AMD A10-7890K vs Intel Core i7-4558U Comparison

# Intel Core i7-4558U vs AMD A10-7890K

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U has an average benchmark score of 1038, while the AMD A10-7890K scores 1035. The delta between them is 0.3% in favor of the Intel part.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: Across all Cinebench multi-core tests, the AMD A10-7890K wins consistently. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 303 versus Intel’s 255, a 15.8% advantage. The same 15.8% delta appears in R20 multi-core (1263 vs 1063) and R23 multi-core (3009 vs 2532).

Q: Which chip wins in single-core performance?

A: The AMD A10-7890K dominates single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 178 versus Intel’s 149 (16.3% higher). In R23 single-core, AMD posts 424 against Intel’s 357, a 15.8% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The AMD A10-7890K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Both processors support DDR3 memory, and neither supports ECC.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the Intel chip wins?

A: In the head-to-head data, the AMD A10-7890K wins all five benchmark comparisons. The Intel chip does not secure a single victory in any Cinebench test listed.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U has no production status listed in the data. The AMD A10-7890K is marked as end-of-life.

The Verdict

The AMD A10-7890K is the clear performance winner in every measured benchmark. It leads by roughly 15.8% to 16.3% across all Cinebench tests, whether single-core or multi-core. The data shows no scenario in the head-to-head where the Intel Core i7-4558U pulls ahead.

For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the AMD part is the logical choice. Its 4 physical cores at a 4.00 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock deliver consistently higher scores than Intel’s 2-core, 4-thread configuration at 2.80 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The AMD chip also offers an unlocked multiplier, allowing manual overclocking on supported FM2+ motherboards.

However, the Intel Core i7-4558U is a mobile processor with a 28W TDP, while the AMD A10-7890K is a desktop chip with a 95W TDP. The Intel part’s lower power envelope makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, whereas the AMD chip requires a desktop cooling solution. The Intel processor also integrates Intel HD 5100 graphics, while AMD uses Radeon R7 graphics — but the benchmark data does not compare iGPU performance.

Both chips sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same overall performance tier. The average benchmark scores (1038 vs 1035) are nearly identical, yet the Cinebench results show a consistent AMD advantage. The verdict depends on platform: desktop users should pick the A10-7890K for its superior compute scores, while mobile users have no choice but the i7-4558U given its BGA 1168 socket.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD A10-7890K wins all five head-to-head comparisons. The margins are remarkably uniform: 15.8% in four tests and 16.3% in one.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 303 against Intel’s 255. That 48-point gap translates to a 15.8% advantage. The same percentage appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where AMD posts 1263 and Intel manages 1063 — a 200-point difference.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the largest absolute gap: AMD scores 3009, Intel scores 2532, a 477-point difference that still works out to 15.8%. This consistency suggests the performance delta is structural rather than workload-specific.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. Cinebench R20 single-core shows AMD at 178 and Intel at 149, a 16.3% lead — the largest relative margin of any test. Cinebench R23 single-core has AMD at 424 and Intel at 357, again 15.8% higher.

The near-identical deltas across both single- and multi-core tests indicate that AMD’s advantage comes from higher clock speeds and more physical cores, not from any architectural efficiency in specific workloads. Intel’s Hyper-Threading (4 threads on 2 cores) cannot compensate for AMD’s 4 full cores running at 4.00 GHz or higher.

Notably, the Intel chip does have a Geekbench multicore score of 1967 and a single-core score of 941, but the AMD chip has no Geekbench results in the data. The head-to-head comparison relies solely on Cinebench metrics, where AMD is uniformly superior.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i7-4558U has 2 cores and 4 threads; the AMD A10-7890K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Intel’s base clock is 2.80 GHz versus AMD’s 4.00 GHz. Boost clocks are 3.30 GHz and 4.30 GHz, respectively.

Thermal design power differs dramatically: Intel is rated at 28W, AMD at 95W. This reflects their market segments — the Intel part is mobile, the AMD part is desktop. The Intel chip uses an Intel BGA 1168 socket, while AMD uses Socket FM2+.

Process technology also diverges: Intel uses a 22 nm node built at Intel’s foundry, while AMD uses 28 nm from GlobalFoundries. Transistor counts are 1,300 million for Intel versus 2,411 million for AMD. Die size is 118 mm² for Intel and 245 mm² for AMD.

Cache configurations differ structurally. Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. AMD has 256 KB total L1, 4 MB total L2, and no L3 cache at all.

Memory support is DDR3 for both, but AMD lists a dual-channel memory bus with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Intel does not specify memory bus or bandwidth in the data. AMD also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while Intel has no PCIe specification listed.

The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 5100 versus AMD Radeon R7. Release dates are far apart — Intel launched on June 3, 2013, while AMD launched on January 10, 2016.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-4558U is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-ULT codename, part of the Core i7 (Haswell) generation. The AMD A10-7890K uses the Steamroller architecture under the Godaveri codename, belonging to the A10 (Godaveri) generation.

The process node difference is significant: Intel uses 22 nm, AMD uses 28 nm. Intel’s smaller node allows for a denser transistor layout — 1,300 million transistors on 118 mm² versus AMD’s 2,411 million on 245 mm². This means Intel achieves a higher transistor density despite fewer total transistors.

Cache architecture reflects different design philosophies. Intel’s per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches scale with core count, plus a 4 MB shared L3 cache. AMD uses a unified 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3 cache. The lack of L3 on the AMD part is notable, though its higher clock speeds compensate in the benchmark results.

Both are x86 processors with integrated graphics, but the architectures are fundamentally different: Intel’s Haswell is a dual-core design with Hyper-Threading, while AMD’s Steamroller is a quad-core design without simultaneous multithreading. The AMD chip’s 4 physical cores give it a natural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, which the benchmark data confirms.

The Intel part is fabricated by Intel; the AMD part by GlobalFoundries. AMD’s larger die and higher transistor count indicate a more complex GPU and memory controller integration, consistent with its Radeon R7 graphics and dual-channel DDR3 support. Intel’s smaller die is optimized for mobile power efficiency, evidenced by its 28W TDP and BGA socket.

The release gap of nearly three years means the AMD chip benefits from later design refinements in the Godaveri line, though it still uses a larger process node. The Intel part’s Haswell-ULT variant is specifically tuned for ultra-low-power mobile use, trading compute throughput for battery life. The AMD A10-7890K, as a desktop part with a 95W TDP, prioritizes raw performance over efficiency — a tradeoff clearly visible in the benchmark scores.