Core i7-950 vs A10-7860K
Core i7-950
A10-7860K
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 i7-950 is positioned at rank 1067 and the A10-7860K is on rank 392, so the A10-7860K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-950
Performance Per Dollar A10-7860K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-950 | A10-7860K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($117) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-950 | A10-7860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+683%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($117) |
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 i7-950 and A10-7860K
Core i7-950
The Core i7-950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.33 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,250 points. Launch price was $290.
A10-7860K
The A10-7860K 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 4 GHz. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 3,237 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Core i7-950 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the A10-7860K's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.33 GHz on the Core i7-950 versus 4 GHz on the A10-7860K — a 18.3% clock advantage for the A10-7860K (base: 3.06 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-950 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the A10-7860K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-950 scores 3,250 against the A10-7860K's 3,237 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-950.
| Feature | Core i7-950 | A10-7860K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.33 GHz | 4 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz | 3.6 GHz+18% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,250 | 3,237 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 450 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-950 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A10-7860K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-950 | A10-7860K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-950) / AMD-V (A10-7860K). The A10-7860K includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-950 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-7860K targets Budget. Direct competitor: A10-7860K rivals Core i3-6100.
| Feature | Core i7-950 | A10-7860K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-950 launched at $562 MSRP, while the A10-7860K debuted at $117.
| Feature | Core i7-950 | A10-7860K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $562 | $117-79% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | — |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2016 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-950 and A10-7860K
