
Core i7-6500U vs A8-7670K

Core i7-6500U

A8-7670K
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 i7-6500U is positioned at rank 302 and the A8-7670K is on rank 628, so the Core i7-6500U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6500U
Performance Per Dollar A8-7670K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6500U | A8-7670K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($43) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6500U | A8-7670K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($43) |
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 i7-6500U and A8-7670K

Core i7-6500U
The Core i7-6500U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,271 points. Launch price was $393.

A8-7670K
The A8-7670K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 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: 3,267 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6500U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-7670K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-7670K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i7-6500U versus 3.9 GHz on the A8-7670K — a 22.9% clock advantage for the A8-7670K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-6500U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-7670K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6500U scores 3,271 against the A8-7670K's 3,267 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-6500U.
| Feature | Core i7-6500U | A8-7670K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.9 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+44% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4096 kB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,271 | 3,267 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6500U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-7670K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6500U | A8-7670K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-6500U) / true (A8-7670K). The A8-7670K includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7 Graphics), while the Core i7-6500U requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-7670K rivals Core i3-4170.
| Feature | Core i7-6500U | A8-7670K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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