AMD PRO A10-9700 vs Intel Core i7-2760QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive, consistent victory for the Intel Core i7-2760QM across every shared benchmark. The AMD PRO A10-9700 does not win a single test in the head-to-head comparison. The most striking pattern is the uniformity of the margin: the Intel part leads by 19.6% in four of the five tests, and by 20.1% in the remaining one.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-2760QM scores 366 against the AMD PRO A10-9700’s 306, a 19.6% advantage. That same 19.6% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where Intel posts 1525 versus AMD’s 1275. The multi-core story continues in Cinebench R23, with Intel at 3631 and AMD at 3037, again a 19.6% gap. This consistency suggests the difference is structural rather than workload-specific.

Single-core results tell a similar but slightly sharper tale. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel part scores 215, while the AMD part manages 179, a 20.1% lead for Intel. Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel at 512 versus AMD’s 428, a 19.6% margin. Even in the most lightly threaded workloads, the older Intel architecture holds a clear edge.

The benchmark database also records other tests that were not shared head-to-head. The Intel Core i7-2760QM has a Geekbench multi-core score of 1625 and a single-core score of 534. The AMD PRO A10-9700 has no Geekbench entries in the pack, so a direct comparison on that platform is not possible from the data.

It is important to note the context of these numbers. Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close: 1057 for the Intel part and 1045 for the AMD part. The nearest rivals for each confirm this mid-pack positioning. The Intel Core i7-2760QM is within 0.2% of the Intel Pentium G4600, AMD Ryzen 5 2500U, Intel Core i3-4350, and AMD FX-8320E. The AMD PRO A10-9700 matches the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 exactly, and sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-6350HQ, AMD PRO A10-8770, and AMD Athlon X4 950.

This means the head-to-head sweep is not a case of a top-tier chip crushing a weakling. Both processors are in the same performance tier overall. The Intel part simply executes the Cinebench workloads better, and it does so by nearly the same percentage every time. The data does not show any workload where the AMD part closes the gap or flips the result.

The Verdict

The verdict is unambiguous from the benchmark data: the Intel Core i7-2760QM is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench test. It wins five out of five head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 19.6% to 20.1%. There is no scenario in the recorded results where the AMD PRO A10-9700 takes the lead.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, the Intel part delivers 366, 1525, and 3631 points in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core respectively, compared to 306, 1275, and 3037 for the AMD part. The 19.6% advantage is consistent and substantial. For single-threaded work, the Intel part leads by 20.1% in R20 and 19.6% in R23.

However, the choice is not purely about benchmark scores. The AMD PRO A10-9700 has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz for the Intel part, and a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.50 GHz. Yet the Intel part still wins every test. This indicates that the Intel architecture’s efficiency and thread count (8 threads versus 4) outweigh the AMD part’s clock speed advantage in these workloads.

The AMD part does have a lower TDP? No, it does not. The Intel part has a 45 W TDP, while the AMD part has a 65 W TDP. So the Intel part is both faster and more power-efficient in the recorded specifications. The Intel part also has a smaller process node (32 nm versus 28 nm), which may contribute to its efficiency.

For a desktop user who values the AM4 platform and DDR4 memory support, the AMD PRO A10-9700 offers those features. For a user who simply wants the highest Cinebench scores, the Intel Core i7-2760QM is the clear winner. The data does not support any other conclusion.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM scores 3631, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 scores 3037. Intel leads by 19.6%.

Q: Is the AMD PRO A10-9700 faster in any benchmark?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark set, the AMD part has zero wins. The Intel part wins all five tests.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, Intel scores 215 versus AMD’s 179 (20.1% lead). In R23 single-core, Intel scores 512 versus AMD’s 428 (19.6% lead).

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i7-2760QM has an average benchmark score of 1057. The AMD PRO A10-9700 has an average of 1045. Both sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Do the two CPUs have the same number of threads?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-2760QM has 8 threads (4 cores with Hyper-Threading), while the AMD PRO A10-9700 has 4 threads (4 cores without SMT).

