AMD A8-6600K vs Intel Core i7-3687U Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-3687U and AMD A8-6600K are two very different processors that happen to land in similar overall performance territory. The database shows the Intel part has an average benchmark score of 773, while the AMD part sits at 764. That is a gap of less than one percent. The Intel chip wins in single-core workloads, and the AMD chip wins in multi-core workloads. The data is split exactly one win each.

For a mobile user, the Intel Core i7-3687U is the clear choice. It delivers a 16.6% single-core advantage over the AMD part in Geekbench, which matters for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications. It also does this within a 17W TDP, making it suitable for thin laptops. The AMD A8-6600K is a desktop part with a 100W TDP. It is not a reasonable fit for portable systems.

For a desktop builder who prioritizes multi-threaded throughput, the AMD A8-6600K is the better pick. It wins the Geekbench multi-core test with a score of 1076 versus 1044 for the Intel chip, a 3% margin. It also has four physical cores and an unlocked multiplier. However, the Intel part is competitive even with fewer physical cores, and its single-core performance is substantially stronger.

The Intel Core i7-3687U is for users who want efficiency and strong single-thread performance in a mobile form factor. The AMD A8-6600K is for users who need raw multi-threaded performance on a desktop platform and are willing to accept much higher power draw. Neither chip is a dominant winner. The choice comes down to platform and workload priorities.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3687U wins in single-core performance. In the Geekbench single-core test, it scores 526 against 451 for the AMD A8-6600K. That is a 16.6% lead. This advantage is typical for applications that rely on one or two threads, such as older games, web browsing, or office productivity tasks. The Intel chip also has a higher boost clock relative to its base clock, scaling from 2.10 GHz to 3.30 GHz, which helps in short bursts of activity.

The AMD A8-6600K wins in multi-core performance. Its Geekbench multi-core score is 1076, compared to 1044 for the Intel chip. That is a 3% lead. The AMD part has four physical cores versus two physical cores with Hyper-Threading on the Intel side. It also runs at a much higher base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. For workloads that scale across all cores, such as video encoding or compiling, the AMD chip has an edge.

The Intel chip also wins on efficiency. Its TDP is 17W, which is dramatically lower than the 100W TDP of the AMD part. The Intel chip is a mobile processor on an Intel BGA 1023 socket, while the AMD chip is a desktop processor on an AMD Socket FM2. These are different platforms for different use cases. The data does not show a scenario where the AMD chip is better in single-threaded work, nor does it show the Intel chip winning in multi-threaded work.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-3687U is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node from Intel. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach four execution threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. It integrates Intel HD 4000 graphics. The chip belongs to the Core i7 generation labeled Ivy Bridge, and its part number is SR0XH.

The AMD A8-6600K uses the Piledriver architecture, codenamed Richland, and is fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 32 nm process. It has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with no SMT. The cache layout is different: 192 KB of L1 total and 4 MB of L2 total, with no L3 cache. It integrates Radeon HD 8570D graphics. The chip has 1,303 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, whereas the Intel chip has a 118 mm² die size. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, meaning the user can overclock it. The Intel chip does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Both processors support DDR3 memory and use a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip does not have a bandwidth figure in the database. The AMD chip also lists PCIe Gen 2 support, while the Intel chip has no PCIe field recorded. The AMD chip is marked as end-of-life in production status, and its release date is 2013-05-31. The Intel chip was released on 2013-01-07.

The process node difference is significant: 22 nm for Intel versus 32 nm for AMD. This explains part of the power draw gap. The Intel chip is a mobile part with a 17W TDP, while the AMD chip is a desktop part with a 100W TDP. The die size difference is also large, with AMD using a much larger chip to house four Piledriver cores and the Radeon HD 8570D graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-3687U scores 526 in Geekbench single-core, which is 16.6% higher than the AMD A8-6600K score of 451.

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The AMD A8-6600K scores 1076 in Geekbench multi-core, which is 3% higher than the Intel Core i7-3687U score of 1044.

Q: Can the AMD A8-6600K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the AMD A8-6600K has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i7-3687U does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which processor is more power efficient?

A: The Intel Core i7-3687U has a TDP of 17W, while the AMD A8-6600K has a TDP of 100W. The Intel chip is designed for mobile platforms.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-3687U uses Intel BGA 1023, while the AMD A8-6600K uses AMD Socket FM2.

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The AMD A8-6600K has 4 physical cores. The Intel Core i7-3687U has 2 physical cores and 4 threads via Hyper-Threading.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database includes two direct head-to-head benchmark results between these processors. Both are Geekbench tests, and each processor wins one.

In Geekbench single-core, the Intel Core i7-3687U scores 526. The AMD A8-6600K scores 451. The Intel chip wins by 16.6%. This is a decisive margin. It reflects the architectural efficiency of the Ivy Bridge design at 22 nm, as well as the higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz on the Intel part. The AMD chip runs at a higher base clock of 3.90 GHz, but its Piledriver cores are less efficient per clock in single-threaded work. Users who run applications that are not well parallelized will see a noticeable advantage with the Intel chip.

In Geekbench multi-core, the AMD A8-6600K scores 1076. The Intel Core i7-3687U scores 1044. The AMD chip wins by 3%. The margin is smaller than the single-core gap. This is expected given that the AMD chip has four physical cores versus two physical cores on the Intel side. The Intel chip compensates with Hyper-Threading, but it still cannot fully close the gap. The AMD chip also has a much higher clock speed across all cores, with a 4.20 GHz boost. For multi-threaded workloads, the AMD chip is the better performer, but not by a large margin.

The overall win count is even at one each. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 773 for the Intel chip and 764 for the AMD chip. The database places the Intel chip at the 21st percentile of all CPUs and the AMD chip at the 20th percentile. These chips are very close in overall performance, with the difference coming down to workload type.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3687U | AMD A8-6600K |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 17W | 100W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1023 | AMD Socket FM2 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Piledriver |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Richland |

| Generation | Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) | A8 (Richland) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,303 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 246 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 4 MB |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | None |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 29.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Radeon HD 8570D |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-01-07 | 2013-05-31 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR0XH | AD660KWOHLBOXAD660KWOA44HL |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 773 | 764 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 21 | 20 |