AMD A8-7650K vs Intel Core i7-920 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD A8-7650K across every shared benchmark test. The AMD processor wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 8.1% to 8.4%. This consistency across different Cinebench versions is notable, as it indicates the performance gap is stable regardless of the workload generation of the test software.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD A8-7650K scores 266 against 246 for the Intel Core i7-920, a lead of 8.1%. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where AMD posts 1111 versus Intel's 1025, an 8.4% advantage. The single-core results tell the same story: the A8-7650K reaches 156 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 144 for the i7-920, another 8.3% margin. In the newer Cinebench R23 tests, the AMD part scores 2647 multicore and 373 single-core, while the Intel chip manages 2442 and 344 respectively, both results showing an 8.4% delta.

The interesting nuance here is that the Intel Core i7-920 has double the thread count. The i7-920 is a 4-core, 8-thread processor, while the AMD A8-7650K is a 4-core, 4-thread part. Despite facing twice the logical processing resources, the AMD chip still comes out ahead in every multi-threaded workload tested. This suggests the architectural efficiency of the newer Steamroller design, combined with a higher base clock and boost clock, overcomes the thread-count disadvantage.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this picture. The AMD A8-7650K holds an average score of 860, placing it in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs tracked. The Intel Core i7-920 averages 840, sitting at the 22nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Core i7-4500U at 859 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Xeon W3520 at 862 (0.2% ahead), showing the A8-7650K sits in a tightly contested performance band. For the Intel part, the closest competitor is the AMD FX-8800P at 843, which sits 0.3% ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The AMD A8-7650K uses the Steamroller architecture, part of the Kaveri generation, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-920 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Bloomfield, built on a 45 nm process at Intel. It packs 731 million transistors onto a 263 mm² die. The contrast is stark: AMD fits over three times more transistors onto a smaller die, thanks to the newer manufacturing node.

Clock speeds favor AMD decisively. The A8-7650K runs at a 3.30 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The i7-920 operates at 2.67 GHz base and 2.93 GHz boost. This represents a 0.63 GHz base clock advantage and a 0.87 GHz boost advantage for the AMD part. The higher clocks directly explain much of the single-core performance lead.

Cache configurations differ in structure. The AMD chip provides 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache. The Intel part offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a substantial 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel approach uses the L3 as a shared pool for all cores, while AMD relies on its larger L2 allocation.

Memory support shows another generational gap. Both support DDR3, but the AMD A8-7650K uses dual-channel memory with a measured bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-920 uses triple-channel memory, though the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. The triple-channel configuration was a hallmark of the high-end Bloomfield platform, providing more memory channels than typical desktop parts of its era.

PCIe support also differs. The AMD part features PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU. The Intel chip offers PCIe Gen 2. This represents a full generation of PCIe bandwidth improvement on the AMD side.

A major differentiator is integrated graphics. The AMD A8-7650K includes a Radeon R7 iGPU, making it an accelerated processing unit. The Intel Core i7-920 has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. This makes the AMD chip a more complete package for systems without a dedicated graphics card.

The multiplier situation favors AMD as well. The A8-7650K has an unlocked multiplier, enabling easy overclocking. The i7-920 has a locked multiplier, limiting overclocking flexibility to base clock adjustments only.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD A8-7650K wins every multi-core test in the database. It leads by 8.1% in Cinebench R15 multicore (266 vs 246), 8.4% in Cinebench R20 multicore (1111 vs 1025), and 8.4% in Cinebench R23 multicore (2647 vs 2442).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-920's extra threads help it win anything?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads versus 4 threads for AMD, the i7-920 loses all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The thread advantage does not translate into a win in any recorded test.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The AMD A8-7650K is ahead in single-core performance. It scores 156 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 144 for Intel (8.3% lead), and 373 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 344 (8.4% lead).

