Core i7-960 vs A10-7850K
Core i7-960
A10-7850K
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 i7-960 is positioned at rank 979 and the A10-7850K is on rank 375, so the A10-7850K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-960
Performance Per Dollar A10-7850K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-960 | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Godaveri (2014−2016) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-960 | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-960 and A10-7850K
Core i7-960
The Core i7-960 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 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: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,400 points. Launch price was $316.
A10-7850K
The A10-7850K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Godaveri (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 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: 3,394 points. Launch price was $173.
Processing Power
The Core i7-960 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the A10-7850K's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 versus 4 GHz on the A10-7850K — a 14.5% clock advantage for the A10-7850K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-960 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the A10-7850K uses Godaveri (2014−2016) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-960 scores 3,400 against the A10-7850K's 3,394 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-960. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-960 vs 0 kB on the A10-7850K.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz | 4 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Godaveri (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,400 | 3,394 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 510 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-960 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A10-7850K uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | FM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-960) / AMD-V (A10-7850K). The A10-7850K includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10-7850K targets Budget. Direct competitor: A10-7850K rivals Core i3-4340.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A10-7850K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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