AMD A8-7650K vs AMD FX-8800P Comparison
AMD A8-7650K
FX-8800P
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: AMD A8-7650K vs AMD FX-8800P
The Verdict
The recorded data splits these two AMD processors into distinct roles. The AMD A8-7650K wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD FX-8800P wins 2. The A8-7650K is the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering tasks, as it leads by roughly 10% across all Cinebench tests. The FX-8800P, however, takes a decisive lead in Geekbench, scoring 15.1% higher in multi-core and 19.7% higher in single-core. This suggests the FX-8800P is better suited for workloads that resemble Geekbench's mixed integer and floating-point patterns, while the A8-7650K excels in sustained rendering workloads.
The average benchmark score for the A8-7650K is 860, placing it at the 23rd percentile of all CPUs. The FX-8800P averages 843, at the 22nd percentile. These are nearly identical overall positions, separated by less than 2%. The A8-7650K sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-2500T and 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-4500U. The FX-8800P matches the Intel Core i7-3520M exactly and trails the Intel Core i7-920 by 0.3%. Buyers should pick the A8-7650K for rendering and Cinebench-style compute, and the FX-8800P for Geekbench-style mixed workloads, where its architectural efficiency shows a clear advantage.
Architecture Differences
Both processors are built on the 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, but they use different architectures. The A8-7650K uses the Steamroller architecture with the Kaveri codename, while the FX-8800P uses Excavator with the Carrizo codename. The A8-7650K has 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die, while the FX-8800P packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The FX-8800P fits nearly 30% more transistors into a similar area, a sign of a denser, more refined design.
Cache configurations differ notably. The A8-7650K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache. The FX-8800P has 320 KB of L1 cache but only 1 MB of L2 cache per module. Neither chip has L3 cache. The FX-8800P's smaller L2 per module suggests a different cache hierarchy philosophy, one that apparently favors lower power consumption over raw cache capacity.
Clock speeds tell a clear story. The A8-7650K runs at a 3.30 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The FX-8800P runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The A8-7650K has significantly higher clocks, which explains its Cinebench leads. The FX-8800P compensates with architectural improvements from Excavator.
The power envelope is the biggest gap. The A8-7650K has a 95 W TDP, while the FX-8800P sips just 15 W. That is a massive difference for mobile use. The FX-8800P uses the AMD Socket FP4, designed for laptops, while the A8-7650K uses AMD Socket FM2+ for desktop boards. The A8-7650K has an unlocked multiplier, while the FX-8800P is locked. PCIe connectivity also differs: the A8-7650K provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the FX-8800P provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes.
Both support DDR3 memory in dual-channel mode with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, and neither supports ECC. The integrated graphics are both Radeon R7, but the FX-8800P is listed as Radeon R7 8CU, suggesting a specific compute unit count. The A8-7650K was released on January 6, 2015, and the FX-8800P on June 1, 2015, both now end-of-life.
Where Each One Wins
The A8-7650K dominates in Cinebench workloads. It wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head data: R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. The deltas are remarkably consistent, all between 9.9% and 10%. This consistency is striking. The A8-7650K's higher clock speeds, 3.30 GHz base versus 2.10 GHz, and its larger 4 MB L2 cache likely drive this uniform advantage in rendering tasks. For users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales with Cinebench scores, the A8-7650K is the clear pick.
The FX-8800P wins in Geekbench. It scores 1234 multi-core versus 1048 for the A8-7650K, a 15.1% advantage. In single-core, it scores 524 versus 421, a 19.7% advantage. These are substantial margins. The Excavator architecture appears to handle Geekbench's workload patterns more efficiently, despite lower clock speeds. This suggests the FX-8800P is the better choice for everyday computing, web browsing, office applications, and other mixed workloads that resemble Geekbench's test suite. The 15 W TDP also makes it the only sensible choice for battery-powered devices.
The data implies a trade-off: raw clock speed and cache capacity favor the A8-7650K in sustained rendering, while architectural efficiency favors the FX-8800P in mixed single-threaded tasks. Users should match the CPU to their primary workload rather than assume one is universally faster.
