Core i7-2657M vs A10-7870K
Core i7-2657M
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 i7-2657M is positioned at rank 268 and the A10-7870K is on rank 368, so the Core i7-2657M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2657M
Performance Per Dollar A10-7870K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2657M | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2657M | 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 i7-2657M and A10-7870K
Core i7-2657M
The Core i7-2657M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 3,491 points. Launch price was $317.
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 i7-2657M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A10-7870K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A10-7870K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i7-2657M versus 4.1 GHz on the A10-7870K — a 41.2% clock advantage for the A10-7870K (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i7-2657M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A10-7870K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2657M scores 3,491 against the A10-7870K's 3,506 — a 0.4% lead for the A10-7870K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 535 vs 550, a 2.8% lead for the A10-7870K that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-2657M vs 0 kB on the A10-7870K.
| Feature | Core i7-2657M | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 4.1 GHz+52% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.9 GHz+144% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4096 kB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,491 | 3,506 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 535 | 550+3% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2657M uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A10-7870K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The A10-7870K supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67,UM67 (Core i7-2657M) and A55,A68H,A75,A78,A85X,A88X (A10-7870K).
| Feature | Core i7-2657M | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
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 i7-2657M) vs AMD-V (A10-7870K). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 3000 (Core i7-2657M) and Radeon R7 (A10-7870K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2657M targets Ultrabook, A10-7870K targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i7-2657M rivals A6-3420M; A10-7870K rivals Core i3-4370.
| Feature | Core i7-2657M | A10-7870K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Ultrabook | Budget |
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