AMD PRO A10-8770E vs Intel Core i7-860 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent outcome: the Intel Core i7-860 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, though by margins so small they are almost within measurement noise. The AMD PRO A10-8770E does not secure a single victory across the five shared tests.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 259 against the AMD's 258, a delta of -0.4%. That is one point, essentially a tie. The same pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7-860 posts 1081 versus 1075, a -0.6% difference. The single-core results are equally narrow: the Intel chip takes Cinebench R20 single-core with 152 points against 151, a -0.7% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core with 363 against 361, a -0.6% delta. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-860 scores 2574 against 2560, a -0.5% gap.

Across all five tests, the Intel Core i7-860's largest advantage is just -0.7%, and its smallest is -0.4%. The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar story: the AMD PRO A10-8770E sits at 895, while the Intel Core i7-860 is at 886. That puts the AMD part slightly ahead in aggregate, but the head-to-head tests all favor Intel. The discrepancy comes from the fact that the AMD chip also runs Geekbench tests, where it scores 1291 multi-core and 572 single-core, and those results pull its average up. The Intel part has no Geekbench entries in the database.

Both processors land at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they sit in the same performance tier. The AMD's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-5300U and Intel Pentium G4600T, both at a 0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U at 0.2% ahead. The Intel i7-860's nearest rivals include the AMD PRO A8-8650B at -0.1%, the Intel Pentium G4560T at -0.1%, and the Intel Xeon X5550 at -0.2%. This is a pairing of two very closely matched legacy desktop parts.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is generational, but the performance outcome is surprisingly flat. The AMD PRO A10-8770E uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Carrizo, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-860 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Lynnfield, on Intel's 45 nm process, with 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The AMD part is denser and more modern, but the Intel chip makes up for it with a more efficient core design for its era.

The core and thread counts differ meaningfully. The AMD PRO A10-8770E has 4 cores and 4 threads, so no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core i7-860 has 4 cores and 8 threads, effectively doubling the logical execution resources. That thread advantage should show up in multi-threaded workloads, but the benchmark data indicates the gap is minimal, likely because the AMD's Excavator cores have higher per-clock efficiency in certain instruction paths.

Cache layouts are entirely different. The AMD part has 320 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, with no L3 cache at all. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 8 MB L3. That larger cache hierarchy is a major structural advantage for Intel, especially in workloads that reuse data across cores. The AMD chip lacks any L3, which historically hurts in memory-heavy applications, but the benchmark scores do not show a large penalty here.

Memory support diverges sharply. The AMD PRO A10-8770E supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core i7-860 supports DDR3, also dual-channel, but the database does not list a bandwidth figure. The AMD part also runs on the AMD Socket AM4 platform with PCIe Gen 3, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1156 with PCIe Gen 2 and only 16 CPU lanes. The AMD platform is much newer, but the Intel chip's older platform is not a performance liability in these tests.

The AMD PRO A10-8770E includes integrated Radeon R7 graphics, while the Intel Core i7-860 has no integrated graphics listed. That is a practical difference for system builders who want to skip a discrete GPU. The AMD part is also still marked as Active in production, while the Intel part is End-of-life. The Intel chip's release date is recorded as 2009-09-07, and its part number is SLBJJ. The AMD part number is AD877BAHM44AB.

Power consumption is a major separator. The AMD PRO A10-8770E has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-860 has a TDP of 95 watts. That is a 60-watt difference, which is substantial for cooling and power delivery requirements. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a supported path on either side.

The Verdict

The data points to a near-total performance tie, with a slight edge to the Intel Core i7-860 in every head-to-head test. The margins range from -0.4% to -0.7%, which is effectively a wash in real-world use. If you are optimizing purely for benchmark scores, the Intel part wins all five direct comparisons, but the differences are so small that they will not be noticeable outside of synthetic testing.

The AMD PRO A10-8770E is the better choice for system builders who prioritize power efficiency and platform modernity. Its 35-watt TDP versus the Intel's 95 watts means lower cooling requirements, lower electricity draw, and the ability to use smaller power supplies. It also supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, which are much more current standards. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics give it a built-in display output, which the Intel part lacks entirely.

