AMD PRO A10-8850B

The AMD PRO A10-8850B is a 4-core, 4-thread desktop processor built on the Steamroller architecture (codename Godaveri) and fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 28 nm process. It runs at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, with a 95 W TDP and an AMD Socket FM2+ interface. The chip integrates Radeon R7 graphics, supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, and carries 256 KB of L1 cache and 4 MB of L2 cache. It is an end-of-life product, and its benchmark results place it in the 30th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1098.

How It Compares

The PRO A10-8850B sits exactly level with the AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, as both processors post an identical average benchmark score of 1098 (0% delta). This parity is notable because the Ryzen 3 3250U is a much newer mobile part, yet the desktop PRO A10 holds its own in aggregate performance, though the comparison is based on a single average score rather than workload-specific results.

Against the Intel Core i5-3470S, the PRO A10-8850B trails by a razor-thin margin of 0.1% (1098 vs 1099, delta -0.1). The i5-3470S is a quad-core desktop CPU from a similar era, and the near-identical average scores suggest the two are interchangeable in general-purpose tasks, with any real-world difference falling well within run-to-run variance.

The Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 also sits 0.1% ahead of the PRO A10-8850B, with the same average score of 1099 and a delta of -0.1. The Xeon is a server-oriented chip with a different feature set (including ECC support, which the PRO A10 lacks), but the benchmark data shows no meaningful performance gap between them in the aggregate metric.

Finally, the PRO A10-8850B edges out the Intel Core i7-2710QE by 0.1% (1098 vs 1096, delta +0.1). The i7-2710QE is a quad-core mobile processor, and the PRO A10's slight lead in the average score indicates that the desktop part holds a negligible advantage, again within the noise of typical benchmarking.

Power and Thermals

The PRO A10-8850B carries a 95 W TDP, which places it in the mid-range power envelope for desktop CPUs. This TDP class requires a capable air cooler with a modest heatsink and fan; a stock cooler designed for 95 W parts will suffice for standard operation, while sustained all-core loads may benefit from a tower-style cooler with a larger surface area. The chip is not multiplier-unlocked, so no overclocking headroom is available through the multiplier; users must rely on the fixed 3.90 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost frequencies. The 28 nm process node contributes to a relatively modest thermal density for the era, but the 95 W figure still demands proper case airflow. The socket FM2+ platform itself is an older design, and the 95 W TDP is typical of that generation's mid-range offerings.

Benchmark Performance

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the PRO A10-8850B scores 321 points. This is a low figure by modern standards, reflecting the chip's 4-core/4-thread design and Steamroller architecture. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the score rises to 1339, while the single-core score is 189. The R20 single-core result is particularly telling: it sits at roughly 14% of the multi-core score, which is expected for a chip without SMT. The R23 multi-core score of 3189 and single-core score of 450 show a similar ratio, with the single-core performance at about 14.1% of multi-core. These ratios indicate that the processor scales almost linearly with core count, as there is no hyper-threading to boost multi-threaded throughput beyond the physical cores.

When compared to its nearest rivals via the average benchmark score, the PRO A10-8850B is effectively tied with the Ryzen 3 3250U, Core i5-3470S, Xeon E5-1603 v3, and Core i7-2710QE, with deltas of 0%, -0.1%, -0.1%, and +0.1% respectively. The 30th percentile standing means the chip outperforms 30% of all CPUs in the database, which positions it in the lower quartile of desktop processors. The average benchmark score of 1098 is the aggregate across all tested workloads, and it aligns closely with the scores of the four rivals, confirming that the PRO A10-8850B delivers performance consistent with entry-level quad-core CPUs from its generation.

Who Should Consider It

The PRO A10-8850B is best suited for basic office productivity, web browsing, and light multitasking. Its 4 cores and 4 threads handle single-application workloads competently, and the 3.90 GHz base clock ensures snappy response for everyday tasks. The integrated Radeon R7 graphics can drive a display without a discrete GPU, making it a viable option for office desktops or home systems that do not require 3D acceleration. However, the 30th percentile ranking and the low Cinebench scores indicate that it is not appropriate for demanding content creation, such as video editing or 3D rendering; those workloads would see significant benefit from a processor with more cores or higher single-thread performance. Gamers should note that the Radeon R7 integrated graphics are not designed for modern titles; a discrete GPU would be necessary for any gaming beyond casual or older titles. The chip's end-of-life status means it is only available in the used or refurbished market, but for users with an existing FM2+ motherboard, it offers a straightforward upgrade path without changing the platform. The lack of ECC memory support and the dual-channel DDR3 limit its appeal for server or workstation use, but for a basic desktop, the PRO A10-8850B delivers adequate performance at its intended tier.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the AMD PRO A10-8850B use?

A: It uses the AMD Socket FM2+.

Q: Does the PRO A10-8850B support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What is the TDP of this processor?

A: The TDP is 95 W.

Q: Does the processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Radeon R7 integrated graphics.

Q: What memory type and bus width does it support?

A: It supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked (multiplierUnlocked is false).

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The PRO A10-8850B's benchmark scores reveal a clear split between single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R20, the single-core score of 189 is dwarfed by the multi-core score of 1339, a ratio of 1:7.08. Similarly, in Cinebench R23, the single-core score of 450 compares to a multi-core score of 3189, a ratio of 1:7.09. This near-identical ratio across two different Cinebench versions indicates that the processor's multi-threaded scaling is purely a function of its four physical cores, with no additional threads from SMT or hyper-threading. For real-world workloads, this means that applications optimized for multiple threads will see a roughly linear speedup from the four cores, but single-threaded performance is limited by the Steamroller architecture's IPC and the 4.10 GHz boost clock. The single-core score of 450 in R23 is modest, placing it below many modern low-power parts; however, for legacy software that relies on one or two threads, the 3.90 GHz base clock provides adequate responsiveness. The multi-core scores, while low in absolute terms, are consistent with a quad-core desktop CPU from the 2015 era, and they allow the chip to handle parallel tasks like file compression or spreadsheet calculations without stalling. The data shows that the PRO A10-8850B is a balanced quad-core part, but its single-thread performance is the weaker link; users prioritizing single-thread-heavy applications should look to newer architectures, while those with multi-threaded workloads will find the four cores fully utilized.