AMD A10-7870K

The AMD A10-7870K is a desktop processor built on the Steamroller architecture, codenamed Godaveri, and manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. It integrates four cores with four threads, a 3.90 GHz base clock, a 4.10 GHz boost clock, 4 MB of L2 cache, dual-channel DDR3 memory support with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth, and a Radeon R7 integrated GPU. Its aggregate average benchmark score is 975, placing it at the 26th percentile among all CPUs in the database and marking it as an entry-level desktop part.

Who Should Consider It

The A10-7870K's benchmark profile points at users whose workloads are light or mixed rather than heavily threaded. Its single-thread scores of 420 in Cinebench R23 and 478 in Geekbench are modest, so demanding per-core workloads will not see exceptional performance. For typical office tasks such as spreadsheets, web browsing, document editing, and email, the four threads are sufficient, and the processor's 26th percentile standing is less punishing than in sustained rendering workloads. Users who run several light applications concurrently can rely on the multi-thread results—2975 in Cinebench R23 and 1225 in Geekbench—to handle everyday multitasking without choking, but those results are not in the league of high-core-count desktop parts.

For light content creation, the A10-7870K is usable for occasional photo editing or short video clips, but it is not well matched to prolonged 3D rendering or heavy video encoding. The Cinebench R15 multicore score of 299 illustrates the limited sustained compute throughput available in this performance tier. The integrated Radeon R7 GPU is the processor's distinguishing feature, and it makes the A10-7870K a candidate for a desktop system where a discrete graphics card is not required. It can provide display output and GPU-accelerated functionality without an add-in board. However, the benchmark set contains no gaming-specific tests, so no quantitative gaming claim can be made from the data; the low percentile rank indicates that users expecting high frame rates should look elsewhere.

The unlocked multiplier is a notable inclusion. Users willing to tune clocks can raise the processor beyond its 4.10 GHz boost setting, though none of the recorded benchmark scores reflect overclocked operation. The A10-7870K is therefore best suited to builders assembling a budget-oriented desktop, a secondary office machine, or a system where the integrated Radeon R7 GPU eliminates the need for a separate graphics card, as long as the performance ceiling implied by the 26th percentile is acceptable.

Power and Thermals

The A10-7870K has a TDP of 95 watts, which places it in a mainstream desktop thermal class. A processor in this TDP range does not demand high-end liquid cooling; a capable air cooler should be sufficient for stock operation. The thermal envelope is relevant because the multiplier is unlocked, so overclocking will raise both power draw and heat beyond the stock 95 W figure, but the fact pack records no overclocked thermal measurements. The underlying silicon uses a 28 nm process, with 2,411 million transistors on a 245 mm² die. This combination of process node and die size is consistent with the 95 W class. The processor supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, and the platform uses AMD Socket FM2+. Because the production status is end-of-life, the available cooling ecosystem is tied to an older platform generation.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the A10-7870K spans Cinebench R15, Cinebench R20, Cinebench R23, and Geekbench. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the processor scores 299. In Cinebench R20, it scores 1249 multicore and 176 single-core. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 2975 and the single-core score is 420. In Geekbench, the multicore score is 1225 and the single-core score is 478. The aggregate average benchmark score is 975.

The percentile placement of 26 means most CPUs in the database score higher than the A10-7870K. The nearest-rival data confirms how tightly grouped this performance tier is. The AMD Athlon X4 840 has an identical average score of 975, producing a delta of 0 percent. The Intel Core i3-4130 has an average score of 974, which puts the A10-7870K 0.1 percent ahead. The Intel Core i5-5257U and Intel Xeon W5590 both have average scores of 977, placing the A10-7870K 0.2 percent behind each of them. In practical terms, the A10-7870K is effectively interchangeable with all four of these parts in aggregate performance.

The single-thread results reinforce that this is not a high-IPC part. A Cinebench R23 single-core score of 420 and a Geekbench single-core score of 478 are low enough that lightly threaded applications will not feel particularly fast. The multi-thread scores are higher, reflecting the presence of four physical cores, but the Cinebench R15 multicore result of 299 is still modest. The nearest-rival deltas are all within 0.2 percent, which suggests that in a broad mix of workloads, the A10-7870K will be indistinguishable from its closest competitors. The data does not show a strong strength in any one dimension; rather, it shows a flat, entry-level performance profile.

FAQ

Q: What is the TDP of the AMD A10-7870K?

A: The TDP is 95 watts.

Q: Does the A10-7870K support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor supports dual-channel DDR3 memory.

Q: What integrated graphics does the A10-7870K include?

A: It includes a Radeon R7 integrated GPU.

Q: What is the average benchmark score and percentile ranking of the A10-7870K?

A: The average benchmark score is 975, and it ranks at the 26th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked on the A10-7870K?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked.

Q: What cache does the A10-7870K have?

A: It has 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache; no L3 cache is listed.

How It Compares

The AMD Athlon X4 840 is the closest rival in aggregate terms: both CPUs average 975, with a deltaPct of 0 percent. The data treats them as equal performers, and the A10-7870K differentiates itself by bringing a Radeon R7 integrated GPU to the same performance tier.

The Intel Core i3-4130 trails the A10-7870K by a negligible margin. The A10-7870K's average score of 975 is 0.1 percent ahead of the Core i3-4130's 974. That delta is so small that the two processors should be considered peers in overall workload performance.

The Intel Core i5-5257U sits slightly ahead, with an average score of 977 against the A10-7870K's 975, a delta of -0.2 percent. The gap is minor and well within the range of variation expected across a mixed benchmark suite.

The Intel Xeon W5590 also has an average score of 977, giving the same -0.2 percent delta from the A10-7870K. The identical delta to the Core i5-5257U highlights just how narrow the score band is among these nearest rivals; the A10-7870K is positioned squarely within a cluster of very similar performers.