A10-9700 vs Core i7-975
A10-9700
Core i7-975
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 A10-9700 is positioned at rank 771 and the Core i7-975 is on rank 1084, so the A10-9700 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A10-9700
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-975
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A10-9700 | Core i7-975 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A10-9700 | Core i7-975 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+26%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 A10-9700 and Core i7-975
A10-9700
The A10-9700 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: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,555 points. Launch price was $90.
Core i7-975
The Core i7-975 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 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: 3,527 points. Launch price was $476.
Processing Power
The A10-9700 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-975's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A10-9700 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-975 — a 5.4% clock advantage for the A10-9700 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The A10-9700 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-975 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A10-9700 scores 3,555 against the Core i7-975's 3,527 — a 0.8% lead for the A10-9700. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A10-9700 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-975.
| Feature | A10-9700 | Core i7-975 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+6% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+5% | 3.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 3,555 | 3,527 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 642 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A10-9700 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-975 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | A10-9700 | Core i7-975 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A10-9700) / not specified (Core i7-975). The A10-9700 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-975 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-9700 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A10-9700 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | A10-9700 | Core i7-975 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The A10-9700 launched at $169 MSRP, while the Core i7-975 debuted at $999. At current prices ($40 vs $50), the A10-9700 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A10-9700 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 70.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-975 — making the A10-9700 the 23% better value option.
| Feature | A10-9700 | Core i7-975 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $169-83% | $999 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-20% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 88.9+26% | 70.5 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2009 |
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