AMD A8-7670K vs AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is decisively one-sided. In the only directly comparable test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U scores 624 against the AMD A8-7670K's 276. That is a 126.1% advantage for the Ryzen part — more than double the older chip's output. The gap is so large that it redefines the performance tier both processors occupy. Despite both landing at the 25th percentile among all CPUs, their average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story: the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U averages 947, while the A8-7670K averages 944. The near-identical average scores are misleading, however, because the Ryzen's average is built from a different benchmark set (Geekbench and Cinebench R15), whereas the A8's includes newer Cinebench R20 and R23 runs.

Look closer at the individual results. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U posts a Geekbench multi-core score of 2202 and a single-core score of 819. The A8-7670K has no Geekbench entries in this data, so we cannot compare those directly. But the Cinebench R15 result is the headline: 624 vs 276. That single test shows the Ryzen delivering 126.1% more multi-threaded throughput than the A8. In single-core Cinebench R15, the Ryzen scores 142. The A8 has no matching single-core R15 score in the pack, but its Cinebench R20 single-core result is 162, and its R23 single-core is 387. Those are different workloads, so a direct apples-to-apples comparison is impossible — but the multi-core delta is unambiguous.

The nearest-rival data provides context. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U sits within 0.1-0.2% of the Intel Pentium Gold G5400T, Intel Xeon X5560, and AMD Phenom II X6 1045T, all averaging 946. The A8-7670K is similarly clustered, within 0.1-0.2% of the Intel Core i3-1110G4, AMD Athlon X4 860K, and the same Phenom II X6 and Xeon X5560. Both chips are essentially tied in overall average score, but that is a statistical artifact of different benchmark mixes. In the one head-to-head test, the Ryzen wins outright, and it wins by a landslide.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is dramatically faster. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 624 versus the A8-7670K's 276, a 126.1% advantage. That is more than double the A8's output.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U supports 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading, while the A8-7670K has only 4 threads total.

Q: Are these chips comparable in overall benchmark averages?

A: Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (947 for the Ryzen, 944 for the A8), and both sit at the 25th percentile of all CPUs. But this is misleading because the averages come from different test suites — the Ryzen's includes Geekbench, while the A8's includes Cinebench R20 and R23.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The A8-7670K has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.70 GHz). Despite this, it loses heavily in the multi-core benchmark, indicating the Ryzen's architectural efficiency more than compensates.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is listed as Active, while the AMD A8-7670K is End-of-life.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the A8-7670K integrates Radeon R7 graphics. The data does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison is possible.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different architectural eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The AMD A8-7670K, by contrast, uses the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, on a 28 nm process — also from GlobalFoundries — with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. The Ryzen crams more than twice the transistors into a smaller die, a clear sign of modern design density.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a three-level hierarchy: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A8-7670K has a simpler two-level setup: 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The Ryzen's per-core L2 is half the size of the A8's aggregate L2, but the shared L3 adds a crucial pool of fast memory for all cores to draw from.

Memory support is another generational divide. The Ryzen supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The A8-7670K uses DDR3, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Ryzen's newer memory standard provides roughly 12.6% more bandwidth on paper. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U carries Radeon Vega 8, while the A8-7670K carries Radeon R7. Both are integrated solutions, but the Vega architecture is far newer. The Ryzen is a mobile part on AMD Socket FP5, while the A8 is a desktop part on AMD Socket FM2+. The Ryzen's TDP is 15 watts, a fraction of the A8's 95 watts. That power envelope difference is a direct consequence of the process node and architectural efficiency.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every specification that matters. Starting with threads: the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has 8 threads from its 4 cores, while the A8-7670K has only 4 threads from its 4 cores. Clock speeds favor the A8 — 3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost versus the Ryzen's 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost — but the benchmark results show the Ryzen's lower clocks still deliver far more work.

