Performance comparison: which is faster?
AMD A10-7850K (AMD, 2014) and AMD Phenom II X4 980 (AMD, 2010) are compared here. Compare not only scores, but also whether the motherboard can be reused and which GPU class is balanced with each CPU.
Overall performance: A10-7850K is about 15.6% faster
The sockets differ (FM2+ / AM3), so switching requires a motherboard replacement. For games, performance balance with the GPU (guideline CPU:GPU = 0.9:1) matters more than CPU speed alone.
Relative performance score (higher is faster). Actual speed varies by workload, cooling, and memory configuration.
| Item | A10-7850K | Phenom II X4 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Score | 5,200 | 4,500 |
| Generation | A-Series | Phenom II |
| Socket | FM2+ | AM3 |
| Release Year | 2014 | 2010 |
| Type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Compatible GPU Example | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Radeon RX 6400 |
| If You Want To... | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Prioritize maximum speed for heavy work or a high-end GPU | A10-7850K |
| Upgrade while reusing the current motherboard | Choose the CPU matching your motherboard socket |
| Prioritize value and adequate performance | Phenom II X4 980 (the lower model is often sufficient) |
A10-7850K is about 15.6% higher by score (A10-7850K: 5200 points / Phenom II X4 980: 4500 points). For gaming, the GPU tier usually matters more than a few percent of CPU difference. For CPU-heavy work such as video editing and streaming, choose the faster CPU.
A10-7850K is A-Series, while Phenom II X4 980 is Phenom II.The sockets differ (FM2+ / AM3), so switching requires a motherboard replacement.
Using our CPU:GPU = 0.9:1 guideline, Radeon RX 6500 XT pairs well with A10-7850K and Radeon RX 6400 pairs well with Phenom II X4 980. If either GPU is too strong or too weak, one part holds the other back.
