie. The Intel chip's closest comparison, the Intel Pentium Gold G5600, scores 1022 with a -0.2% delta, also a statistical dead heat. The data shows a pair of processors that are far closer than their architectural differences would suggest.

Architecture Differences

The two chips take fundamentally different design paths. The AMD A10-7890K uses the Steamroller architecture under the Godaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Intel Core i3-4330 uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Intel part uses a smaller process node and a smaller die, yet the AMD chip carries substantially more transistors.

Core counts diverge sharply. The A10-7890K offers four physical cores with four threads, while the Core i3-4330 offers two physical cores with four threads via Hyper-Threading. The AMD part runs a 4.00 GHz base clock with a 4.30 GHz boost clock, while the Intel part runs a fixed 3.50 GHz with no boost capability. The AMD chip also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Intel multiplier is locked. Cache layouts differ completely. The A10-7890K uses 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache with no L3. The Core i3-4330 uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel design relies on that shared L3 for inter-core communication, while the AMD design favors larger per-core L2.

Memory support is similar in type and channel count: both use DDR3 in dual-channel configuration. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel database entry does not record a bandwidth figure. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs in detail: the AMD processor lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel entry only lists Gen 3 without a lane count.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The A10-7890K carries Radeon R7 graphics, while the Core i3-4330 carries Intel HD 4600. The database does not record graphics benchmarks, so any comparison of iGPU performance must remain qualitative. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FM2+ for the A10-7890K, Intel Socket 1150 for the Core i3-4330. The AMD part belongs to the A10 (Godaveri) generation and was released in early 2016, while the Intel part belongs to the Core i3 (Haswell) generation and was released in late 2013. The AMD processor is marked end-of-life in the database; the Intel entry lists no production status. The AMD part number is AD789KXDI44JCAD789KXDJCHBX, and the Intel part number is SR1NM.

Where Each One Wins

The A10-7890K wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, but the wins are narrow. In multi-threaded workloads, the AMD chip's four physical cores give it a structural advantage over the Intel part's two cores and four threads. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result of 303 versus 298 and the R23 multi-core result of 3009 versus 2966 both reflect that edge, however small. The AMD part also edges out the Intel chip in single-core tests, with 178 versus 175 in R20 single-core and 424 versus 418 in R23 single-core. That is notable because the Intel chip runs a lower 3.50 GHz fixed clock, and the AMD chip boosts to 4.30 GHz, so the single-core advantage likely tracks clock speed rather than architecture efficiency.

The Core i3-4330 does not win any recorded benchmark, so its case rests on other factors. Its 54 W TDP is far lower than the AMD part's 95 W, making it the more power-efficient choice in the database's recorded specifications. The Intel chip also uses a 22 nm process, which typically offers better thermal behavior, though the database does not record temperature or power draw measurements. The Intel part's smaller die size, 177 mm² versus 245 mm², and lower transistor count, 1,400 million versus 2,411 million, point to a simpler, more efficient design.

For users who prioritize raw Cinebench scores, the A10-7890K is the clear pick, but the margins are so small that real-world differences would be difficult to perceive. For users who prioritize power consumption, the Core i3-4330 has the advantage on paper. The AMD chip's unlocked multiplier is a differentiator for overclocking, while the Intel chip's locked multiplier removes that option entirely. The AMD part's Radeon R7 integrated graphics versus the Intel HD 4600 is a meaningful distinction for systems without a discrete GPU, but the database does not quantify the difference.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count: 4 for the AMD, 2 for the Intel. Thread count: 4 for both. Base clock: 4.00 GHz for the AMD, 3.50 GHz for the Intel. Boost clock: 4.30 GHz for the AMD, none for the Intel. TDP: 95 W for the AMD, 54 W for the Intel. Socket: AMD Socket FM2+ versus Intel Socket 1150. Architecture: Steamroller versus Haswell. Process node: 28 nm versus 22 nm. Foundry: GlobalFoundries versus Intel. Transistors: 2,411 million versus 1,400 million. Die size: 245 mm² versus 177 mm². L1 cache: 256 KB total versus 64 KB per core. L2 cache: 4 MB total versus 256 KB per core. L3 cache: none versus 4 MB shared. Memory bandwidth: 34.1 GB/s for the AMD, not recorded for the Intel. PCIe: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the AMD, Gen 3 without lane count for the Intel. Integrated graphics: Radeon R7 versus Intel HD 4600. Multiplier: unlocked for the AMD, locked for the Intel. Release date: 2016 for the AMD, 2013 for the Intel. Production status: end-of-life for the AMD, not recorded for the Intel. The two share DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, and a desktop market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD A10-7890K has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i3-4330 has 2 cores. Both have 4 threads.

Q: How much faster is the AMD A10-7890K in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD chip scores 3009, while the Intel chip scores 2966, a 1.4% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-4330 have a boost clock?

A: No. The Intel part runs at a fixed 3.50 GHz. The AMD A10-7890K has a 4.00 GHz base clock and a 4.30 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which processor supports overclocking?

A: The AMD A10-7890K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Intel Core i3-4330 has a locked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i3-4330 has a 54 W TDP, compared to 95 W for the AMD A10-7890K.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: No. The AMD A10-7890K uses AMD Socket FM2+, while the Intel Core i3-4330 uses Intel Socket 1150.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Both have integrated graphics. The AMD A10-7890K carries Radeon R7, and the Intel Core i3-4330 carries Intel HD 4600.

The Verdict

The data points to a narrow but consistent victory for the AMD A10-7890K across all recorded Cinebench workloads. Five wins out of five head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 1.4% to 1.7%, make the AMD part the stronger choice for raw rendering performance. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: 1035 for the AMD chip versus 1020 for the Intel chip. The four physical cores and higher clock speeds give the A10-7890K a measurable edge in both multi-core and single-core tests.

The Intel Core i3-4330 does not win any benchmark, so its appeal lies outside Cinebench scores. The 54 W TDP versus 95 W is a substantial efficiency advantage. The 22 nm process node and smaller die suggest lower heat output and power draw, though the database does not record those measurements. The Intel part also offers shared L3 cache, which can benefit certain workloads, and its two cores with four threads deliver competitive scores despite the lower core count.

The choice depends on priorities. For users who want the highest recorded Cinebench scores, the AMD A10-7890K is the answer. For users who want lower power consumption and a smaller, simpler chip, the Intel Core i3-4330 is the answer. Neither processor is dominant in a meaningful way: both sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs, and the AMD part's closest rivals, the A10-9700 and A8-7680, are within 0.1% of its average score. The Intel part's closest rivals, the Pentium Gold G5600 and Core i3-4160, are similarly close. The A10-7890K is the better performer in the database's benchmarks, but the Core i3-4330 remains competitive on efficiency. The unlocked multiplier on the AMD part adds flexibility for overclockers, while the locked Intel part offers no such headroom. The verdict from the recorded data is clear: the AMD A10-7890K wins the benchmark comparisons, and the Intel Core i3-4330 wins the efficiency comparison.