AMD A8-7680 vs AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U and AMD A8-7680 are both quad-core parts, but they target entirely different segments. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is a 15-watt mobile processor built on the modern Zen+ architecture, while the A8-7680 is a 45-watt desktop chip based on the aging Excavator design. The benchmark data shows a clear generational divide: the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U dominates the only shared benchmark, delivering more than double the multi-core performance of the A8-7680. However, each chip has its own context, with the A8-7680 offering a higher base clock and a different set of benchmark results that favor newer Cinebench versions.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is starkly one-sided. In the only test shared by both processors—Cinebench R15 multi-core—the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U scores 658 points against the AMD A8-7680's 303 points. That is a 117.2% delta in favor of the Ryzen part, meaning it more than doubles the output of the older chip. This is the single decisive metric for direct comparison, and it leaves no ambiguity about which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads.

For the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U, its wins extend beyond the head-to-head. Its benchmark suite includes Geekbench scores of 2567 multi-core and 790 single-core, alongside Cinebench R15 results of 658 multi-core and 149 single-core. These numbers place it in the 29th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1041. In contrast, the A8-7680 has no Geekbench results in the data, but it posts Cinebench R20 scores of 1264 multi-core and 178 single-core, as well as Cinebench R23 scores of 3011 multi-core and 425 single-core. Notably, the A8-7680's R23 multi-core score of 3011 is its strongest showing, suggesting that newer Cinebench versions scale well with its architecture despite the older design.

The A8-7680 does claim an advantage in raw clock frequency. Its base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz are significantly higher than the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U's 2.30 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. While the Ryzen part has a higher peak boost, the A8-7680 operates at a much higher sustained frequency, which can benefit lightly threaded tasks that do not scale with core count. However, this does not translate into a benchmark win in the data provided, as the single-core results for the A8-7680 (178 in R20, 425 in R23) are not directly comparable to the Ryzen's R15 score of 149.

When considering the overall picture, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the clear winner in multi-core performance and efficiency, while the A8-7680's only qualitative advantages are its desktop form factor and higher base clock. The data shows one benchmark win for the Ryzen part (1 win) and zero for the A8-7680.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures, separated by several generations of AMD design. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, manufactured on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The A8-7680, by contrast, uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Carrizo, built on a 28 nm process with 3,100 million transistors on a larger 250 mm² die. The smaller process node gives the Ryzen part a significant efficiency advantage, which is reflected in its much lower 15-watt TDP compared to the A8-7680's 45 watts.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A8-7680 has a simpler layout: 320 KB of L1 cache total and 2 MB of L2 cache total, with no L3 cache at all. This lack of L3 cache is a major architectural disadvantage for the A8-7680, as it increases latency when accessing frequently used data.

Memory support is another key differentiator. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U supports DDR4 memory via a dual-channel bus, while the A8-7680 uses DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus with a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Ryzen part does not list a memory bandwidth figure, but its newer memory standard offers inherently higher potential bandwidth and lower latency. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Both chips integrate graphics, but with different capabilities. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U includes Radeon Vega 10 graphics, while the A8-7680 has Radeon R7 graphics. The Ryzen part's integrated GPU is based on newer Vega architecture, which typically outperforms the older R7 graphics in the A8-7680, though no specific graphics benchmarks are provided in the data.

The socket and market segment also diverge. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U uses AMD Socket FP5 and is classified as a mobile processor, while the A8-7680 uses AMD Socket FM2+ and is a desktop chip. Both support PCIe Gen 3, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen part was released on 2019-04-07, while the A8-7680 launched later on 2018-10-25, but the Ryzen part is based on a newer architecture despite its earlier release date.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the superior processor for multi-core workloads. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 658 is more than double the A8-7680's 303, a 117.2% improvement. This is the only head-to-head benchmark available, and it decisively favors the Ryzen part. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U also posts a higher average benchmark score of 1041 compared to the A8-7680's 1036, though both sit in a similar percentile range—29th and 28th, respectively.