The Intel Core i7-860 is the better choice if you already have a Socket 1156 motherboard and DDR3 memory, or if you need the extra threads. The 4-core, 8-thread configuration is a genuine advantage in heavily threaded applications, even if the benchmark results do not show a large gap. The 8 MB L3 cache is also a structural benefit for workloads that fit within it.

Neither chip is a clear winner. The database records both at the 24th percentile, and their average benchmark scores are within 9 points of each other. The Intel part wins the head-to-head, but the AMD part has a higher average score because of its Geekbench entries. This is a pairing where the decision should come down to platform, power, and features, not raw performance.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Core i7-860 wins all five recorded head-to-head tests, with margins between -0.4% and -0.7%.

Q: Does the AMD PRO A10-8770E have a higher average benchmark score?

A: Yes, the AMD part has an average benchmark score of 895, compared to 886 for the Intel Core i7-860.

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

A: The AMD PRO A10-8770E has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-860 has a TDP of 95 watts.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-860 have integrated graphics?

A: No, the database lists no integrated graphics for the Intel part. The AMD PRO A10-8770E includes Radeon R7 graphics.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The AMD PRO A10-8770E supports DDR4, while the Intel Core i7-860 supports DDR3. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are either of these CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, both processors have a multiplier that is locked, according to the recorded data.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD PRO A10-8770E wins on power efficiency, platform longevity, and integrated features. Its 35-watt TDP makes it suitable for compact builds, low-noise systems, or always-on machines where heat and power draw matter. The DDR4 support and PCIe Gen 3 are future-proof standards that keep the platform relevant with modern components. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics mean you can build a functional desktop without a discrete GPU, which is not possible with the Intel part.

The Intel Core i7-860 wins on thread count, cache size, and every direct benchmark in the database. The 8 threads versus 4 is a real advantage for video encoding, compilation, or any parallel workload that scales well. The 8 MB of shared L3 cache is a substantial asset compared to no L3 at all on the AMD side. The benchmark results confirm that the Intel architecture holds up despite being older and on a larger process node.

In terms of production status, the AMD part is still Active, meaning it remains available for new builds. The Intel part is End-of-life, so sourcing one means buying used or from old stock. The AMD part also has a recorded part number (AD877BAHM44AB) and the Intel part has SLBJJ, but neither has a launch MSRP in the database.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two CPUs in the recorded data:

• Threads: AMD PRO A10-8770E has 4 threads; Intel Core i7-860 has 8 threads.
• Boost Clock: AMD is 3.50 GHz; Intel is 3.47 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is 35 watts; Intel is 95 watts.
• Socket: AMD uses AMD Socket AM4; Intel uses Intel Socket 1156.
• Architecture: AMD uses Excavator; Intel uses Nehalem.
• Codename: AMD is Carrizo; Intel is Lynnfield.
• Process Node: AMD is 28 nm; Intel is 45 nm.
• Foundry: AMD is GlobalFoundries; Intel is Intel.
• Transistors: AMD has 3,100 million; Intel has 774 million.
• Die Size: AMD is 250 mm²; Intel is 296 mm².
• L1 Cache: AMD has 320 KB total; Intel has 64 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: AMD has 2 MB total; Intel has 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has none; Intel has 8 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD is DDR4; Intel is DDR3.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD is 38.4 GB/s; Intel is not listed.
• PCIe: AMD is Gen 3; Intel is Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated Graphics: AMD has Radeon R7; Intel has none.
• Production Status: AMD is Active; Intel is End-of-life.
• Release Date: AMD is not listed; Intel is 2009-09-07.
• Part Number: AMD is AD877BAHM44AB; Intel is SLBJJ.
• Base Clock: Both are 2.80 GHz, so no difference there.
• Cores: Both have 4 cores, so no difference.
• ECC Memory: Both are false, so no difference.
• Multiplier Unlocked: Both are false, so no difference.