Core i7-870 vs FirePro A320

Core i7-870 vs FirePro A320 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-870

4 / 8

3,164

+47.0%

Pentium Dual Core T2390

2,153

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i7-870 vs FirePro A320 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-870 vs FirePro A320: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-870

2009

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 95W instead of 100W, a 5W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike FirePro A320.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $300 MSRP, while FirePro A320 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

FirePro A320

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-870 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,153 vs 3,164).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-870.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-870 better than FirePro A320?

Yes. Core i7-870 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 39.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 47% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-870 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 39.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-870 is the stronger fit. You are getting 47% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-870 is the better buy right now. Core i7-870 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $300 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 39.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (10.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

FirePro A320 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-870 vs FirePro A320 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-870

The Core i7-870 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,164 points. Launch price was $305.

FirePro A320

The FirePro A320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,153 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-870 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the FirePro A320's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-870 versus 4.2 GHz on the FirePro A320 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the FirePro A320 (base: 2.93 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-870 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the FirePro A320 uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-870 scores 3,164 against the FirePro A320's 2,153 — a 38% lead for the Core i7-870.

Feature	Core i7-870	FirePro A320
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4.2 GHz+17%
Base Clock	2.93 GHz	3.8 GHz+30%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	4 MB (total)+1500%
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Lynnfield (2009−2010)	Trinity (2012−2013)
PassMark	3,164+47%	2,153
Geekbench 6 Single	476	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,541	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-870 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the FirePro A320 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.