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD A8-7650K includes integrated graphics, specifically a Radeon R7 iGPU. The Intel Core i7-920 has no integrated graphics and requires a separate graphics card.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The AMD A8-7650K is built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core i7-920 uses a 45 nm process at Intel. The smaller node allows AMD to pack 2,411 million transistors onto a 245 mm² die, versus 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die for Intel.

Q: Do both processors support overclocking?

A: The AMD A8-7650K has an unlocked multiplier, making overclocking straightforward. The Intel Core i7-920 has a locked multiplier, which restricts overclocking to base clock adjustments.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A8-7650K averages 860, placing it in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-920 averages 840, at the 22nd percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A8-7650K | Intel Core i7-920 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.67 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.93 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 130 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FM2+ | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Steamroller | Nehalem |

| Codename | Kaveri | Bloomfield |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 45 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,411 million | 731 million |

| Die Size | 245 mm² | 263 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 256 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | None | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | None |

| Multiplier | Unlocked | Locked |

| Release Date | 2015-01-06 | 2008-11-16 |

The TDP difference is significant: the AMD part draws 95 W versus 130 W for Intel, meaning the A8-7650K delivers better performance while consuming less power. The release dates also show a generational gap of over six years, with AMD launching in January 2015 and Intel launching in November 2008.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD A8-7650K wins in every measured benchmark category. Its strengths are most pronounced in single-core performance, where the combination of a 3.80 GHz boost clock and the newer Steamroller architecture delivers an 8.3% to 8.4% advantage over the older Nehalem design. The multi-core results are equally one-sided, with the AMD chip winning by 8.1% to 8.4% despite having half the threads.

The AMD part also wins on platform features. It includes a Radeon R7 integrated GPU, which makes it suitable for systems that do not use a discrete graphics card. It supports PCIe Gen 3, offering double the bandwidth of the Intel part's PCIe Gen 2. The unlocked multiplier provides overclocking headroom that the locked Intel chip cannot match. The smaller 28 nm process node contributes to lower power consumption, with a 95 W TDP versus 130 W for Intel.

The Intel Core i7-920 retains some structural advantages, though they do not translate into benchmark wins. Its 8 MB of shared L3 cache is larger than anything on the AMD chip, which has no L3 at all. The triple-channel memory bus provides more memory channels than the AMD part's dual-channel configuration. The 4-core, 8-thread configuration offers more logical processors for heavily threaded applications. Yet in the database's recorded tests, none of these advantages produce a victory.

The i7-920's closest benchmark rivals show where it sits in the broader market. It trades nearly evenly with the Intel Xeon X5470, Intel Core i5-3380M, and Intel Core i5-5200U, all within 0.3% of its average score. The AMD FX-8800P sits 0.3% ahead of it. This places the i7-920 in the lower-middle range of desktop performance, despite its high-end positioning at launch.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD A8-7650K. It wins all five head-to-head benchmarks, holds a higher average benchmark score (860 vs 840, with the 23rd versus 22nd percentile placement), consumes less power, and offers features the Intel chip lacks entirely: integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 3, and an unlocked multiplier.

Users who need integrated graphics should pick the AMD A8-7650K. The Radeon R7 iGPU makes it a complete processor package for basic display output and light gaming without a discrete GPU requirement. Users who overclock should also favor the AMD chip, given its unlocked multiplier versus the locked multiplier on the Intel part.

Users who require high thread counts for specific multi-threaded software might consider the Intel Core i7-920 for its 8 threads, but the benchmark results show this advantage does not yield better scores in any recorded Cinebench test. The AMD chip wins all multi-core tests regardless of the thread deficit.

The Intel part belongs to the 2008 Bloomfield generation and shows its age in the recorded measurements. Its 45 nm process, locked multiplier, lack of integrated graphics, and lower clock speeds combine to place it behind the AMD chip in every comparison. The AMD A8-7650K, despite being a mid-range part from 2015, outperforms the older high-end Intel processor across the board.