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD PRO A10-9700 boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-2760QM boosts to 3.50 GHz. Despite the lower boost clock, Intel wins all benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i7-2760QM has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD PRO A10-9700 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the Intel part runs at 2.40 GHz, the AMD part at 3.50 GHz. Boost clocks also differ: Intel at 3.50 GHz, AMD at 3.80 GHz.

Thermal design power is another distinction. The Intel part has a 45 W TDP, while the AMD part has a 65 W TDP. Sockets are incompatible: the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1224, the AMD part uses AMD Socket AM4. Process nodes differ as well: Intel uses 32 nm, AMD uses 28 nm. The Intel part is built by Intel Foundry, the AMD part by GlobalFoundries.

Cache configurations are markedly different. The Intel part has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The AMD part has 320 KB total L1 and 2 MB L2, with no L3 cache listed. Memory support also differs: the AMD part explicitly supports DDR4 and has a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part’s memory support is not listed in the database. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Neither supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differ: the Intel part has Intel HD 3000, the AMD part has Radeon R7. The AMD part lists PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only); the Intel part has no PCIe listing. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active in production. The Intel part was released in 2011, the AMD part in 2017. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SR02R for Intel and AD970BAGM44AB for AMD. Neither has a listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is generational and fundamental. The Intel Core i7-2760QM uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, codenamed Sandy Bridge, part of the Core i7 (Sandy Bridge) generation. The AMD PRO A10-9700 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, part of the A10 (Bristol Ridge) generation.

Process technology differs: Intel uses a 32 nm node, AMD uses a 28 nm node. The transistor counts are very different: the Intel die has 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die, while the AMD die has 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. This means the AMD part packs nearly three times the transistors, but on a larger and older node.

Threading capability is a major architectural difference. The Intel part supports 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading, while the AMD part is limited to 4 threads. This explains the multi-core performance gap despite the AMD part’s higher clocks.

Cache hierarchy design reflects different philosophies. Intel uses a per-core L1 and L2 with a shared L3 pool of 6 MB. AMD uses a unified L1 of 320 KB and a smaller 2 MB L2, with no L3 at all. The lack of L3 cache on the AMD part is a notable architectural deficit for multi-core workloads.

Memory architecture also diverges. The AMD part supports DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part’s memory support is unspecified in the database. The Intel part predates DDR4 by several years. The AMD part’s PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes is a modern desktop feature; the Intel mobile part has no such listing.

The foundries are different: Intel fabricates its own silicon, while AMD uses GlobalFoundries. The market segments differ as well: the Intel part is mobile, the AMD part is desktop. The AMD part remains active in production, while the Intel part is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-2760QM wins in every single benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison. That includes all three Cinebench multi-core tests (R15, R20, R23) and both single-core tests (R20, R23). Its wins are consistent at 19.6% or 20.1% margins. The Intel part is also more power-efficient, with a 45 W TDP versus 65 W for the AMD part.

The AMD PRO A10-9700 wins nowhere in the benchmark data. However, it does have advantages in other recorded specifications. It has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.80 GHz versus 3.50 GHz). It supports DDR4 memory with a listed bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Intel part has no memory support details. It uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform, which may be more modern for desktop builds. It also has a larger transistor count (3,100 million versus 1,160 million), though this does not translate into benchmark wins.

For use cases, the data suggests the Intel part is the choice for any Cinebench-style rendering or multi-threaded productivity workload. Its 8 threads and 6 MB of shared L3 cache give it a structural edge that clocks alone cannot overcome for the AMD part. The AMD part’s higher clocks and DDR4 support may benefit tasks not represented in the benchmark set, but no such evidence exists in the recorded data.

For a desktop user who needs a current-socket AM4 processor with DDR4 and active production status, the AMD part has platform advantages. For a user who cares only about measured performance, the Intel part wins outright. The database records zero wins for the AMD part, and that is the deciding fact.