AMD A10 PRO-7850B vs Intel Core i7-3520M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors almost perfectly down the middle, with each taking one decisive victory in the shared test suite. The Intel Core i7-3520M wins in single-core performance, while the AMD A10 PRO-7850B takes the multi-core crown. This is not a case of one chip being universally faster; it is a matter of which workload profile matches the strengths of each design.

For single-threaded tasks, the Intel part is clearly the better choice. Its Geekbench single-core score of 570 stands 23.4% above the AMD's 462. This is a substantial margin, and it shows up in any application that cannot fully utilize multiple cores: everyday desktop responsiveness, legacy software, lightly threaded games, and tasks like spreadsheet calculations or web browsing where a single thread often dominates. The Intel chip's higher single-core throughput comes from its Ivy Bridge architecture, which emphasizes per-core efficiency and higher clock speeds per thread.

The AMD A10 PRO-7850B answers back in multi-threaded workloads. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 1194 beats the Intel's 1156 by 3.2%. The margin is modest, but the direction is consistent with the hardware: four physical cores versus two physical cores with hyper-threading. Any workload that scales across all cores, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, batch photo processing, or compiling code, will lean toward the AMD part. The data shows that the AMD chip's extra physical cores give it a real, if small, advantage when all threads are busy.

In terms of overall standing, both chips sit in nearly the same percentile tier. The Intel i7-3520M ranks at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs, while the AMD A10 PRO-7850B sits at the 22nd percentile. Their average benchmark scores are also close: 843 for the Intel and 828 for the AMD. This means that, on average, neither chip is dramatically faster than the other. The differences are workload-specific, not universal. A user who mostly runs single-threaded software will see a clear win for Intel; a user who runs heavily threaded software will see a slight edge for AMD.

The head-to-head results confirm the split: each chip wins one test. The Intel's single-core win is much larger in percentage terms (23.4%) than the AMD's multi-core win (3.2%), which suggests that the Intel chip has a more pronounced advantage in its strong area. However, the AMD's multi-core win is still a win, and for users whose workloads are multi-threaded, that is the number that matters.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors comes down to the nature of the user's primary workload, not to overall performance rankings. Benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core i7-3520M is the pick for users who value single-thread speed above all else. Its Geekbench single-core score of 570 is 23.4% higher than the AMD's 462, and that advantage will be felt in every application that relies on one or two threads. For a mobile platform, which the Intel chip is, this makes sense: laptops often run a mix of light and medium tasks where single-core speed drives perceived performance.

The AMD A10 PRO-7850B is the choice for multi-threaded work. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 1194 edges out the Intel's 1156 by 3.2%, and its four physical cores provide more parallel throughput for properly threaded applications. This is a desktop part, and desktop users are more likely to run demanding multi-threaded software like video editors, renderers, or compilers. The AMD chip also carries a more capable integrated graphics solution, the Radeon R7, which is a factor for systems without a discrete GPU.

Neither chip is a clear winner for general use, since their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (843 vs 828, a 1.8% difference in favor of Intel). The Intel part is better for a user who prioritizes responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks and does not need the extra cores. The AMD part is better for a user who runs multi-threaded software and wants the integrated graphics advantage. In practical terms, the Intel chip is the safer choice for a mobile user who wants snappy single-thread performance, while the AMD chip is the better fit for a desktop builder who wants to run threaded workloads without a discrete GPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The shared benchmark suite consists of two Geekbench tests: single-core and multi-core. The results are unambiguous in their direction.

Geekbench Multi-Core: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B scores 1194, while the Intel Core i7-3520M scores 1156. The AMD part wins by 3.2%. This is a modest but real lead. The AMD's four physical cores, running at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, provide more raw parallel execution capacity than the Intel's two cores with four threads. In multi-threaded applications that can use all four cores, the AMD chip will finish the job slightly faster. The 38-point gap is not huge, but it is consistent with the core count difference.

Geekbench Single-Core: The Intel Core i7-3520M scores 570, while the AMD A10 PRO-7850B scores 462. The Intel part wins by 23.4%, a decisive margin. This is the larger of the two wins and the more significant one for many users. The Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture delivers higher instructions per clock and better single-thread efficiency. Even though the AMD chip has a higher base clock (3.70 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.00 GHz vs 3.60 GHz), it cannot match the Intel's per-core performance. The 108-point gap in the Intel's favor is substantial and will be noticeable in any single-threaded task.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the overall parity. The Intel chip's average is 843, and the AMD chip's average is 828. The Intel's nearest rivals include the AMD FX-8800P (843, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-920 (840, delta 0.3%). The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3360M (835, delta -0.8%) and the Intel Xeon E5540 (820, delta 0.9%). These close rivals confirm that both chips sit in the same performance tier, with no single metric separating them by a wide margin except for the single-core test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core tasks?