For users who need raw multi-threaded performance, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the clear choice. Its 8 threads (4 cores) allow it to handle parallel tasks far more effectively than the A8-7680's 4 threads (4 cores). The Ryzen part's 4 MB of L3 cache further enhances performance in workloads that benefit from shared cache, while the A8-7680 has no L3 cache at all.

The A8-7680 does have its niche. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz make it suitable for lightly threaded applications where clock speed matters more than core count. It is also a desktop part, meaning it can be paired with a wider range of motherboards and cooling solutions, though the data shows no performance advantage from this form factor.

The data indicates that the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the better processor for virtually all compute-intensive tasks. The A8-7680's only benchmark wins are in Cinebench R20 and R23, which have no direct comparison to the Ryzen part's results. Therefore, the verdict is straightforward: choose the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U for multi-core performance and modern architecture, and consider the A8-7680 only if you are constrained to a Socket FM2+ platform and prioritize higher base clocks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has 8 threads (4 cores), while the AMD A8-7680 has 4 threads (4 cores). The Ryzen part supports simultaneous multithreading, effectively doubling its thread count.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the AMD A8-7680 has a TDP of 45 watts. The Ryzen part is significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Do both processors support DDR4 memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U supports DDR4 memory, while the AMD A8-7680 supports DDR3 memory. Both use a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the AMD A8-7680's 3.80 GHz. However, the A8-7680 has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz for the Ryzen part.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has an average benchmark score of 1041, placing it in the 29th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD A8-7680 has an average benchmark score of 1036, placing it in the 28th percentile.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, plus 512 KB of L2 per core and 96 KB of L1 per core. The AMD A8-7680 has 2 MB of L2 cache and 320 KB of L1 cache, with no L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark between the two processors is Cinebench R15 multi-core, and the results are lopsided. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U scores 658 points, while the AMD A8-7680 scores 303 points. This yields a delta of 117.2% in favor of the Ryzen part, meaning it is more than twice as fast in this workload. This benchmark is a strong indicator of multi-threaded rendering performance, and the Ryzen part's 8 threads versus the A8-7680's 4 threads explain the massive gap.

Looking at the broader benchmark suites, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U's Geekbench scores of 2567 multi-core and 790 single-core show strong scaling across both threaded and lightly threaded tasks. The A8-7680 does not have Geekbench results, so direct comparison is impossible, but its Cinebench R20 scores of 1264 multi-core and 178 single-core, and R23 scores of 3011 multi-core and 425 single-core, suggest that its performance degrades relative to the Ryzen part as thread count increases. The Ryzen part's R15 multi-core score of 658 is already higher than the A8-7680's R15 score by 355 points, and the trend continues in newer Cinebench versions where the A8-7680's multi-core scores are respectable but not competitive with a modern 8-thread part.

The nearest rivals for each processor further contextualize their standings. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i3-4160T, Intel Core i7-4558U, Intel Pentium Gold G5620, and AMD PRO A10-9700, with average scores between 1038 and 1045. The A8-7680 is similarly clustered around the AMD A10-7890K, Intel Core i7-4558U, AMD A10-9700, and AMD A12-9800E, with scores from 1033 to 1038. Both processors occupy the same performance tier according to their average scores, yet the head-to-head Cinebench R15 result shows the Ryzen part is dramatically faster in that specific workload, highlighting how average scores can mask significant architectural differences.

In single-core performance, the A8-7680's R20 score of 178 and R23 score of 425 are its best individual results, but they cannot be compared to the Ryzen part's R15 single-core score of 149 due to different benchmark versions. The Ryzen part's boost clock of 4.00 GHz gives it a theoretical single-thread advantage, but the A8-7680's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz suggests it may sustain performance better under continuous load. Ultimately, the data shows one decisive win for the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U and zero wins for the A8-7680 in direct comparison.