AMD A8-7650K vs AMD Athlon Silver 7120U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD A8-7650K wins in multi-threaded Cinebench tests. It scores 266 versus 250 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (6.4% ahead) and 2647 versus 1673 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, a wider 58.2% margin.

Q: Does the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U have any advantages at all?

A: Yes, it dominates in single-threaded and memory-sensitive tasks. It scores 886 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 373 for the A8-7650K, and 892 in Geekbench single-core versus 421, a 52.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has a higher boost clock at 3.80 GHz, while the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U boosts to 3.50 GHz. The A8 also has a higher base clock at 3.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has a 95 W TDP, while the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U is rated at 15 W TDP. The Athlon Silver is designed for mobile use with a much lower power envelope.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Athlon Silver 7120U has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 881, compared to 860 for the AMD A8-7650K. Both processors sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor has a more modern architecture?

A: The AMD Athlon Silver 7120U uses Zen 2 architecture on a 6 nm process node, while the AMD A8-7650K uses Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm node. The Athlon Silver also supports LPDDR5 memory, while the A8 supports DDR3.

Architecture Differences

The AMD A8-7650K and AMD Athlon Silver 7120U represent two very different design philosophies from AMD, separated by nearly eight years of silicon evolution. The A8-7650K is built on the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Kaveri, and fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process node. It features a substantial die size of 245 mm² and packs 2,411 million transistors. The Athlon Silver 7120U, by contrast, uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Mendocino codename, built by TSMC on a 6 nm process node. Its die is much smaller at 100 mm², and the database does not record a transistor count for it.

Core topology differs significantly between the two. The A8-7650K has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache. It has no L3 cache. The Athlon Silver 7120U has 2 cores and 2 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 2 MB of shared L3 cache. The lack of an L3 cache on the Kaveri part is a notable architectural gap, especially given the Zen 2 design's reliance on shared L3 for latency mitigation.

Memory support is another major divergence. The A8-7650K supports DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, delivering 34.1 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Athlon Silver 7120U supports LPDDR5 memory, also on a dual-channel bus, but with a much higher bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics solutions also differ. The A8-7650K pairs with Radeon R7 graphics, while the Athlon Silver 7120U includes Radeon 610M graphics. Both are integrated, but they come from different GPU generations and likely offer different feature sets. The A8-7650K has an unlocked multiplier and targets the desktop segment with an AMD Socket FM2+ interface, while the Athlon Silver 7120U is a locked mobile part on AMD Socket FT6. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the A8-7650K provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Athlon Silver 7120U provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only). The A8-7650K is end-of-life, whereas the Athlon Silver 7120U remains active in production.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-7650K wins in multi-core rendering workloads, particularly in the Cinebench suite. Its 58.2% lead over the Athlon Silver in Cinebench R23 multi-core shows that its four physical cores and higher clock speeds still matter in heavily threaded scenarios. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it holds a narrower but real 6.4% advantage. This makes the A8-7650K the better choice for applications that scale with core count and sustained multi-threaded throughput, such as video rendering or batch processing, as long as the power budget allows for a 95 W TDP part.

The AMD Athlon Silver 7120U wins decisively in single-threaded performance and in Geekbench workloads. It leads by 57.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core and by 52.8% in Geekbench single-core. The Athlon Silver also wins Geekbench multi-core by 28.1%, despite having only two cores. This reflects the IPC advantage of Zen 2 over Steamroller and the much faster LPDDR5 memory subsystem. The Athlon Silver is better suited to everyday responsiveness, web browsing, office tasks, and any workload that relies on single-thread speed or memory bandwidth. Its 15 W TDP also makes it viable for fanless or ultra-portable designs, where the A8-7650K's 95 W TDP would be impractical.

In terms of average benchmark score, the Athlon Silver edges out the A8-7650K with 881 versus 860, a small but consistent overall advantage. Both sit at the 23rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they target similar low-to-mid performance tiers, but they achieve that placement through very different means: raw core count and clock speed on the A8 side, versus modern architecture and memory bandwidth on the Athlon side.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The A8-7650K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Athlon Silver 7120U has 2 cores and 2 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.80 GHz versus 3.50 GHz, both in favor of the A8. TDP is a major differentiator: 95 W for the A8 versus 15 W for the Athlon Silver.

The A8-7650K uses AMD Socket FM2+, while the Athlon Silver 7120U uses AMD Socket FT6. Architecture is Steamroller versus Zen 2, with codenames Kaveri and Mendocino respectively. The process node is 28 nm (GlobalFoundries) versus 6 nm (TSMC). Die size is 245 mm² versus 100 mm², and the transistor count is 2,411 million for the A8, with no recorded count for the Athlon Silver.

Cache configurations differ: the A8 has 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2 with no L3, while the Athlon Silver has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 2 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR3 for the A8 versus LPDDR5 for the Athlon Silver, with memory bandwidth at 34.1 GB/s versus 88.0 GB/s. Both are dual-channel and neither supports ECC.

PCIe lanes differ: the A8 provides Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Athlon Silver provides Gen 3, 4 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are Radeon R7 versus Radeon 610M. Market segments are Desktop versus Mobile. Production status is End-of-life versus Active. Release dates are January 2015 for the A8 versus September 2022 for the Athlon Silver. The A8 has an unlocked multiplier and no recorded launch MSRP; the Athlon Silver is multiplier-locked and also has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clear split between multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD A8-7650K scores 266 against 250 for the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U, a 6.4% win. This is the closest contest in the entire comparison. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the A8 extends its lead dramatically, scoring 2647 against 1673, a 58.2% advantage. The A8's four cores and higher clocks clearly help in sustained multi-threaded rendering, even though the Athlon Silver's Zen 2 cores are individually far more efficient.

The Athlon Silver turns the tables decisively in single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 886 against 373 for the A8, a 57.9% lead. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 892 against 421, a 52.8% advantage. These are massive margins and reflect the generational IPC improvement from Steamroller to Zen 2. The Athlon Silver also wins Geekbench multi-core, scoring 1457 against 1048, a 28.1% lead. This is notable because the A8 has double the core count, but the Athlon Silver's superior per-core performance and much higher memory bandwidth (88.0 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s) allow it to overcome that deficit.

The overall win tally favors the Athlon Silver with 3 wins out of 5 recorded benchmarks, but the magnitude of the wins matters more than the count. The A8's two wins come in Cinebench multi-core tests, where its lead in R23 is substantial. The Athlon Silver's three wins include both single-core tests and Geekbench multi-core, with its single-core margins being particularly lopsided.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database adds context. The A8-7650K has an average benchmark score of 860, placing it within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-4500U, within 0.2% of the Intel Xeon W3520, within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-3470T, and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-2500T. The Athlon Silver 7120U has an average score of 881, matching the Intel Core i3-1000NG4 and the AMD Phenom II X6 1035T exactly, sitting 0.1% ahead of the AMD PRO A12-8870E and 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-930. Both chips are clustered in the same performance neighborhood, but the Athlon Silver achieves its standing with far fewer watts and a much smaller die.