AMD A8-7670K vs Intel Core i7-2715QE Comparison

The AMD A8-7670K and Intel Core i7-2715QE are two end-of-life processors from different eras and market segments, yet benchmark results place them in a statistical dead heat. Across five Cinebench tests, the AMD part wins every single contest, but the margins are razor-thin, ranging from a tie in one test to a 0.4% lead in another. The data reveals a fascinating collision between a 2015 desktop chip with a 95W TDP and a 2011 mobile chip with a 45W TDP, ultimately landing both at the 25th percentile of all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking finding is the sheer consistency of the AMD A8-7670K’s victories, however narrow they are. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the A8-7670K scores 276 against the i7-2715QE’s 275, a 0.4% advantage. That margin shrinks to 0.3% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the AMD chip posts 1152 versus Intel’s 1149. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core, with the A8-7670K at 2745 and the i7-2715QE at 2737, again a 0.3% gap. These numbers indicate that despite the Intel chip’s 8 threads versus the AMD’s 4, the higher clock speeds of the A8-7670K are enough to offset the thread-count deficit in multi-threaded workloads.

Single-core performance tells an even closer story, essentially a tie. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both processors score exactly 162, with a deltaPct of 0. The A8-7670K edges ahead in Cinebench R23 single-core by a single point, 387 to 386, a 0.3% lead. What is remarkable here is that the AMD chip runs at a 3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, while the Intel chip operates at a 2.10 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost. The data suggests that the older Sandy Bridge architecture’s per-clock efficiency nearly compensates for the 0.9 GHz boost-clock disadvantage, but not quite. The A8-7670K claims all five head-to-head wins, yet the average benchmark scores tell the broader story: 944 for AMD versus 942 for Intel, a difference of just 0.2%.

Context from nearest rivals reinforces how tightly grouped these processors are. The A8-7670K’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-1110G4 with an average score of 945, a -0.1% delta, while the AMD Athlon X4 860K sits at 943 with a +0.1% delta. For the i7-2715QE, the Intel Core i3-8145U is the nearest rival at 941, a +0.1% delta, and the A8-7670K itself appears as a rival at 944 with a -0.3% delta. These deltas are all within noise, meaning that in real-world use, the two processors are functionally interchangeable in Cinebench workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two chips is vast, yet it produces nearly identical benchmark scores. The AMD A8-7670K uses the Steamroller architecture on the Godaveri codename, built on a 28 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It packs 2,411 million transistors into a 245 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-2715QE uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process by Intel, with just 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark — AMD uses over twice as many — yet the performance outcome is parity.

Cache configurations reveal distinct design philosophies. The A8-7670K has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache at all. The i7-2715QE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip’s L3 cache provides a shared pool for all four cores, while the AMD chip relies entirely on its larger L2 allocation. The data suggests that the L3 cache helps the Intel chip close the gap in multi-threaded tests, but the AMD chip’s higher clocks and larger aggregate L2 (4 MB versus 1 MB) keep it ahead.

Threading is another major divider. The A8-7670K offers 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading equivalent. The i7-2715QE offers 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling the thread count via Hyper-Threading. Despite this, the Intel chip cannot convert its thread advantage into a benchmark victory. Memory support also differs: the AMD chip supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel chip’s memory support field is listed as null, though it uses dual-channel memory. The AMD chip also features PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip has no PCIe data listed.

Integrated graphics set these chips further apart. The A8-7670K carries a Radeon R7 iGPU, while the i7-2715QE has Intel HD 3000 graphics. The AMD chip’s desktop segment and unlocked multiplier (true) contrast with the Intel chip’s mobile segment and locked multiplier (false). The A8-7670K uses the AMD Socket FM2+, while the i7-2715QE uses Intel BGA 1023, meaning the Intel chip is soldered and not upgradeable. The process node difference (28 nm versus 32 nm) and foundry difference (GlobalFoundries versus Intel) round out the manufacturing story, but the benchmark data shows that these architectural choices lead to equivalent Cinebench performance.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: choose the AMD A8-7670K if raw benchmark performance is the sole criterion, because it wins all five head-to-head tests. However, the margins are so small — 0.3% to 0.4% in multi-core, 0.3% in single-core, and a tie in one test — that the choice should hinge on platform and use-case fit. The A8-7670K is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, making it a candidate for overclocking, and it supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The i7-2715QE is a mobile part soldered to a BGA 1023 socket, with a 45W TDP versus the AMD’s 95W TDP, making it the power-efficient choice for embedded or laptop applications.

Neither processor is a winner on average score, with the A8-7670K at 944 and the i7-2715QE at 942, both sitting at the 25th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel chip’s 8 threads and 6 MB of L3 cache provide a structural advantage for heavily threaded workloads, yet the AMD chip’s higher clock speeds (3.60 GHz base, 3.90 GHz boost versus 2.10 GHz base, 3.00 GHz boost) neutralize it. For a desktop builder with an FM2+ board, the A8-7670K is the clear pick. For a mobile or low-power system requiring a BGA 1023 processor, the i7-2715QE is the only option. The data shows parity in Cinebench, so the decision rests on socket, TDP, and the availability of an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD A8-7670K | Intel Core i7-2715QE |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FM2+ | Intel BGA 1023 |

| Architecture | Steamroller | Sandy Bridge |

| Codename | Godaveri | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 32 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 2,411 million | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 245 mm² | 216 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | None | 6 MB (shared) |

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

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not specified |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon R7 | Intel HD 3000 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2015-07-19 | 2011-01-02 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | AD767KXBJCBOXAD767KXBJCSBXAD767KXBI44JC | SR076 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The AMD A8-7670K wins all 5 head-to-head benchmarks against the Intel Core i7-2715QE, with deltas ranging from 0% to 0.4%.

Q: How close are the two chips on average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A8-7670K has an average benchmark score of 944, while the Intel Core i7-2715QE scores 942, a difference of just 2 points or roughly 0.2%.

Q: Does the Intel chip’s 8 threads give it a multi-core advantage?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads versus the AMD’s 4, the i7-2715QE scores lower in every multi-core test, including 2737 versus 2745 in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The AMD A8-7670K has a TDP of 95 W, while the Intel Core i7-2715QE has a TDP of 45 W, making the Intel chip more power-efficient.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: The AMD A8-7670K supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-2715QE also uses dual-channel memory, but its memory support field is not specified.

Q: Which chip has a larger cache configuration?

A: The AMD A8-7670K has 256 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, with no L3. The Intel Core i7-2715QE has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3, giving it a larger total cache with the L3 included.