Core i3-8130U vs A10-7870K
Core i3-8130U
A10-7870K
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 Core i3-8130U is positioned at rank 1024 and the A10-7870K is on rank 368, so the A10-7870K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8130U
Performance Per Dollar A10-7870K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8130U | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8130U | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Core i3-8130U and A10-7870K
Core i3-8130U
The Core i3-8130U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,521 points. Launch price was $281.
A10-7870K
The A10-7870K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 28 May 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 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: 3,506 points. Launch price was $120.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8130U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A10-7870K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A10-7870K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-8130U versus 4.1 GHz on the A10-7870K — a 18.7% clock advantage for the A10-7870K (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i3-8130U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the A10-7870K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8130U scores 3,521 against the A10-7870K's 3,506 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-8130U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,050 vs 550, a 62.5% lead for the Core i3-8130U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8130U vs 0 kB on the A10-7870K.
| Feature | Core i3-8130U | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 4.1 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.9 GHz+77% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,521 | 3,506 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,050+91% | 550 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8130U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A10-7870K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-8130U versus DDR3-2133 on the A10-7870K — the Core i3-8130U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-8130U) vs 16 (A10-7870K) — the A10-7870K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-8130U | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Only the A10-7870K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8130U) vs AMD-V (A10-7870K). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 620 (Core i3-8130U) and Radeon R7 (A10-7870K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8130U targets Mainstream Laptop, A10-7870K targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-8130U rivals Ryzen 3 2200U; A10-7870K rivals Core i3-4370.
| Feature | Core i3-8130U | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 620 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Budget |
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