FAQ
Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?
A: The AMD A8-7650K scores 2647, while the AMD FX-8800P scores 2407, giving the A8-7650K a 10% advantage.
Q: Does the FX-8800P win any benchmarks?
A: Yes, the FX-8800P wins both Geekbench tests: 1234 multi-core versus 1048 (15.1% higher) and 524 single-core versus 421 (19.7% higher).
Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?
A: The A8-7650K has an average score of 860, and the FX-8800P has 843. The A8-7650K sits at the 23rd percentile, and the FX-8800P at the 22nd.
Q: What are the power consumption differences?
A: The A8-7650K has a TDP of 95 W, while the FX-8800P has a TDP of 15 W. The FX-8800P is designed for mobile use with the AMD Socket FP4.
Q: Do both processors support the same memory?
A: Yes, both support DDR3 in dual-channel mode with 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.
Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?
A: The A8-7650K has a 3.30 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost. The FX-8800P has a 2.10 GHz base clock and 3.40 GHz boost.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Cinebench results form a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the A8-7650K scores 266 versus 242 for the FX-8800P, a 9.9% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the A8-7650K scores 1111 versus 1010, a 10% lead. The single-core results mirror this: 156 versus 142 in R20 single-core (9.9% lead) and 373 versus 339 in R23 single-core (10% lead). The consistency across different Cinebench versions, from R15 to R23, suggests the A8-7650K's advantage in rendering is structural, not an artifact of a single test version.
The Geekbench results flip the narrative. The FX-8800P scores 1234 multi-core versus 1048 for the A8-7650K, a 15.1% margin. In single-core, it scores 524 versus 421, a 19.7% margin. These are the largest deltas in the entire head-to-head comparison. The FX-8800P's wins are bigger than the A8-7650K's wins. While the A8-7650K consistently leads by about 10% in Cinebench, the FX-8800P leads by 15% to nearly 20% in Geekbench.
The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The A8-7650K averages 860, barely ahead of the FX-8800P's 843. The A8-7650K's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-4500U at 859 (0.1% difference) and the Intel Xeon W3520 at 862 (0.2% difference). The FX-8800P matches the Intel Core i7-3520M at 843 exactly and trails the Intel Core i7-920 by 0.3%. Both chips compete with older Intel Core i7 and Xeon parts, not modern flagships.
The win count favors the A8-7650K at 5 wins versus 2, but the magnitude of the FX-8800P's Geekbench wins means the overall average scores are nearly identical. This is a useful reminder that benchmark selection heavily influences perceived performance. A rendering-focused review would crown the A8-7650K, while a general-purpose review would favor the FX-8800P.
Specification Differences
The core count and thread count are identical: 4 cores and 4 threads for both. The process node is also the same at 28 nm, and both use GlobalFoundries as the foundry. The similarities end there.
The A8-7650K has a 3.30 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost, while the FX-8800P has 2.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The A8-7650K has a 95 W TDP, the FX-8800P has 15 W. The A8-7650K uses AMD Socket FM2+, the FX-8800P uses AMD Socket FP4. The A8-7650K is Steamroller architecture with Kaveri codename, the FX-8800P is Excavator with Carrizo codename.
Transistor counts differ: 2,411 million for the A8-7650K versus 3,100 million for the FX-8800P. Die sizes are close, at 245 mm² versus 250 mm². The L1 cache is 256 KB for the A8-7650K and 320 KB for the FX-8800P. The L2 cache is 4 MB for the A8-7650K versus 1 MB per module for the FX-8800P. Neither has L3 cache.
PCIe lanes differ: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the A8-7650K versus Gen 3 with 8 lanes for the FX-8800P. The A8-7650K has an unlocked multiplier, the FX-8800P does not. The integrated GPU is Radeon R7 for the A8-7650K and Radeon R7 8CU for the FX-8800P. The market segment is Desktop for the A8-7650K and Mobile for the FX-8800P. The A8-7650K launched January 6, 2015, and the FX-8800P launched June 1, 2015. Both are end-of-life.