AMD A10-7890K vs Intel Processor N150 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a split decision between these two processors, with each claiming victory in different workloads. The AMD A10-7890K wins one of the three head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Processor N150 wins two, but the margins and the nature of those wins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Intel Processor N150 scores 935 points against the AMD A10-7890K's 424 points. That is a 54.7% advantage for Intel, a massive gap that reflects the fundamental architectural differences between a 2016 desktop part and a 2024 mobile processor. The Intel part's single-threaded performance is more than double that of the AMD chip, which has significant implications for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications.

However, the AMD A10-7890K strikes back in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 3009 points versus the Intel Processor N150's 2590.5 points. That 16.2% lead for AMD shows that the older Steamroller architecture can still marshal its resources effectively when all cores are engaged. The AMD part's higher sustained clock speeds, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz, help it overcome the Intel chip's architectural efficiency in fully threaded workloads.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test adds another layer of complexity. Here the Intel Processor N150 wins with 422.5 points against the AMD A10-7890K's 303 points, a 28.3% advantage for Intel. This result seems to contradict the Cinebench R23 multi-core outcome, but the two tests stress the processors differently. The R15 test is an older benchmark that responds differently to memory bandwidth and cache behavior, while R23 is more demanding on sustained multi-core throughput. The Intel part's 6 MB of shared L3 cache likely helps it in the older test, while the AMD part's higher clock speeds and 4 MB of L2 cache give it an edge in the newer one.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the average benchmark scores are remarkably close. The AMD A10-7890K averages 1035 points across its recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Processor N150 averages 1025 points. Both processors sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same performance tier despite their very different designs and release dates. The AMD part's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD A10-9700 with an average score of 1034 (a 0.1% difference), the AMD A8-7680 at 1036 (0.1% behind the AMD part), the AMD A12-9800E at 1033 (0.2% ahead of the A10-7890K), and the Intel Core i7-4558U at 1038 (0.3% behind the AMD part). The Intel Processor N150 sits alongside the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T at 1024 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core i3-4340 at 1026 (0.1% ahead of the Intel part), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U at 1024 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-5650U at 1027 (0.2% behind the Intel part). These tight margins confirm that both processors are essentially peers in overall capability, with the differences between them being matters of workload-specific strengths rather than overall superiority.

The Cinebench R20 multi-core scores, where the AMD A10-7890K records 1263 points and 178 points in single-core, while the Intel Processor N150 does not have recorded R20 results in the database. The AMD part also has a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 153.15 points for Intel, but no equivalent AMD R15 single-core score is recorded. The available data covers what it covers, and the head-to-head comparisons provide the clearest picture of relative performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Processor N150 is the clear winner in single-threaded performance. Its 54.7% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin in any benchmark comparison between these two processors. This makes it the stronger choice for workloads that depend on single-core speed, such as general desktop responsiveness, web browsing, office applications, and lightly threaded productivity tasks. The Intel part's 3.60 GHz boost clock, combined with its Twin Lake architecture and 6 MB of shared L3 cache, delivers a level of per-core efficiency that the older AMD design cannot match.

The Intel part also wins in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, with a 28.3% advantage. This suggests that in certain multi-threaded scenarios, particularly those that resemble older software and legacy workloads, the Intel processor's cache configuration and architecture provide a meaningful benefit. The 422.5 point score versus 303 points for AMD indicates that the Intel part handles this particular workload substantially better.

The AMD A10-7890K wins in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 16.2% higher than the Intel part. This is the most demanding multi-threaded benchmark in the comparison, and the AMD chip's victory there shows that its four cores at 4.00 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost clocks can sustain high throughput when the workload is heavy and sustained. The 3009 point score versus 2590.5 points demonstrates that raw clock speed still matters in modern multi-threaded rendering workloads.

For users running contemporary multi-threaded applications like video rendering, 3D modeling, or batch processing, the AMD A10-7890K offers the better performance according to the R23 results. For users whose workloads are primarily single-threaded or involve older multi-threaded applications, the Intel Processor N150 is the stronger performer. The two processors are effectively matched in overall average score, with the AMD part at 1035 and the Intel part at 1025, a difference of only 1% that falls within the noise of benchmark variance.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: these are two differently optimized processors for different usage patterns, despite their similar overall average scores. The Intel Processor N150 should be the choice for anyone whose work involves single-threaded performance, modern lightweight applications, or the specific legacy workloads represented by Cinebench R15 multi-core. Its 54.7% single-core advantage is decisive, and its 28.3% R15 multi-core lead shows that it handles a broad range of everyday tasks with greater efficiency.