A: The Intel Core i7-3520M is significantly faster. Its Geekbench single-core score is 570, which is 23.4% higher than the AMD A10 PRO-7850B's score of 462.

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

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B is faster, scoring 1194 on Geekbench multi-core versus the Intel's 1156. That is a 3.2% advantage for the AMD part.

Q: How do their overall performance averages compare?

A: The Intel chip has an average benchmark score of 843, and the AMD chip has an average of 828. The Intel part leads by about 1.8%, but both sit in nearly the same percentile tier (23rd for Intel, 22nd for AMD).

Q: Does the AMD chip have more cores?

A: Yes, the AMD A10 PRO-7850B has 4 physical cores and 4 threads. The Intel Core i7-3520M has 2 physical cores and 4 threads (using hyper-threading).

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B has a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the Intel Core i7-3520M's boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Despite this, the Intel chip wins in single-core performance.

Q: Which processor has a better integrated GPU?

A: The AMD A10 PRO-7850B features the Radeon R7 integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i7-3520M features Intel HD 4000. The AMD part's GPU is part of its design as an accelerated processing unit.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-3520M is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture, using a 22 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It is a dual-core design with hyper-threading, yielding 2 cores and 4 threads. The die size is 118 mm², and the cache layout is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. This architecture focuses on high single-thread efficiency and low power consumption, which is why it is a mobile part with a 35 W TDP.

The AMD A10 PRO-7850B uses the Steamroller architecture, which is the third-generation Bulldozer-derived design, with the codename Kaveri. It is built on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries and is a quad-core design with 4 threads, one thread per core. The die is larger at 245 mm² and contains 2,411 million transistors. The cache structure is different: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The AMD chip supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. It also has a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics differ significantly. The Intel chip carries Intel HD 4000, which is a modest iGPU suitable for basic display output and light acceleration. The AMD chip carries Radeon R7 graphics, which is a more capable integrated GPU that is central to the Kaveri architecture's "heterogeneous system architecture" concept. The AMD part is a desktop processor with a 95 W TDP, reflecting its higher power envelope and more substantial GPU.

The manufacturing differences also matter: Intel uses a 22 nm process, while AMD uses 28 nm. The smaller process node gives Intel an efficiency advantage, which is part of why the Intel chip can deliver strong single-core performance with a 35 W TDP. The AMD chip's larger process node and bigger die (245 mm² vs 118 mm²) contribute to its higher power draw and desktop-oriented design.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-3520M has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD A10 PRO-7850B has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel chip's base clock is 2.90 GHz and its boost clock is 3.60 GHz. The AMD chip's base clock is 3.70 GHz and its boost clock is 4.00 GHz. Despite the AMD chip's higher clocks, the Intel chip wins in single-core performance due to architectural efficiency.

The TDP difference is substantial: the Intel chip is rated at 35 W, while the AMD chip is rated at 95 W. This reflects their market segments: the Intel part is a mobile processor, and the AMD part is a desktop processor. The sockets are incompatible: the Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1023, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FM2+.

The cache configurations are also different. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 256 KB of L1 total and 4 MB of L2 total, with no L3 cache. The Intel chip's L3 cache is a shared resource across both cores, while the AMD chip relies on its larger L2 and has no L3.

Memory support differs as well. The AMD chip explicitly supports DDR3 memory and has a stated memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Intel chip's memory support is not listed in the data, but it uses a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD chip also has a PCIe Gen 3 interface with 16 lanes, while the Intel chip's PCIe information is not provided.

The integrated graphics are different: Intel HD 4000 on the Intel chip, Radeon R7 on the AMD chip. The process nodes differ (22 nm for Intel, 28 nm for AMD), as do the die sizes (118 mm² for Intel, 245 mm² for AMD) and transistor counts (the AMD chip has 2,411 million transistors; the Intel chip's transistor count is not listed). The AMD chip is marked as end-of-life production status, while the Intel chip's production status is not listed. The release dates also differ, with the Intel chip released in June 2012 and the AMD chip in July 2014. Neither chip has a listed launch MSRP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.