Power consumption is a chasm. The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a TDP of 15 watts; the A8-7670K is rated at 95 watts. That is a 6.3x difference in thermal design power. The Ryzen achieves its performance at a fraction of the power draw. Socket compatibility differs entirely: the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5 (mobile), the A8 uses AMD Socket FM2+ (desktop). PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the A8's spec notes "16 Lanes (CPU only)" while the Ryzen's is simply listed as Gen 3.

The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U has a locked multiplier (not unlocked), while the A8-7670K has an unlocked multiplier. The A8's part number (AD767KXBJCBOXAD767KXBJCSBXAD767KXBI44JC) suggests multiple retail variants, whereas the Ryzen's part number (YM350BC4T4MFG) is a single mobile SKU. Release dates are about four years apart: the Ryzen launched in April 2019, the A8 in July 2015. The A8 is end-of-life; the Ryzen is still active. Neither has a listed launch MSRP in the data.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U is the superior processor in every measurable way that matters for performance. In the only shared benchmark, Cinebench R15 multi-core, it beats the A8-7670K by 126.1% — a gap so wide that the A8's higher clocks (3.60/3.90 GHz vs 2.10/3.70 GHz) are irrelevant. The Ryzen's 8 threads, newer Zen+ architecture, 12 nm process, DDR4 support, and 15-watt TDP combine to deliver more than double the multi-threaded performance at one-sixth the power envelope.

The A8-7670K does have one advantage: an unlocked multiplier, meaning it can be overclocked. But the data provides no overclocked benchmarks, so there is no evidence that overclocking closes the gap. The A8's higher base and boost clocks are its only other spec-level wins, and those lose badly in real workloads. The Ryzen's average benchmark score of 947 is slightly higher than the A8's 944, but the real story is the head-to-head result.

Who should pick which? Any user prioritizing multi-threaded work — compiling, rendering, streaming, or modern multitasking — should choose the Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U without hesitation. The 126.1% multi-core lead is decisive. The A8-7670K only makes sense for someone with an existing FM2+ motherboard who wants a drop-in upgrade and does not care about the massive performance deficit. Even then, the A8 is end-of-life, while the Ryzen is active and supported. The Ryzen's mobile form factor (FP5 socket) means it is aimed at laptops, but the data shows it is a far more capable part regardless of platform.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U wins on:

• Multi-threaded performance: 624 vs 276 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (126.1% ahead). This is the only head-to-head test, and it is a total rout.
• Thread count: 8 threads vs 4, allowing better utilization of modern multi-threaded software.
• Power efficiency: 15-watt TDP vs 95-watt TDP — a 6.3x reduction in thermal load.
• Modern platform: DDR4 memory (38.4 GB/s vs 34.1 GB/s), 12 nm process, and a smaller die (210 mm² vs 245 mm²) with more transistors (4,940M vs 2,411M).
• Longevity: Active production status vs end-of-life, and a 2019 release versus 2015.

AMD A8-7670K wins on:

• Clock speed: Higher base clock (3.60 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) and higher boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.70 GHz). This does not translate into benchmark wins, but it is a spec-level advantage.
• Overclocking: Unlocked multiplier, allowing enthusiast tuning that the locked Ryzen cannot offer.
• Legacy compatibility: Fits Socket FM2+ motherboards, relevant only for users with existing boards.
• L1 cache: 256 KB total L1 vs the Ryzen's 96 KB per core, though the Ryzen's L3 cache (4 MB shared) compensates at the memory hierarchy level.

The Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U wins in every benchmark where both are tested. The A8-7670K wins in no benchmark. If the workload is single-threaded, the A8's higher clocks might theoretically help, but there is no single-core head-to-head data to confirm it. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result is the only comparability point, and it is a 126.1% sweep for the Ryzen. For a builder choosing between these two today, the data says: pick the Ryzen, unless you are stuck on an FM2+ motherboard and need an unlocked multiplier. Even then, the performance gap is likely too large to justify.