AMD A10-9700 vs AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U and the AMD A10-9700 represent two distinct eras of AMD silicon, and the benchmark data delivers a decisive verdict: the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the clear performance winner, despite the A10-9700's higher base clock speed and desktop-class power envelope. In the only directly comparable benchmark, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U scores 658 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, more than double the A10-9700's 302, a 117.9% advantage. While both processors sit in a similar percentile tier—29th and 28th respectively—the Ryzen chip accomplishes this with a 15W TDP versus the A10's 65W, making it the superior choice for any workload where efficiency and multi-threaded throughput matter. The A10-9700, an end-of-life desktop part on the AM4 socket, retains relevance only for legacy platform builds where the higher base clock of 3.50 GHz might marginally aid lightly threaded tasks, but the data does not favor it in any head-to-head test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the processor to choose for virtually all computing scenarios. Its 117.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core over the A10-9700 is a generational leap, not an incremental gain. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U's 4 cores and 8 threads allow it to process parallel workloads with double the efficiency of the A10-9700's 4 cores and 4 threads. For users running modern applications, compiling code, or editing media, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U delivers results in half the time. The A10-9700, conversely, is a 2017-era desktop chip built on the Excavator architecture, and its 28th percentile ranking versus the Ryzen's 29th percentile confirms they are in the same overall performance class, but the Ryzen achieves that class with a fraction of the power draw. The verdict for new builds is simple: the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the only rational choice. The A10-9700 should only be considered for upgrading an existing AM4 motherboard where replacing the board is not an option, and even then, the performance ceiling is low.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is dramatically faster. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 658 versus the A10-9700's 302, a 117.9% advantage.

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

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U supports 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading, while the A10-9700 only processes 4 threads.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a 15W TDP, while the A10-9700 has a 65W TDP. The Ryzen delivers significantly more performance while consuming less than a quarter of the power budget.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U uses AMD Socket FP5 (mobile platform), while the A10-9700 uses AMD Socket AM4 (desktop platform).

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, which is higher than the A10-9700's 3.80 GHz boost clock.

Q: What is the manufacturing process difference?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is built on a 12 nm process node, while the A10-9700 uses a 28 nm node. This explains the Ryzen's superior efficiency.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two chips is vast. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is based on the Zen+ architecture with the Picasso codename, part of the Ryzen 7 generation, and manufactured on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The A10-9700, by contrast, uses the older Excavator architecture with the Bristol Ridge codename, built on a 28 nm process, containing just 3,100 million transistors on a larger 250 mm² die. This process shrink is the primary reason the Ryzen achieves more than double the multi-core score while consuming 15W versus 65W.

The cache layouts also reveal a fundamental design shift. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U features a three-tier cache hierarchy: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A10-9700 has a simpler design with 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, and no L3 cache at all. The presence of shared L3 cache on the Ryzen enables faster data sharing between cores, which is critical for multi-threaded workloads. The integrated graphics also differ: the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U packs Radeon Vega 10, while the A10-9700 uses Radeon R7. The Ryzen's PCIe Gen 3 support and the A10's limited 8 lanes (CPU only) further show the Ryzen as a more modern, capable platform. The Ryzen is a mobile part (Socket FP5) and remains in active production, whereas the A10 is an end-of-life desktop chip.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every measurable specification. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the A10-9700 runs at a higher base of 3.50 GHz but a lower boost of 3.80 GHz. The Ryzen supports 8 threads versus the A10's 4 threads. The TDP tells the efficiency story: 15W for the Ryzen versus 65W for the A10. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5, while the A10 uses AMD Socket AM4. The Ryzen's cache totals 96 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core with 4 MB shared L3; the A10 has 320 KB L1 and 2 MB L2 with no L3.

The process node is 12 nm for the Ryzen and 28 nm for the A10. The Ryzen integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the A10 has 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. Both support DDR4 dual-channel memory, but the A10 lists a specific memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, which the Ryzen does not specify. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The Ryzen is part of the 3000 series and is marked as an active production mobile segment part; the A10 is an end-of-life desktop part. The Ryzen was released in April 2019, while the A10 came out in July 2017.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the data is Cinebench R15 multi-core, and it is a rout. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U scores 658, while the A10-9700 scores 302. This is a delta of 117.9%, meaning the Ryzen is more than twice as fast. This single result encompasses the architectural advantages: the Ryzen's 8 threads, larger cache hierarchy, and modern 12 nm process allow it to crush the A10's older Excavator design in a workload that scales with cores and memory latency. The A10-9700's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz cannot compensate for its lack of SMT and missing L3 cache when all cores are engaged.

Beyond this direct comparison, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has additional benchmark data that shows its overall capability. It scores 2567 in Geekbench multi-core and 790 in Geekbench single-core, along with 149 in Cinebench R15 single-core. The A10-9700 has no direct single-core scores in the shared test set, but its other benchmarks—1261 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 178 in Cinebench R20 single-core, 3004 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 424 in Cinebench R23 single-core—paint a picture of a chip that is competitive in single-threaded tasks relative to its era but falls far behind in multi-core. The Ryzen's average benchmark score of 1041 versus the A10's 1034 is nearly identical, but this average masks the fact that the Ryzen achieves parity while consuming 15W and the A10 requires 65W. The Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4160T and Intel Pentium Gold G5620, which it matches within 0.4%, while the A10's rivals include the AMD A12-9800E and Intel Pentium G4560, all within 0.3%, confirming both chips sit in a similar low-midrange performance tier.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U wins in every head-to-head category where data exists, specifically the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a 117.9% margin. This makes it the definitive choice for multi-threaded productivity: video encoding, 3D rendering, software compilation, and any workload that can utilize more than four threads. Its 8-thread capability and 4 MB L3 cache provide a substantial advantage in modern multitasking scenarios, where background processes and foreground applications compete for resources. The 15W TDP also means it wins in thermal and power-constrained environments, such as thin-and-light laptops, where sustained performance matters more than peak clock speed.

The A10-9700's only theoretical advantages lie outside the benchmark data. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz suggests it could edge out the Ryzen in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks that do not boost well, though no single-core head-to-head result exists to confirm this. As a desktop part on the AM4 socket, it wins in platform compatibility for users who already own an AM4 motherboard and do not wish to replace it. It also has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, which is a concrete specification the Ryzen does not match in the data. However, these wins are niche. The A10-9700 is end-of-life, has no L3 cache, and loses decisively in the only direct comparison. For any user building a new system or prioritizing performance per watt, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the only data-supported choice. The A10-9700 is a legacy part that the benchmarks show is obsolete for modern multi-core workloads.