Core i7-860S vs A10-9600P
Core i7-860S
A10-9600P
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 i7-860S is positioned at rank 1033 and the A10-9600P is on rank 572, so the A10-9600P offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-860S
Performance Per Dollar A10-9600P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-860S | A10-9600P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($96) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-860S | A10-9600P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+93%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($96) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
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 i7-860S and A10-9600P
Core i7-860S
The Core i7-860S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,324 points. Launch price was $422.
A10-9600P
The A10-9600P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,333 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Core i7-860S packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the A10-9600P's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-860S versus 3.3 GHz on the A10-9600P — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-860S (base: 2.53 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-860S uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the A10-9600P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-860S scores 2,324 against the A10-9600P's 2,333 — a 0.4% lead for the A10-9600P. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 451 vs 469, a 3.9% lead for the A10-9600P that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i7-860S | A10-9600P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+5% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz+5% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2048 kB+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,324 | 2,333 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 451 | 469+4% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,332 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-860S uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A10-9600P uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i7-860S versus DDR4-1866 on the A10-9600P — the A10-9600P supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-860S) vs 8 (A10-9600P) — the Core i7-860S offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i7-860S | A10-9600P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-1866+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i7-860S) vs AMD-V (A10-9600P). The A10-9600P includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5), while the Core i7-860S requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-9600P targets Laptop. Direct competitor: A10-9600P rivals Core i3-6006U.
| Feature | Core i7-860S | A10-9600P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R5 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-860S launched at $299 MSRP, while the A10-9600P debuted at $128. At current prices ($96 vs $50), the A10-9600P is $46 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-860S delivers 24.2 pts/$ vs 46.7 pts/$ for the A10-9600P — making the A10-9600P the 63.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-860S | A10-9600P |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $299 | $128-57% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $96 | $50-48% |
| Performance per Dollar | 24.2 | 46.7+93% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2016 |
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