AMD A10-7890K vs Intel Core i5-6350HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6350HQ and the AMD A10-7890K represent two fundamentally different approaches to quad-core processing from the same era, with the former targeting mobile platforms and the latter serving desktop builds. Benchmark data from the Cinebench suite shows a decisive performance gap, with the Intel part winning all five head-to-head comparisons by a consistent margin of roughly 20%. This analysis breaks down the architectural reasons for that gap, the specific benchmark results, and the use-case implications for each processor.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split between these two processors is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-6350HQ wins every single benchmark comparison in the data set. Across five Cinebench tests spanning R15, R20, and R23, the Intel chip takes the top position each time, while the AMD A10-7890K records zero victories. The win margin is remarkably consistent, hovering between 20.1% and 20.3% across all tests, whether they measure single-core or multi-core throughput.

This consistency tells a clear story about the nature of the performance difference. It is not a case of one chip excelling in a specific workload while the other fights back elsewhere. Instead, the Intel i5-6350HQ establishes a uniform advantage that scales across both lightly-threaded and fully-threaded tasks. For single-threaded work, such as older games or lightly-optimized applications, the Intel part’s lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (510 vs 424) and R20 single-core (214 vs 178) indicates a substantial per-core efficiency advantage. For multi-threaded rendering or encoding workloads, the i5-6350HQ maintains the same proportional edge, as seen in R20 multicore (1518 vs 1263) and R23 multicore (3616 vs 3009).

The AMD A10-7890K, therefore, does not have a functional "win" category in the data. Its only comparative strength lies outside raw CPU benchmarks: it features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking and a desktop socket that allows for user-level tuning. However, within the measured benchmark results, the Intel processor is the clear victor in every workload category represented.

Architecture Differences

The two chips diverge sharply at the architectural level, which explains the consistent benchmark gap. The Intel Core i5-6350HQ is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-H variant, manufactured on a 14 nm process at Intel’s foundries. It packs 2,300 million transistors into a die size of 171 mm². The AMD A10-7890K, by contrast, uses the older Steamroller architecture (codenamed Godaveri), built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 2,411 million transistors spread across a larger 245 mm² die.

Cache configuration differs substantially. The Intel chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, alongside a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The AMD part offers 256 KB of L1 cache total and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache present at all. This lack of L3 cache on the AMD side is a significant architectural handicap, as it forces more frequent accesses to system memory for data that would otherwise be cached closer to the cores.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The AMD A10-7890K runs at a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boosts to 4.30 GHz, substantially higher than the Intel i5-6350HQ’s 2.30 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Despite this massive clock advantage, the Intel chip still wins every benchmark by 20%, underscoring the stark IPC (instructions per clock) difference between the Skylake and Steamroller designs. The Intel chip also carries a much lower TDP of 45 watts versus the AMD’s 95 watts, a reflection of the more efficient 14 nm process.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Intel part supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the AMD chip is limited to DDR3 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses with identical theoretical bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Intel i5-6350HQ featuring Iris Pro 580 and the AMD A10-7890K using Radeon R7. The Intel chip is a mobile BGA 1440 part, while the AMD chip uses the desktop FM2+ socket.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform, with the Intel i5-6350HQ posting a lead of approximately 20% across all five tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel chip scores 364 against the AMD’s 303, a 20.1% advantage. This pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Intel score of 1518 beats the AMD’s 1263 by 20.2%.

Single-core performance shows the same margin. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel part records 214 versus the AMD’s 178, again a 20.2% lead. The R23 single-core test confirms this, with Intel at 510 and AMD at 424, a 20.3% advantage. The largest single margin in the data is that R23 single-core result, while the smallest is the R15 multicore score at 20.1%.

These numbers indicate that the Intel chip’s architectural efficiency advantage is not workload-dependent within the Cinebench suite. The consistent 20% delta suggests that the Skylake core design delivers roughly equivalent IPC benefits in both integer-heavy rendering tasks and the more varied single-threaded workloads. The AMD’s higher clock speed of 4.30 GHz boost versus Intel’s 3.20 GHz boost is simply insufficient to close a gap that stems from a roughly 50% IPC deficit when accounting for the clock difference.

The average benchmark scores place these chips in nearly identical overall tiers. The Intel i5-6350HQ has an average benchmark score of 1046, while the AMD A10-7890K sits at 1035. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the AMD PRO A10-8770 at a deltaPct of 0 and the AMD Athlon X4 950 at -0.1%. For the AMD A10-7890K, the closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-4558U at -0.3% deltaPct, along with several other AMD A-series parts. Both chips sit in the 28-29th percentile of all CPUs, placing them in a similar overall performance class despite the Intel’s decisive head-to-head wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The AMD A10-7890K runs at a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-6350HQ operates at 2.30 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Despite this clock disadvantage, the Intel chip wins every benchmark by about 20%.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-6350HQ and the AMD A10-7890K feature 4 cores and 4 threads. The performance difference therefore comes from architectural efficiency, not core count.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-6350HQ supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory types. The AMD A10-7890K is limited to DDR3 only, though both use dual-channel memory configurations.

Q: Is there a difference in L3 cache between the two chips?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i5-6350HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD A10-7890K has no L3 cache at all, relying only on its 4 MB of L2 cache.

Q: Which chip has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD A10-7890K features an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Intel Core i5-6350HQ does not. The AMD chip also uses the desktop FM2+ socket, whereas the Intel part is a mobile BGA 1440 design.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel i5-6350HQ scores 510 against the AMD A10-7890K’s 424, a 20.3% difference. The smallest margin is the R15 multicore test at 20.1%.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear case for the Intel Core i5-6350HQ as the superior processor in raw computational performance. It wins all five benchmark comparisons by a consistent 20% margin, spanning both single-core and multi-core workloads. The architectural advantages of the Skylake design—smaller 14 nm process, larger cache hierarchy including L3 cache, and higher IPC—overwhelm the AMD A10-7890K’s higher clock speeds and unlocked multiplier.

For users prioritizing single-threaded performance, such as those running older games or applications with limited thread utilization, the Intel chip’s substantial lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (510 vs 424) makes it the clear choice. For multi-threaded rendering tasks, the same conclusion applies: the Intel part’s 20% advantage in R20 and R23 multicore tests indicates better scaling across all four cores.

The AMD A10-7890K does offer certain qualitative advantages not measured in these benchmarks. Its desktop socket and unlocked multiplier provide overclocking flexibility that the mobile Intel part lacks. The AMD chip also has a higher TDP of 95 watts versus Intel’s 45 watts, which in a desktop context allows for more headroom in enthusiast builds. However, based strictly on the benchmark data available, the Intel Core i5-6350HQ is the superior performer in every measured workload.

The percentile rankings reinforce this verdict, with the Intel chip at the 29th percentile of all CPUs and the AMD chip at the 28th. While these overall positions are close, the head-to-head results show that in direct competition, the Intel processor holds a decisive and repeatable advantage. Users seeking maximum CPU performance from these two specific models should select the Intel i5-6350HQ, while those valuing overclocking potential and desktop upgradability may prefer the AMD A10-7890K despite its benchmark deficit.