A10-7850K vs i7-3970X

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-3970X
2012
6 cores / 12 threads, 150 Watt
5.58
+151%

Core i7-3970X outperforms A10-7850K by a whopping 151% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking11561847
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.590.27
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataAMD A-Series (Desktop)
Power efficiency3.392.13
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge-E (2011−2013)Godaveri (2014−2016)
Release date1 November 2012 (12 years ago)14 January 2014 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$593$173

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-3970X has 119% better value for money than A10-7850K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads124
Base clock speed3.5 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz4 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)256 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)4096 KB
L3 cache15 MB (shared)0 KB
Chip lithography32 nm28 nm
Die size435 mm2246 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data72 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)70 °C74 °C
Number of transistors2,270 million1,178 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier++

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA2011FM2+
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXSSE1-4A, AVX, FM4A, VT
AES-NI++
FMA-FMA4
AVX++
FRTC-+
FreeSync-+
DualGraphics-+
TrueAudio-+
PowerNow-+
PowerGating-+
Out-of-band client management-+
VirusProtect-+
HSA-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Smart Response+no data
Demand Based Switching-no data

Security technologies

Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-no data
EDB+no data
Identity Protection+-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data
IOMMU 2.0-+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3-2133
Maximum memory size64.45 GBno data
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth51.2 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataAMD Radeon R7 Graphics
iGPU core countno data8
Number of pipelinesno data512
Enduro-+
Switchable graphics-+
UVD-+
VCE-+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K integrated GPUs.

DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno dataDirectX® 12
Vulkan-+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes40no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-3970X 5.58
+151%
A10-7850K 2.22

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-3970X 8541
+152%
A10-7850K 3392

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-3970X 736
+62.5%
A10-7850K 453

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-3970X 3709
+228%
A10-7850K 1131

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-3970X 12900
+231%
A10-7850K 3900

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.58 2.22
Recency 1 November 2012 14 January 2014
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 4
Chip lithography 32 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 95 Watt

i7-3970X has a 151.4% higher aggregate performance score, and 50% more physical cores and 200% more threads.

A10-7850K, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 1 year, a 14.3% more advanced lithography process, and 57.9% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-3970X is our recommended choice as it beats the A10-7850K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-3970X and A10-7850K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-3970X
Core i7-3970X
AMD A10-7850K
A10-7850K

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.8 30 votes

Rate Core i7-3970X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.6 295 votes

Rate A10-7850K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-3970X or A10-7850K, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.