A10-7850K vs Core i7-960
A10-7850K
Core i7-960
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 i7-960 is on rank 979, 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 i7-960
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A10-7850K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A10-7850K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) |
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 i7-960
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 i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
Processing Power
The A10-7850K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-960's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the A10-7850K versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 — a 14.5% clock advantage for the A10-7850K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The A10-7850K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-960 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A10-7850K scores 3,394 against the Core i7-960's 3,400 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-960. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A10-7850K vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960.
| Feature | A10-7850K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+16% | 3.46 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+16% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4096 kB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,394 | 3,400 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 510 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A10-7850K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-960 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | A10-7850K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A10-7850K) / not specified (Core i7-960). The A10-7850K includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-7850K targets Budget. Direct competitor: A10-7850K rivals Core i3-4340.
| Feature | A10-7850K | Core i7-960 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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