A10-7890K vs Core i3-4160
A10-7890K
Core i3-4160
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 Core i3-4160 is on rank 596, so the A10-7890K 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 Core i3-4160
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A10-7890K | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A10-7890K | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($52) |
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 Core i3-4160
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.
Core i3-4160
The Core i3-4160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,506 points. Launch price was $133.
Processing Power
The A10-7890K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-4160 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A10-7890K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the A10-7890K versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-4160 — a 17.7% clock advantage for the A10-7890K (base: 4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The A10-7890K uses the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-4160 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A10-7890K scores 3,537 against the Core i3-4160's 3,506 — a 0.9% lead for the A10-7890K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 600 vs 1,100, a 58.8% lead for the Core i3-4160 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A10-7890K vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4160.
| Feature | A10-7890K | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+19% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+11% | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4096 kB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 22 nm-21% |
| Architecture | Godaveri (2014−2016) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,537 | 3,506 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 600 | 1,100+83% |
Memory & Platform
The A10-7890K uses the FM2+ socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4160 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — 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,A68H,A75,A78,A85X,A88X (A10-7890K) and H81,B85,Q85,H87,Q87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Core i3-4160).
| Feature | A10-7890K | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2+ | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-2133 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the A10-7890K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A10-7890K) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i3-4160). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 (A10-7890K) and HD Graphics 4400 (Core i3-4160) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-7890K targets Budget, Core i3-4160 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A10-7890K rivals Core i3-6100; Core i3-4160 rivals FX-6300.
| Feature | A10-7890K | Core i3-4160 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget Desktop |
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