A10-7890K vs Athlon X4 950
A10-7890K
Athlon X4 950
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 A10-7890K is positioned at rank 364 and the Athlon X4 950 is on rank 344, so the Athlon X4 950 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A10-7890K
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X4 950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A10-7890K | Athlon X4 950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A10-7890K | Athlon X4 950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 A10-7890K and Athlon X4 950
A10-7890K
The A10-7890K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 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: 3,537 points. Launch price was $150.
Athlon X4 950
The Athlon X4 950 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 3,576 points. Launch price was $60.
Processing Power
Both the A10-7890K and Athlon X4 950 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the A10-7890K versus 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 950 — a 12.3% clock advantage for the A10-7890K (base: 4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The A10-7890K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon X4 950 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the A10-7890K scores 3,537 against the Athlon X4 950's 3,576 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon X4 950. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 600 vs 656, a 8.9% lead for the Athlon X4 950 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A10-7890K | Athlon X4 950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+13% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+14% | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 4096 kB+700% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,537 | 3,576+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 600 | 656+9% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,637 |
Memory & Platform
The A10-7890K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X4 950 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-2133 on the A10-7890K versus DDR4-2400 on the Athlon X4 950 — the Athlon X4 950 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 950 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A10-7890K) vs 8 (Athlon X4 950) — the A10-7890K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A68H,A75,A78,A85X,A88X (A10-7890K) and Socket AM4 (Athlon X4 950).
| Feature | A10-7890K | Athlon X4 950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Only the A10-7890K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The A10-7890K includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Athlon X4 950 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-7890K targets Budget. Direct competitor: A10-7890K rivals Core i3-6100.
| Feature | A10-7890K | Athlon X4 950 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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