Athlon X4 950 vs A10-7890K
Athlon X4 950
A10-7890K
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 Athlon X4 950 is positioned at rank 344 and the A10-7890K is on rank 364, 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 Athlon X4 950
Performance Per Dollar A10-7890K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X4 950 | A10-7890K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X4 950 | A10-7890K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Athlon X4 950 and A10-7890K
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.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X4 950 and A10-7890K share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Athlon X4 950 versus 4.3 GHz on the A10-7890K — a 12.3% clock advantage for the A10-7890K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Athlon X4 950 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the A10-7890K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 950 scores 3,576 against the A10-7890K's 3,537 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon X4 950. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 656 vs 600, 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 | Athlon X4 950 | A10-7890K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.3 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 4096 kB+700% |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,576+1% | 3,537 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 656+9% | 600 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,637 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X4 950 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A10-7890K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Athlon X4 950 versus DDR3-2133 on the A10-7890K — 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: 8 (Athlon X4 950) vs 16 (A10-7890K) — the A10-7890K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Socket AM4 (Athlon X4 950) and A55,A68H,A75,A78,A85X,A88X (A10-7890K).
| Feature | Athlon X4 950 | A10-7890K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
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 | Athlon X4 950 | A10-7890K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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