Core i7-960 vs A10 PRO-7850B
Core i7-960
A10 PRO-7850B
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 PRO-7850B is on rank 1027, so the Core i7-960 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 PRO-7850B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-960 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-960 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+26%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($110) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
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 PRO-7850B
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 PRO-7850B
The A10 PRO-7850B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 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: 3,441 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i7-960 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the A10 PRO-7850B's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-960 versus 4 GHz on the A10 PRO-7850B — a 14.5% clock advantage for the A10 PRO-7850B (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-960 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the A10 PRO-7850B uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-960 scores 3,400 against the A10 PRO-7850B's 3,441 — a 1.2% lead for the A10 PRO-7850B.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,400 | 3,441+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 470 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-960 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A10 PRO-7850B uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| 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 PRO-7850B). The A10 PRO-7850B includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-960 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A10 PRO-7850B targets Business Desktop. Direct competitor: A10 PRO-7850B rivals Core i5-4590.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Business Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-960 launched at $309 MSRP, while the A10 PRO-7850B debuted at $426. At current prices ($110 vs $140), the Core i7-960 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-960 delivers 30.9 pts/$ vs 24.6 pts/$ for the A10 PRO-7850B — making the Core i7-960 the 22.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-960 | A10 PRO-7850B |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $309-27% | $426 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110-21% | $140 |
| Performance per Dollar | 30.9+26% | 24.6 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2014 |
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