CPU
GPU
Core i7-2620M
A8-3850
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 i7-2620M is positioned at rank 1162 and the A8-3850 is on rank 497, so the A8-3850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2620M
Performance Per Dollar A8-3850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2620M | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2620M | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ 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 Core i7-2620M and A8-3850
Core i7-2620M
The Core i7-2620M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,424 points. Launch price was $346.
A8-3850
The A8-3850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,421 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2620M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-3850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-2620M versus 2.9 GHz on the A8-3850 — a 15.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-2620M (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-2620M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A8-3850 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2620M scores 2,424 against the A8-3850's 2,421 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-2620M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 509 vs 363, a 33.5% lead for the Core i7-2620M that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-2620M vs 0 kB on the A8-3850.
| Feature | Core i7-2620M | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+17% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,424 | 2,421 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 509+40% | 363 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,222 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2620M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A8-3850 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The A8-3850 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-2620M) vs 20 (A8-3850) — the A8-3850 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,QM67,HM67,QS67 (Core i7-2620M) and A55,A75 (A8-3850).
| Feature | Core i7-2620M | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 20+25% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-2620M) vs AMD-V (A8-3850). Both include integrated graphics — HD 3000 (Core i7-2620M) and Radeon HD 6550D (A8-3850) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2620M targets Budget, A8-3850 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-2620M rivals Core i5-2410M; A8-3850 rivals Core i3-2105.
| Feature | Core i7-2620M | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD 3000 | Radeon HD 6550D |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Mainstream Desktop |
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