AMD A10-7890K vs Intel Core i7-975 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD A10-7890K starts at 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-975 has a base clock of 3.33 GHz.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD A10-7890K scores 3009 versus 2974 for the Intel Core i7-975, a 1.2% margin in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-975 have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-975 does not include integrated graphics. The AMD A10-7890K features a Radeon R7 iGPU.

Q: What is the process node difference between them?

A: The AMD A10-7890K is built on a 28 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-975 uses a larger 45 nm node.

Q: Which processor supports more memory channels?

A: The Intel Core i7-975 supports triple-channel memory, whereas the AMD A10-7890K is limited to dual-channel.

Q: What was the launch MSRP of the Intel Core i7-975?

A: The Intel Core i7-975 had a launch MSRP of $1059.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A10-7890K and Intel Core i7-975 come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. AMD's chip uses the Steamroller architecture under the Godaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. Intel's Core i7-975 is a Nehalem part with the Bloomfield codename, fabricated on a 45 nm node at Intel with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die.

The core configurations differ significantly despite both having four physical cores. The AMD processor operates with four threads total, one per core, whereas the Intel processor uses Hyper-Threading to present eight threads. This threading advantage for Intel does not translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data, but it does change how the two chips handle parallel workloads from a scheduling perspective.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD A10-7890K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache present. The Intel Core i7-975 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 presence on the Intel side is notable, yet the A10 still manages to edge ahead in every recorded test.

Integrated graphics separate these two parts clearly. The AMD A10-7890K includes a Radeon R7 GPU, making it a complete APU solution. The Intel Core i7-975 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. PCIe support also differs: AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while Intel provides Gen 2 connectivity.

Memory bandwidth figures show another gap. The AMD A10-7890K reaches 34.1 GB/s over dual-channel DDR3, whereas the Intel Core i7-975 achieves 25.6 GB/s over triple-channel DDR3. Despite the channel count disadvantage, AMD's higher bandwidth per channel wins out in the recorded specs.

Both processors are end-of-life products with unlocked multipliers. The AMD part carries the part number AD789KXDI44JCAD789KXDJCHBX, while Intel uses SLBEQ.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded Cinebench results show a consistent, if narrow, advantage for the AMD A10-7890K across all five tested workloads. The AMD chip wins every head-to-head matchup, with margins ranging from 1.1% to 1.7%.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD A10-7890K scores 303 against 299 for the Intel Core i7-975, a 1.3% delta. This is the tightest relative gap aside from R20 multicore. The R20 multicore test shows 1263 for AMD versus 1249 for Intel, a 1.1% margin. The AMD A10-7890K takes the single-core R20 test at 178 versus 175, which is the largest percentage win at 1.7%.

The R23 multicore result follows the same pattern: 3009 for AMD, 2974 for Intel, a 1.2% difference. Single-core R23 lands at 424 for AMD and 419 for Intel, again a 1.2% margin. The data indicates that AMD's higher base and boost clocks (4.00 and 4.30 GHz versus 3.33 and 3.60 GHz) offset Intel's Hyper-Threading and larger cache pool.

The average benchmark score also favors AMD, though narrowly. The A10-7890K sits at 1035, while the Core i7-975 averages 1023. Both processors occupy the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the A10-9700 at 1034 (0.1% delta), the A8-7680 at 1036 (-0.1%), and the A12-9800E at 1033 (0.2%). For Intel, the closest competitors are the Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U at 1024 (0% delta), the Phenom II X6 1075T at 1024 (-0.1%), and the Pentium Gold G5600 at 1022 (0.1%).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD A10-7890K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-975 runs at 3.33 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. Thread counts differ: 4 for AMD, 8 for Intel. Power consumption favors AMD at 95 W TDP versus 130 W for Intel.

Socket compatibility is entirely separate: AMD Socket FM2+ for the A10-7890K, Intel Socket 1366 for the Core i7-975. The process nodes are 28 nm for AMD and 45 nm for Intel, with corresponding transistor counts of 2,411 million versus 731 million. Die sizes measure 245 mm² for AMD and 263 mm² for Intel.

Cache layouts are not directly comparable. AMD offers 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3. Intel provides 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support matches on DDR3 but differs in bus configuration: dual-channel for AMD, triple-channel for Intel. Memory bandwidth is higher for AMD at 34.1 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe generation differs, with AMD using Gen 3 (16 lanes from CPU) and Intel using Gen 2. Integrated graphics exist only on the AMD side with the Radeon R7. The Intel part has no iGPU. Release dates show the AMD chip arrived in January 2016, while the Intel chip launched in June 2009. The Intel Core i7-975 carries a launch MSRP of $1059; the AMD A10-7890K has no recorded launch MSRP.

Both processors have unlocked multipliers and neither supports ECC memory. Both are marked as end-of-life desktop parts.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows the AMD A10-7890K winning every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. All five Cinebench tests, both single-core and multicore, land in favor of AMD. The margins are small, ranging from 1.1% to 1.7%, but they are consistent across every workload. The average benchmark score also favors AMD: 1035 versus 1023 for Intel.

For a user choosing between these two end-of-life desktop processors, the AMD A10-7890K offers the better measured performance in the database. The Intel Core i7-975 carries the higher launch MSRP of $1059, and its triple-channel memory and 8 MB L3 cache do not appear in the benchmark results as advantages. The AMD part also includes integrated graphics, which the Intel chip lacks entirely.

The Intel Core i7-975 does provide eight threads versus four, which could be relevant for software that scales heavily with thread count. However, the benchmark data does not reflect that advantage in any recorded test. The Intel chip also demands a higher TDP at 130 W, which may be a consideration for system cooling.

The verdict from the data is straightforward: the AMD A10-7890K is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. Its higher clock speeds and newer process node appear to offset Intel's architectural advantages. For anyone looking at these two specific parts, the numbers point to AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A10-7890K wins in all measured Cinebench workloads. This includes both single-core and multicore tests across R15, R20, and R23 versions. The largest margin comes in R20 single-core at 1.7%, while the smallest is R20 multicore at 1.1%. The AMD chip also holds the higher clock speeds, lower TDP, and integrated graphics. Users who need a complete processor with built-in display output and lower power draw should favor the A10-7890K.

The Intel Core i7-975 does not win any recorded benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. However, the data does show areas where Intel is not the loser. The triple-channel memory support and 8 MB L3 cache are structural advantages that could benefit workloads not captured in the Cinebench suite, though the database does not provide evidence of such gains. The eight-thread configuration might also help in heavily threaded applications, but again, the recorded tests show AMD ahead even in multicore tasks.

For the use cases represented by these benchmarks, the AMD A10-7890K is the clear choice. For users who prioritize the features that Intel brings structurally, such as larger shared cache or higher thread count, the Core i7-975 remains a viable option, but the measured performance data does not support selecting it on a performance basis. The AMD chip's wins across all five head-to-head tests, combined with its lower TDP and integrated graphics, make it the stronger overall pick from the database's perspective.