AMD A8-7650K vs AMD Athlon PRO 3045B Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark record for these two processors is split, but not evenly. The AMD A8-7650K takes five of the seven recorded head-to-head tests, while the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B wins the remaining two. The margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

In the Cinebench suite, the A8-7650K holds a consistent lead across all four versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 266 against the Athlon PRO 3045B's 237, a delta of 10.9%. The R20 multicore test shows a similar gap: 1111 versus 988, which is 11.1% in favor of the A8. The R23 multicore result repeats the pattern at 2647 versus 2354, again an 11.1% difference. Single-core results in Cinebench follow the same direction. The A8-7650K posts 156 in R20 single-core against 139 for the Athlon, and 373 versus 332 in R23 single-core, a 11% gap.

The Geekbench tests flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the Athlon PRO 3045B scores 1287 against the A8-7650K's 1048, a 22.8% advantage. The Geekbench single-core result is even more lopsided: 766 versus 421, which works out to an 81.9% lead for the Athlon PRO 3045B. That single-core margin is the largest delta recorded between the two processors in any test.

Looking at the aggregate picture, the two chips land very close together overall. The Athlon PRO 3045B has an average benchmark score of 872, while the A8-7650K averages 860. Both sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The Athlon's nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Atom C5315 (871, a 0.1% delta), the Intel Core i3-5157U (877, a 0.5% delta in the other direction), the Intel Core i7-3540M (867, 0.6%), and the Intel Xeon X3460 (866, 0.6%). The A8-7650K's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-4500U (859, 0.1%), the Intel Xeon W3520 (862, 0.2% against it), the Intel Core i5-3470T (863, 0.4% against it), and the Intel Core i5-2500T (856, 0.4%).

What the data shows is that the A8-7650K is the stronger Cinebench performer across the board, while the Athlon PRO 3045B dominates Geekbench, especially in single-core. The overall averages mask these divergent strengths, since the two chips land within 1.4% of each other in aggregate score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B is a Zen-based part, using the Dali codename, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It belongs to the 3000 series and is listed as being in the Athlon generation under Zen (Dali). The A8-7650K uses the Steamroller architecture under the Kaveri codename, with a 28 nm process also from GlobalFoundries. The A8 sits in the A8 (Kaveri) generation.

The transistor and die-size figures reflect the process gap. The Athlon PRO 3045B packs 3,500 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. The A8-7650K has 2,411 million transistors spread across a larger 245 mm² die. Despite having fewer transistors, the older 28 nm process forces the A8 to use more silicon area.

Core counts differ. The Athlon PRO 3045B has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads. That means the A8 has no simultaneous multithreading, while the Athlon doubles its thread count over its physical core count.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The Athlon PRO 3045B has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The A8-7650K has 256 KB of L1 total and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The Athlon's L3 cache is a significant architectural addition that the older part lacks.

Memory support separates them further. The Athlon PRO 3045B uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The A8-7650K uses DDR3, also dual-channel, with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The Athlon also supports ECC memory, while the A8 does not.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Athlon PRO 3045B has Gen 3 with 12 lanes from the CPU. The A8-7650K has Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Clock speeds favor the older chip. The A8-7650K runs at 3.30 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Athlon PRO 3045B runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. The A8's higher clocks partially explain its Cinebench advantage, despite the architectural gap.

Power and platform targets are far apart. The Athlon PRO 3045B has a 15 W TDP and fits the AMD Socket FP5, targeting the mobile segment. The A8-7650K has a 95 W TDP, uses AMD Socket FM2+, and is a desktop part. The Athlon is still in active production, while the A8 is end-of-life. The A8 has an unlocked multiplier; the Athlon does not.

Integrated graphics differ too. The Athlon PRO 3045B carries Radeon Vega with 2 compute units. The A8-7650K carries Radeon R7 graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The Cinebench results paint a clear picture for the A8-7650K. It wins every Cinebench test in the database, both single-core and multi-core, across R15, R20, and R23. The margins are consistent, hovering around 11% in every case. This suggests the A8's higher clock speeds and four physical cores give it an edge in sustained rendering-style workloads as measured by Cinebench.

The Athlon PRO 3045B wins decisively in Geekbench. Its single-core score of 766 is 81.9% higher than the A8's 421. Its multicore score of 1287 beats the A8's 1048 by 22.8%. The Geekbench single-core gap is particularly striking given that the A8 has a higher base and boost clock. The Zen architecture's efficiency and the presence of L3 cache likely drive this result.

For workloads similar to Cinebench, the A8-7650K is the stronger choice. For workloads that resemble Geekbench, especially those emphasizing single-threaded responsiveness, the Athlon PRO 3045B has a substantial advantage.

The overall percentile ranking puts both at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy similar tiers in the database's overall performance distribution. The average scores of 872 and 860 are close, but the distribution of wins is not. Users should weigh which benchmark family best represents their intended use.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B has an average benchmark score of 872, compared to 860 for the AMD A8-7650K.

Q: How large is the single-core Geekbench gap between the two?

A: The Athlon PRO 3045B scores 766 in Geekbench single-core, which is 81.9% higher than the A8-7650K's 421.

Q: Does the A8-7650K win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the A8-7650K wins all four Cinebench tests in the database, with margins between 10.9% and 11.1% over the Athlon PRO 3045B.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Athlon PRO 3045B has 2 cores and 4 threads. The A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Athlon PRO 3045B supports ECC memory. The AMD A8-7650K does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for the two chips?

A: The Athlon PRO 3045B has a 15 W TDP, while the A8-7650K has a 95 W TDP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Athlon PRO 3045B has 2 cores and 4 threads; the A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.30 GHz versus 3.30 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, with the A8 higher in both cases.

The Athlon PRO 3045B uses a 14 nm process, while the A8-7650K uses 28 nm. Transistor counts are 3,500 million versus 2,411 million. Die sizes are 148 mm² versus 245 mm².

Cache configurations are entirely different. The Athlon has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The A8 has 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, with no L3.

Memory support: the Athlon uses DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The A8 uses DDR3 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC.

The Athlon PRO 3045B has Gen 3 PCIe with 12 lanes; the A8-7650K has Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega (2CU) on the Athlon versus Radeon R7 on the A8.

The Athlon PRO 3045B targets mobile on Socket FP5 with a 15 W TDP. The A8-7650K targets desktop on Socket FM2+ with a 95 W TDP. The Athlon is active in production; the A8 is end-of-life. The A8 has an unlocked multiplier; the Athlon does not. The A8 has a recorded release date of January 2015, while the Athlon has no release date in the database.

The Verdict

The data supports different picks depending on the workload. If the priority is Cinebench-style rendering performance, the AMD A8-7650K wins every recorded Cinebench test by roughly 11%. Its higher clock speeds and four physical cores give it a consistent edge in that benchmark family.

If the priority is Geekbench performance, the AMD Athlon PRO 3045B is the clear choice. It leads by 22.8% in multicore and by 81.9% in single-core. The Zen architecture, L3 cache, and DDR4 memory support appear to deliver substantially better results in that test suite.

For platform considerations, the Athlon PRO 3045B offers ECC memory support, a 15 W TDP, and active production status. The A8-7650K offers an unlocked multiplier, more PCIe lanes, and a desktop socket. The Athlon targets mobile systems on Socket FP5, while the A8 targets desktop systems on Socket FM2+.

The overall average scores are close, 872 versus 860, but the two chips achieve those averages through very different strengths. Buyers should match the processor to the benchmark that reflects their actual workload. The A8-7650K for Cinebench-style tasks, the Athlon PRO 3045B for Geekbench-style tasks, especially single-threaded ones.