AMD PRO A10-8770 vs Intel Core i7-2760QM Comparison

The Intel Core i7-2760QM and AMD PRO A10-8770 occupy the same performance percentile in the database, both sitting at the 29th percentile overall. However, that shared percentile masks a clear and consistent winner in every recorded head-to-head benchmark. The Intel part wins all five direct comparisons, with margins between 19.3% and 19.6% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. The AMD PRO A10-8770 is a capable desktop processor, but the data shows it trails the older mobile Intel chip in every measured workload, making the i7-2760QM the stronger choice for multi-threaded and single-threaded tasks alike.

The Verdict

Benchmark results point to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i7-2760QM outperforms the AMD PRO A10-8770 in every recorded test. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where Intel scores 366 against AMD's 306, a 19.6% advantage. The smallest gap is in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where Intel leads 512 to 429, a 19.3% margin. Across all five head-to-head tests, the Intel processor maintains a lead of roughly 19%, indicating a consistent architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific edge.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance, the Intel Core i7-2760QM is the clear pick. Its 8 threads versus 4 threads on the AMD part directly translates into higher multicore scores, and even in single-threaded tests, Intel remains ahead. The AMD PRO A10-8770 does offer a more modern platform with DDR4 memory support and PCIe Gen 3, which matters for system-level features, but the recorded CPU benchmarks do not favor it. The AMD chip's average benchmark score of 1046 is close to the Intel's 1057, but that average includes only a subset of tests, and the direct head-to-head data is unambiguous.

The production status also matters. The Intel Core i7-2760QM is end-of-life, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 remains active. For new builds, the AMD part has platform longevity, but for raw performance, the Intel chip wins every comparison. The database's nearest rival data reinforces the picture: both processors sit near similar average scores, with the Intel i7-2760QM's closest rival being the Intel Pentium G4600 at a 0.1% delta, while the AMD PRO A10-8770's closest rival is the Intel Core i5-6350HQ at a 0.0% delta. Neither chip is a performance outlier, but the Intel part consistently beats the AMD part in direct testing.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i7-2760QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process, built by Intel with 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a mobile chip, using the Intel BGA 1224 socket, and it integrates Intel HD 3000 graphics.

The AMD PRO A10-8770 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Carrizo, on a 28 nm process built by GlobalFoundries. It packs 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die, which is larger and denser than the Intel part. It also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, lacking simultaneous multithreading. The base clock is 3.50 GHz, higher than the Intel's 2.40 GHz, and the boost clock reaches 3.80 GHz, also higher. Cache is configured differently: 320 KB of L1 total and 2 MB of L2 total, with no L3 cache at all. This is a desktop chip on the AMD Socket AM4 platform, with integrated Radeon R7 graphics.

The clock speed advantage goes to AMD, but the benchmark data shows that higher clocks do not translate into higher scores. The Intel chip's lower clocks are offset by its larger L3 cache, its 8-thread capability, and its more efficient Sandy Bridge core design. The process node difference, 32 nm versus 28 nm, favors AMD on paper, but the transistor count and die size tell a different story: AMD packs more transistors into a larger die, yet the Intel design delivers better performance per clock in these tests. The memory support also differs, with the AMD part supporting DDR4 and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part's memory support is not listed in the database but uses dual-channel memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2760QM wins every benchmark test in the head-to-head comparison, so the use-case split is largely one-sided. In multicore workloads, the Intel chip's 8 threads give it a decisive edge. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 19.6% lead, Cinebench R20 multicore shows a 19.5% lead, and Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 19.4% lead. These tests are heavily threaded, and the Intel part's ability to process twice as many threads simultaneously is the primary driver of its advantage.

In single-threaded workloads, the Intel chip still wins, but the margins are similar. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows a 19.4% lead, and Cinebench R23 singlecore shows a 19.3% lead. This is notable because the AMD part has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.50 GHz). Despite the clock disadvantage, the Intel core architecture delivers better single-thread performance, suggesting superior instructions per clock.

There are no benchmark categories where the AMD PRO A10-8770 wins. The database records zero wins for the AMD part in the head-to-head list. However, the AMD chip does have advantages outside raw CPU benchmarks. It supports DDR4 memory with a specified bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and it uses PCIe Gen 3, which are more modern platform features. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics may also offer different capabilities than Intel HD 3000, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded in the database. For a user building a desktop system with current-generation memory and storage, the AMD platform offers better ecosystem compatibility, but for CPU-bound tasks, the Intel chip dominates.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8770 has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-2760QM boosts to 3.50 GHz.

Q: How many threads does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM supports 8 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 supports 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 has no L3 cache at all.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the Intel part leads by 19.6%.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 29th percentile in the database.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8770 supports DDR4, while the Intel Core i7-2760QM's memory support is not listed in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a uniform pattern: the Intel Core i7-2760QM beats the AMD PRO A10-8770 by nearly the same margin in every test. The first comparison, Cinebench R15 multicore, has Intel at 366 and AMD at 306, a 19.6% difference. This is the largest win for Intel, and it sets the tone for the rest of the benchmarks. In Cinebench R20 multicore, Intel scores 1525 against AMD's 1276, a 19.5% gap. The consistency across different Cinebench versions, which use different rendering workloads, indicates that the Intel chip's advantage is structural rather than test-specific.

Single-threaded results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, Intel scores 215 and AMD scores 180, a 19.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, Intel scores 512 and AMD scores 429, a 19.3% lead. The fact that the margins barely change between multicore and singlecore tests is telling. It suggests that the Intel core design is simply more efficient per clock, and the thread count advantage on top of that makes the multicore gap nearly identical to the singlecore gap.

The only benchmark where the AMD part does not appear is Cinebench R15 singlecore, which is not recorded in the head-to-head list. However, the available data is sufficient to draw a conclusion. The Intel part wins all five recorded comparisons, with an average delta of approximately 19.4%. The AMD PRO A10-8770's highest score, 3040 in Cinebench R23 multicore, is still 19.4% below Intel's 3631. No benchmark result in the database shows the AMD part closing the gap to within single digits.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Intel Core i7-2760QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-8770 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Intel base clock is 2.40 GHz, the AMD base clock is 3.50 GHz. The Intel boost clock is 3.50 GHz, the AMD boost clock is 3.80 GHz. The Intel TDP is 45 watts, the AMD TDP is 65 watts. The Intel socket is Intel BGA 1224, the AMD socket is AMD Socket AM4.

The architecture differs entirely: Intel uses Sandy Bridge on a 32 nm process, AMD uses Excavator on a 28 nm process. The transistor counts are 1,160 million for Intel and 3,100 million for AMD. Die sizes are 216 mm² for Intel and 250 mm² for AMD. Cache configurations diverge sharply: Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3, while AMD has 320 KB total L1 and 2 MB total L2 with no L3. Memory support is listed only for AMD, which supports DDR4 with dual-channel and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth; Intel's memory support is null in the database, though memory bus is dual-channel for both.

The integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 3000 versus Radeon R7. The market segments are mobile for Intel and desktop for AMD. Production status shows Intel as end-of-life and AMD as active. The AMD part also lists PCIe Gen 3 support, while Intel's PCIe is not specified. Neither processor has ECC memory support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part number is SR02R, the AMD part number is AD877BAGM44AB.