Core i5-2300 vs A10 PRO-7850B
Core i5-2300
A10 PRO-7850B
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 i5-2300 is positioned at rank 799 and the A10 PRO-7850B is on rank 1027, so the Core i5-2300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2300
Performance Per Dollar A10 PRO-7850B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2300 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($17) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2300 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+732%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($17) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
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 i5-2300 and A10 PRO-7850B
Core i5-2300
The Core i5-2300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,475 points. Launch price was $168.
A10 PRO-7850B
The A10 PRO-7850B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. 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: 3,441 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-2300 and A10 PRO-7850B share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-2300 versus 4 GHz on the A10 PRO-7850B — a 25.4% clock advantage for the A10 PRO-7850B (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-2300 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A10 PRO-7850B uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2300 scores 3,475 against the A10 PRO-7850B's 3,441 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-2300. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 516 vs 470, a 9.3% lead for the Core i5-2300 that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i5-2300 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 4 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.7 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,475 | 3,441 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 516+10% | 470 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,515 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2300 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A10 PRO-7850B uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 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: H61,P67,Z68,Z77 (Core i5-2300) and A55,A58,A68H,A75,A78,A88X (A10 PRO-7850B).
| Feature | Core i5-2300 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i5-2300) vs AMD-V (A10 PRO-7850B). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2300) and Radeon R7 (A10 PRO-7850B) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10 PRO-7850B targets Business Desktop. Direct competitor: A10 PRO-7850B rivals Core i5-4590.
| Feature | Core i5-2300 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Business Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-2300 launched at $177 MSRP, while the A10 PRO-7850B debuted at $426. At current prices ($17 vs $140), the Core i5-2300 is $123 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-2300 delivers 204.4 pts/$ vs 24.6 pts/$ for the A10 PRO-7850B — making the Core i5-2300 the 157.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-2300 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $177-58% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $17-88% | $140 |
| Performance per Dollar | 204.4+731% | 24.6 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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