AMD A6-9400 vs Intel Core i7-870S Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusually close contest between two processors from very different eras. The Intel Core i7-870S wins all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, yet its margins are remarkably slim, ranging from 1.5% to 2.2%. The A6-9400 trails by just 1.5% in Cinebench R23 single-core and 1.8% in multi-core, which puts both chips in nearly the same performance class despite their architectural gulf. The database places the Intel part at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs and the AMD part at the 21st percentile, a difference of one percentage point. The average benchmark scores tell the same story: 809 for the Intel versus 794 for the AMD, a gap of roughly 1.9%.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench throughput, the Intel Core i7-870S is the statistical winner. It leads in every test, and its 8 threads give it a structural advantage in heavily threaded workloads. However, the A6-9400 offers a more modern platform foundation with DDR4 memory support, PCIe Gen 3, and an integrated Radeon R5 GPU, none of which the Intel part can match. The data suggests that a buyer choosing between these two should base the decision on platform needs rather than compute performance, because the compute performance is nearly identical. The Intel part wins the benchmarks; the AMD part wins the platform argument.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-870S belongs to the Nehalem architecture, specifically the Lynnfield codename, built on Intel's 45 nm process with 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. It uses 4 cores and 8 threads, a configuration that relies on simultaneous multithreading to double the logical processor count. Its cache hierarchy is per-core for L1 and L2, with 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus an 8 MB shared L3 cache. The memory interface is dual-channel DDR3 and the PCIe implementation is Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The AMD A6-9400 comes from the Excavator architecture under the Bristol Ridge codename, fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. It is a 2-core, 2-thread processor with no simultaneous multithreading. Its L1 cache totals 160 KB and its L2 cache is 1 MB shared, with no L3 cache at all. Memory support moves to dual-channel DDR4 with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and PCIe is Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part also integrates a Radeon R5 graphics solution, while the Intel part lists no integrated graphics.

The transistor counts are notable: the AMD chip packs 3,100 million transistors versus 774 million for Intel, a fourfold difference, yet the performance outcome is nearly a tie. This reflects the very different design philosophies. The Intel chip is older, built on a larger process node, and achieves its performance through higher core and thread counts. The AMD chip is denser, more recent, and relies on higher clock speeds combined with a newer memory and PCIe generation. The absence of L3 cache on the AMD side is likely a factor in why its higher clocks do not translate into a decisive victory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-870S has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD A6-9400 has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: Does either processor support DDR4 memory?

A: Only the AMD A6-9400 supports DDR4 memory. The Intel Core i7-870S supports DDR3.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD A6-9400 includes a Radeon R5 integrated GPU. The Intel Core i7-870S has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-870S scores 331 versus 326 for the AMD A6-9400, a 1.5% lead for Intel.

Q: Which processor is still in active production?

A: The AMD A6-9400 is listed as Active, while the Intel Core i7-870S is End-of-life.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-870S records an average benchmark score of 809, and the AMD A6-9400 records 794, a difference of 1.9% in favor of Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i7-870S has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD A6-9400 has 2 cores and 2 threads. Base clock speeds are 2.67 GHz for Intel and 3.40 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 3.60 GHz for Intel and 3.70 GHz for AMD. Thermal design power is 82 watts for Intel and 65 watts for AMD. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1156 for the i7-870S and AMD Socket AM4 for the A6-9400.

Process technology differs as well. Intel uses a 45 nm node with 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. AMD uses a 28 nm node with 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. Cache configurations are distinct: Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. AMD has 160 KB total L1, 1 MB shared L2, and no L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 for Intel and DDR4 for AMD, both dual-channel. The AMD part records a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure recorded. PCIe generations differ: Gen 2 with 16 lanes for Intel, Gen 3 with 8 lanes for AMD. The AMD A6-9400 includes a Radeon R5 integrated GPU; the Intel i7-870S does not. Production status also diverges, with Intel listed as End-of-life and AMD listed as Active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across all five recorded Cinebench tests, with the Intel Core i7-870S winning every round by a narrow margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 236 versus 232 for AMD, a 1.7% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, Intel scores 987 versus 969, a 1.9% edge. The single-core tests follow the same pattern. Cinebench R20 single-core has Intel at 139 and AMD at 136, a 2.2% lead, the largest margin of any test. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows Intel at 2350 versus 2309, a 1.8% gap. Cinebench R23 single-core has Intel at 331 and AMD at 326, a 1.5% margin, the smallest of the five.

The interesting implication is that the AMD A6-9400, despite having half the cores and no multithreading, comes within roughly 2% of the Intel part in every workload. The Intel chip's 8 threads should theoretically provide a significant advantage in multi-core tests, but the AMD chip's higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 2.67 GHz and its newer memory subsystem appear to close most of that gap. The single-core results are especially telling: the Intel part wins, but by only 1.5% to 2.2%, which suggests the per-core performance of the two architectures is nearly equivalent in these workloads.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The Intel i7-870S averages 809, placing it alongside rivals like the AMD A10-6800K at 809 with a 0% delta, the AMD Athlon X4 850 at 806 with a 0.4% delta, and the Intel Xeon X5482 at 805 with a 0.4% delta. The AMD A6-9400 averages 794, sitting near the AMD A10-5800B at 794 with a 0.1% delta, the AMD A10-7850K at 796 with a -0.3% delta, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G at 797 with a -0.3% delta. The two chips' nearest rivals are all in the same performance band, which further confirms that these processors are effectively peers in compute throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-870S wins on raw benchmark scores in every recorded test. It also offers more cores and threads, a larger L3 cache, and a higher PCIe lane count with 16 lanes versus 8. The data indicates that for users who prioritize Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Intel part is the consistent, if modest, leader. The 8-thread configuration gives it a structural edge that shows up in every multi-core result, even if the margins are small. The Intel part also benefits from a higher transistor count per core in terms of thread capacity, and its percentile ranking of 22 versus 21 indicates slightly broader overall performance standing among all CPUs.

The AMD A6-9400 wins on platform modernity and efficiency. It has a lower TDP of 65 watts versus 82 watts, which means less heat output. It supports DDR4 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, a clear generational step over DDR3. It uses PCIe Gen 3, doubling the data rate per lane compared to Gen 2. It includes an integrated Radeon R5 GPU, which means a system built around it does not require a separate graphics card for basic display output. It is also listed as Active in production, whereas the Intel part is End-of-life, which has implications for long-term availability and platform longevity. The AMD chip's socket, AM4, is a modern platform that supports DDR4 and current PCIe standards.

The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Intel part is the compute winner, the AMD part is the platform winner. For a user building a new system today, the A6-9400's active production status, integrated graphics, and DDR4 support make it the more practical choice despite losing every benchmark. For a user upgrading an existing Intel Socket 1156 system, the i7-870S offers a drop-in performance improvement without a platform change. Neither chip dominates the other in a way that would force a decision based on performance alone, and the recorded margins are so narrow that real-world application differences would likely be imperceptible.