A10-7890K vs Athlon X4 950

A10-7890K vs Athlon X4 950 Performance Spectrum

A10-7890K

4 / 4

3,537

0.0%

Athlon II X3 460

Athlon II X4 641

Athlon X4 850

Ryzen Embedded R1305G

Ryzen 7 6800HS

Ryzen AI Max 390

Ryzen 9 9955HX3D

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon X4 950

4 / 4

3,576

+1.1%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

A10-7890K vs Athlon X4 950 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A10-7890K vs Athlon X4 950: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A10-7890K

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Athlon X4 950 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,537 vs 3,576).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Athlon X4 950

2017

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than A10-7890K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $58 MSRP, while A10-7890K mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while A10-7890K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 950 better than A10-7890K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A10-7890K is ahead with a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X4 950 pulls ahead with 1.1% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X4 950 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon X4 950 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 950 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $58 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that A10-7890K is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 3.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (61.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon X4 950 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A10-7890K vs Athlon X4 950 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

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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

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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 12.5% 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 — 100% 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+13%
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	64 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+100%	8

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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.