AMD PRO A10-8750B vs Intel Core i7-920 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded Cinebench data paints a consistent picture across every test iteration. The AMD PRO A10-8750B wins all five head-to-head comparisons, though the margins are tight. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 254 against Intel's 246, a 3.1% advantage. The R20 multicore run shows 1060 versus 1025, a 3.3% lead for AMD. Single-core results follow the same pattern: R20 single-core gives AMD 149 over Intel's 144 (3.4% ahead), and R23 single-core gives AMD 356 versus 344 (3.4% ahead). The R23 multicore test lands at 2525 for AMD and 2442 for Intel, again a 3.3% gap.

What stands out is the uniformity of the delta. The AMD part does not suddenly pull away in any one workload; it simply holds a steady 3.1% to 3.4% edge across the board. That consistency suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The Intel Core i7-920, despite having double the thread count, cannot convert that into a win here. The AMD's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost of 4.00 GHz clearly matter more than the Intel's 8 threads in these tests.

The average benchmark scores in the database confirm the overall picture. The Intel Core i7-920 averages 840 across its recorded tests, while the AMD PRO A10-8750B averages 821. That is a 2.3% gap in Intel's favor on average, which seems to contradict the head-to-head results. The explanation lies in the different test sets. The Intel's average includes only Cinebench results, while the AMD also has Geekbench scores in its average. The Geekbench multicore score of 985 and single-core score of 416 pull the AMD's average down relative to its Cinebench performance. In the direct comparisons where both chips run the same five Cinebench tests, AMD wins every time.

Both processors sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs in the database. That means they are statistically equivalent in overall standing, with the head-to-head deltas being small enough to keep them in the same performance tier. The nearest rivals for the Intel include the Intel Xeon X5470 at an average score of 839 (0.1% behind), the Core i5-3380M at 838 (0.2% behind), the Core i5-5200U at 838 (0.3% behind), and the AMD FX-8800P at 843 (0.3% ahead). For the AMD, the nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5540 at 820 (0.1% behind), the Core i5-L16G7 at 816 (0.6% behind), the Xeon X3440 at 815 (0.8% behind), and the AMD A10 PRO-7850B at 828 (0.8% ahead). These tight clusters show both chips are firmly in the same league, with no dramatic separation from their peers.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A10-8750B wins every single benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head data. That includes both multicore and single-core Cinebench tests across R15, R20, and R23. The largest margin is 3.4% in the single-core tests, and the smallest is 3.1% in R15 multicore. For any workload that resembles these Cinebench render tests, the AMD part is the better choice. The single-core wins are particularly relevant for older software that relies on one or two threads, where the AMD's 4.00 GHz boost clock provides a clear edge.

The Intel Core i7-920 does not win any head-to-head comparison in the database. Its only statistical advantage appears in the average benchmark score, where 840 beats 821, but that is an artifact of the different test sets included. If you look strictly at the five shared Cinebench tests, Intel loses all of them. The 8 threads do not help in these particular workloads. However, the Intel does have a higher percentile ranking relative to its closest rivals in some cases. Its nearest rival, the Xeon X5470, is only 0.1% behind, while the AMD's nearest rival, the A10 PRO-7850B, is 0.8% ahead. That means the Intel is more tightly grouped with its competition, but the AMD is further ahead of its own nearest competitor.

For practical use, the AMD is the pick for any application that mirrors Cinebench's rendering pattern, which includes video encoding, 3D modeling, and photo batch processing. The Intel's extra threads might help in rare cases, but the recorded data shows no such benefit in these tests. The AMD also has a lower TDP of 95 watts against Intel's 130 watts, so it achieves these wins while drawing less power. That is a meaningful advantage for system builders concerned about cooling or electricity use.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-920 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Bloomfield, built on a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 731 million transistors into a 263 mm² die. The AMD PRO A10-8750B uses the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It crams 2,411 million transistors into a 245 mm² die. The AMD has more than three times the transistor count on a slightly smaller die, which explains its higher per-clock efficiency despite the older core design.

The cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD has 256 KB of L1 total and 4 MB of L2 total, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel's L3 cache is a significant advantage for workloads that benefit from large shared pools, but the recorded benchmarks do not show this translating into wins. The AMD's smaller but faster L2 hierarchy appears sufficient for these tests.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR3, but the Intel uses a triple-channel memory bus while the AMD uses dual-channel. The AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Intel does not have a bandwidth figure recorded. The Intel's triple-channel setup should provide more raw bandwidth, but again, the benchmark data does not show this helping in Cinebench.

The socket and platform differences are stark. The Intel uses Socket 1366, a high-end desktop platform from 2008. The AMD uses Socket FM2+, a mainstream platform from 2015. The AMD integrates Radeon R7 graphics directly on the CPU, while the Intel has no integrated graphics at all. That means the AMD can power a display without a separate graphics card, a major practical difference for basic systems. The AMD also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Intel only has PCIe Gen 2. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is limited on both.

The release dates tell the story of a generation gap. The Intel launched on November 16, 2008. The AMD launched on September 28, 2015, nearly seven years later. Both are now end-of-life products, but the AMD benefits from a much more modern manufacturing process and integrated features that simply did not exist when the Intel was designed.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-920 has 8 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-8750B has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Does the Intel ever beat the AMD in any benchmark?

A: No. In the five head-to-head Cinebench tests recorded, the AMD wins all of them with margins between 3.1% and 3.4%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The Intel Core i7-920 averages 840, and the AMD PRO A10-8750B averages 821. The Intel's average is higher because its test set only includes Cinebench results, while the AMD's includes Geekbench scores.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B has Radeon R7 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-920 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory bandwidth does the AMD support?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8750B lists 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth with dual-channel DDR3 support. The Intel uses triple-channel DDR3 but has no bandwidth figure recorded.

Q: Are both CPUs still in production?

A: No. Both are listed as end-of-life products.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD PRO A10-8750B wins every head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Core i7-920. The margins are modest, ranging from 3.1% to 3.4%, but they are consistent across single-core and multicore tests. The AMD also draws less power at 95 watts versus 130 watts, includes integrated graphics, and uses a newer 28 nm process. For any builder choosing between these two specific chips, the AMD is the better performer in the tested workloads.

The Intel's only statistical edge is its higher average benchmark score of 840 versus 821, but that comes from comparing different test sets. When both chips run the same Cinebench tests, Intel loses every time. The Intel's 8 threads and triple-channel memory do not produce wins in the recorded data. Its 45 nm process and lack of integrated graphics make it a harder sell for modern builds.

The verdict for different buyers is straightforward. If you need the best Cinebench-style rendering performance, lower power draw, or integrated graphics for a basic system, the AMD PRO A10-8750B is the clear choice. If you specifically need the Intel platform for motherboard compatibility or legacy software reasons, the Core i7-920 remains functional, but the benchmark data shows no performance reason to prefer it. Both chips sit at the 22nd percentile, so neither is a high-performance part by modern standards, but between these two, AMD wins.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-920 | AMD PRO A10-8750B |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.67 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 2.93 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 130 W | 95 W |

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

| Architecture | Nehalem | Steamroller |

| Codename | Bloomfield | Godaveri |

| Process node | 45 nm | 28 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 731 million | 2,411 million |

| Die size | 263 mm² | 245 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory bus | Triple-channel | Dual-channel |

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

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

| Integrated graphics | None | Radeon R7 |

| Release date | November 16, 2008 | September 28, 2015 |

The specification table highlights the generation gap. The AMD runs at a much higher clock speed, uses a smaller process node, integrates graphics, and supports newer PCIe. The Intel counters with more threads, a larger L3 cache, and triple-channel memory. In the recorded benchmarks, the AMD's clock speed and efficiency win out over the Intel's architectural advantages from an earlier era.