CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-950 and AMD A10-9700E are two very different processors from different eras, yet benchmark results place them in a statistical dead heat. The i7-950, a 2009-era Nehalem flagship, and the A10-9700E, a 2017-era energy-efficient APU, deliver nearly identical Cinebench scores across the board. The data shows a clear split: the Intel part wins all five head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are razor-thin, ranging from 0.5% to 0.7%. The AMD chip counters with a dramatically lower 35W TDP, integrated Radeon R7 graphics, and modern platform support, making the choice entirely dependent on whether raw compute leadership or system efficiency and features take priority.

The Verdict

From a pure performance standpoint, the Intel Core i7-950 is the winner. It takes all five head-to-head Cinebench benchmarks, with the largest margin being a 0.7% lead in both Cinebench R15 multicore (280 vs 278) and Cinebench R23 multicore (2780 vs 2762). The single-core results tell the same story: the i7-950 leads by 0.6% in Cinebench R20 single-core (164 vs 163) and 0.5% in R23 single-core (392 vs 390). For any workload that relies on multicore throughput, the Intel chip holds a consistent, albeit narrow, advantage.

However, the AMD A10-9700E is the sensible pick for a different kind of build. Its 35W TDP is a fraction of the i7-950's 130W TDP, making it vastly more suitable for compact, low-power, or always-on systems. The A10-9700E also includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, a feature the i7-950 completely lacks, and supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus. The data suggests that if a user values a complete, modern platform with onboard graphics and minimal power draw over a marginal performance edge, the AMD part is the logical choice. Conversely, the i7-950 is for those who already have or can source a Socket 1366 platform and want the absolute best compute scores this pair can offer.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two CPUs is generational. The Intel Core i7-950 is built on the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Bloomfield, using Intel's 45 nm process node. It packs 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. Its configuration is classic high-end desktop: 4 cores with 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, a base clock of 3.07 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.33 GHz. The cache hierarchy is substantial, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 8 MB of L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 over a triple-channel bus, and the chip connects via PCIe Gen 2. It is a 130W part designed for the Intel Socket 1366 platform.

The AMD A10-9700E is a fundamentally different beast. It uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, manufactured on GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process. Despite having a similar transistor count of 3,100 million on a 250 mm² die, it is configured as 4 cores and 4 threads, with no SMT equivalent. Its base clock is 3.00 GHz, but it boosts higher to 3.50 GHz. The cache setup is much simpler: 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. This is a dual-channel DDR4 platform with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s and PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The most significant feature is the integrated Radeon R7 graphics, which is absent on the Intel chip. The A10-9700E is an active, low-power part at 35W, while the i7-950 is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-950 in raw compute performance. It wins every single Cinebench test, including the multicore workloads that are critical for rendering and video encoding. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-950 scores 280 against the A10-9700E's 278. This trend continues in R20 (1167 vs 1160) and R23 (2780 vs 2762). Even in single-core tests, where the AMD chip's higher 3.50 GHz boost clock might have given it an edge, the Intel part still prevails, scoring 164 vs 163 in R20 single-core and 392 vs 390 in R23 single-core. The Intel chip's 8 threads versus 4 threads likely explains its slight edge in multicore scenarios.

Where the AMD A10-9700E wins is in platform features and efficiency, rather than benchmark scores. The most significant advantage is the 35W TDP, which is over 73% lower than the Intel's 130W TDP, allowing for much smaller cooling solutions and lower system power consumption. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics mean a dedicated graphics card is not required for basic display output, which is a critical advantage for budget or office systems. The A10-9700E also supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, both of which are more modern than the i7-950's DDR3 and PCIe Gen 2. The AMD chip is also on the AM4 socket, which allows for a more modern motherboard platform, and it remains in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-950 has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 957, compared to the AMD A10-9700E's 951.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-950 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-950's average score of 957 is exactly tied with the AMD Opteron 4386, and it is 0.1% ahead of both the AMD Athlon X4 870K and the Intel Xeon W3550. It is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1600, which scores 958.

Q: What is the biggest performance difference in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest margin is a 0.7% lead for the Intel Core i7-950, achieved in both Cinebench R15 multicore (280 vs 278) and Cinebench R23 multicore (2780 vs 2762).

Q: Does the AMD A10-9700E have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD A10-9700E features integrated Radeon R7 graphics. The Intel Core i7-950 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the memory and socket differences?

A: The Intel Core i7-950 uses DDR3 memory over a triple-channel bus on the Intel Socket 1366. The AMD A10-9700E uses DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s on the AMD Socket AM4.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD A10-9700E has a higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i7-950's boost clock of 3.33 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent, with the Intel Core i7-950 winning every round by a hair. The largest victory for the Intel part comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 280 against the A10-9700E's 278, a 0.7% difference. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, with the i7-950 scoring 1167 versus 1160, another 0.6% win. The multicore advantage is likely due to the i7-950's 8 threads versus the A10-9700E's 4 threads.

The single-core tests are even closer. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel chip scores 164, just one point ahead of the AMD's 163, a 0.6% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the same one-point margin, with the i7-950 at 392 and the A10-9700E at 390, a 0.5% lead. These results indicate that despite having a lower boost clock (3.33 GHz vs 3.50 GHz), the older Intel architecture has slightly better single-threaded efficiency.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture: the i7-950 averages 957 points versus the A10-9700E's 951. The Intel chip also holds a percentile rank of 26 against all CPUs, compared to the AMD's 25th percentile. Notably, the A10-9700E's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-5500U, which scores 953, a -0.2% delta. In contrast, the i7-950 is exactly matched with the AMD Opteron 4386 at 957 points. Ultimately, the data shows that while the Intel part wins on every benchmark, the performance gap is so small that it would be imperceptible in real-world use, making the decision far more about platform and power characteristics than raw speed.