A10-7850K vs Core i5-2500S
A10-7850K
Core i5-2500S
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The A10-7850K is positioned at rank 375 and the Core i5-2500S is on rank 854, so the A10-7850K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A10-7850K
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2500S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A10-7850K | Core i5-2500S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($61) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A10-7850K | Core i5-2500S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($61) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of A10-7850K and Core i5-2500S
A10-7850K
The A10-7850K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,394 points. Launch price was $173.
Core i5-2500S
The Core i5-2500S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,373 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the A10-7850K and Core i5-2500S share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the A10-7850K versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-2500S — a 7.8% clock advantage for the A10-7850K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The A10-7850K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-2500S uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A10-7850K scores 3,394 against the Core i5-2500S's 3,373 — a 0.6% lead for the A10-7850K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 510 vs 600, a 16.2% lead for the Core i5-2500S that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A10-7850K vs 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500S.
| Feature | A10-7850K | Core i5-2500S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+8% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+37% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 6144 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4096 kB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-13% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,394 | 3,373 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 510 | 600+18% |
Memory & Platform
The A10-7850K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-2500S uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-2133 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A55,A58,A68H,A75,A78,A88X (A10-7850K) and H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-2500S).
| Feature | A10-7850K | Core i5-2500S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the A10-7850K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A10-7850K) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2500S). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 (A10-7850K) and HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2500S) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-7850K targets Budget, Core i5-2500S targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: A10-7850K rivals Core i3-4340; Core i5-2500S rivals Phenom II X4 980.
| Feature | A10-7850K | Core i5-2500S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Legacy Desktop |
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