The AMD A10-7890K is the pick for sustained, modern multi-threaded workloads. Its 16.2% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the most demanding benchmark in this comparison, indicates that it can outperform the Intel part when all cores are pushed hard for extended periods. The AMD chip's 95 W TDP and 4.30 GHz boost clock reflect a design philosophy that prioritizes raw throughput over efficiency, and the benchmark results validate that approach for heavily threaded applications.

The Intel Processor N150 is the more modern and efficient design. Its 6 W TDP, 10 nm process node, and active production status contrast sharply with the AMD part's 95 W TDP, 28 nm process node, and end-of-life status. The Intel part also supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory, while the AMD part is limited to DDR3. These specification differences reinforce the performance data, showing that the Intel processor achieves its results with a fraction of the power draw.

However, the AMD A10-7890K remains competitive in its niche. Its unlocked multiplier gives overclocking headroom that the Intel part lacks, and its Radeon R7 integrated graphics may offer different capabilities than the Intel UHD Graphics 730, though the benchmark data does not directly compare graphics performance. For users with existing FM2+ motherboards and DDR3 memory, the AMD part could represent a viable path to strong multi-threaded performance without a full platform change.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Processor N150, with a 54.7% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 935 points versus the AMD A10-7890K's 424 points.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the benchmark. The AMD A10-7890K wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 3009 points versus 2590.5 points (a 16.2% lead), but the Intel Processor N150 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 422.5 points versus 303 points (a 28.3% lead).

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. The AMD A10-7890K averages 1035 points, while the Intel Processor N150 averages 1025 points, a difference of about 1%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both processors have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD A10-7890K supports DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration. The Intel Processor N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory in single-channel configuration.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD A10-7890K is end-of-life, while the Intel Processor N150 is active and currently in production.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial and explains most of the performance differences observed in the benchmarks. The AMD A10-7890K uses the Steamroller architecture on the Godaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Intel Processor N150 uses the Twin Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The Intel part's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

The cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD A10-7890K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache recorded. The Intel Processor N150 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part's larger total cache, particularly the 6 MB of L3, helps explain its strong single-threaded performance and its advantage in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The AMD part uses DDR3 memory in dual-channel configuration with 34.1 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel part supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory in single-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Despite the Intel part having only a single memory channel, its support for newer memory technologies gives it a slightly higher memory bandwidth figure.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD A10-7890K includes a Radeon R7 iGPU, while the Intel Processor N150 includes UHD Graphics 730. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for these parts, so a direct comparison of graphics performance is not possible from the recorded data.

The Intel Processor N150 has a generation designation of "Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N)" and its socket is Intel BGA 1264, indicating a soldered mobile design. The AMD A10-7890K uses AMD Socket FM2+ and is a desktop part. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Intel chip does not.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category except for core count, thread count, and ECC memory support, where both have 4 cores, 4 threads, and no ECC support.

The base clocks are dramatically different: the AMD A10-7890K runs at 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Processor N150 has a base clock of 0.10 GHz, though the Intel part boosts to 3.60 GHz while the AMD part boosts to 4.30 GHz. The TDP difference is extreme: 95 W for the AMD part versus 6 W for the Intel part.

The sockets differ: AMD Socket FM2+ for the A10-7890K, Intel BGA 1264 for the N150. The process nodes differ: 28 nm for AMD, 10 nm for Intel. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel part does not. The release dates are eight years apart: January 2016 for the AMD part, November 2024 for the Intel part.

The memory bus configurations differ: dual-channel for AMD, single-channel for Intel. The PCIe configurations differ: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the AMD CPU, Gen 3 with 9 lanes for the Intel CPU. The market segments differ: Desktop for the AMD part, Mobile for the Intel part. The production statuses differ: End-of-life for the AMD part, Active for the Intel part.