🚀 CPU Launch

AMD Athlon II X4 557 vs Intel Core i7-8700

Table of Contents



Overview:

Comparison between AMD Athlon II X4 557 and Intel Core i7-8700

AMD Athlon II X4 557 is manufactured by AMD, while Intel Core i7-8700 is manufactured by Intel. Both CPUs have the same base speed of 3.2 GHz. Intel Core i7-8700 has a higher turbo speed of 4.6 GHz compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 3.7 GHz. Intel Core i7-8700 has more cores (6) compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 4 cores. Intel Core i7-8700 supports more threads (12) compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 4 threads.

Both CPUs belong to the same class: Desktop. AMD Athlon II X4 557 uses the AM3 socket, while Intel Core i7-8700 uses the FCLGA1151-2 socket. AMD Athlon II X4 557 was launched in Q3 2021, while Intel Core i7-8700 was launched in Q4 2017. Intel Core i7-8700 has a larger L3 cache of 12 MB compared to AMD Athlon II X4 557's 6 MB.

Specification Summary

The AMD Athlon II X4 557 and Intel Core i7-8700 are two processors with distinct specifications. Below is a detailed comparison of their key features:

  • Manufacturer: Both processors are manufactured by AMD.
  • Speed: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has a base speed of 3.2 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-8700 runs at 3.2 GHz.
  • Turbo Boost: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 supports a turbo speed of 3.7 GHz, compared to 4.6 GHz for the Intel Core i7-8700.
  • Cores: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i7-8700 has 6 cores.
  • Threads: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 supports 4 threads, compared to 12 threads for the Intel Core i7-8700.
  • Class: Both processors are designed for Desktop use.
  • Socket: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 uses the AM3, while the Intel Core i7-8700 uses the FCLGA1151-2.
  • Launch Date: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 was launched on Q3 2021, while the Intel Core i7-8700 was released on Q4 2017.
  • L3 Cache: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has 6 MB of L3 cache, compared to 12 MB for the Intel Core i7-8700.

Detailed Specifications:

Specs AMD Athlon II X4 557 Intel Core i7-8700
AMD Intel
Manufacturer AMD Intel
Speed 3.2 GHz 3.2 GHz
Turbo 3.7 GHz 4.6 GHz
Cores 4 6
Threads 4 12
Class Desktop Desktop
Socket AM3 FCLGA1151-2
Launched Q3 2021 Q4 2017
L3 Cache 6 MB 12 MB

Review:

Single Core Performance:


CPU Performance in single-threaded applications

AMD Athlon II X4 557:



22%
Intel Core i7-8700:
43%
* More is Better

Multi Core Performance:


CPU Performance in multi-threaded applications

AMD Athlon II X4 557



3%
Intel Core i7-8700:
18%
* More is Better

Power Efficiency:


Power Consumption of CPU under full load

AMD Athlon II X4 557: 160 watts



40%
Intel Core i7-8700: 65 watts
16.25%
* Lower is Better

Launched Date:


Time when the CPU was launched


AMD Athlon II X4 557 : Q3 2021 ✅

Intel Core i7-8700 : Q4 2017 ✅

* Newer is Better

CPU Launch FINAL SCORE:

CPU Final Rating Ratings

AMD Athlon II X4 557



Intel Core i7-8700


Pro's and Con's

AMD Athlon II X4 557 – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Higher CPU Mark Score: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has a higher CPU Mark score of NA compared to the Intel Core i7-8700's 111.50. This indicates better overall performance across a wide range of tasks.

Cons:

  • Fewer Cores: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has 4 cores, which is fewer than the Intel Core i7-8700's 6 cores. This could impact performance in multi-threaded workloads, such as rendering, compiling code, or running virtual machines.
  • Fewer Threads: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has 4 threads, which is fewer than the Intel Core i7-8700's 12 threads. This may limit its ability to handle highly parallel workloads efficiently.
  • Lower Multi-Core Performance: In multi-threaded tasks, the AMD Athlon II X4 557 scores 2567, which is lower than the Intel Core i7-8700's score of 12817. This makes the Intel Core i7-8700 a better choice for heavy multitasking or parallel processing.
  • Higher Power Consumption: The AMD Athlon II X4 557 has a higher TDP of 160W compared to the Intel Core i7-8700's 65W. This means it may consume more power, leading to higher energy costs and potentially more heat generation, which could require better cooling solutions.

Intel Core i7-8700 – Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Newer Release: The Intel Core i7-8700 was launched more recently (Q4 2017) compared to the AMD Athlon II X4 557 (Q3 2021). This means it benefits from the latest advancements in technology, improved efficiency, and potentially better software optimization.
  • Higher Turbo Boost Speed: The Intel Core i7-8700 supports a higher turbo boost speed of 4.6 GHz compared to the AMD Athlon II X4 557's 3.7 GHz. This allows for better performance during peak workloads.
  • Faster Single-Core Performance: With a single-threaded performance score of 2637, the Intel Core i7-8700 outperforms the AMD Athlon II X4 557 (score: 1345). This makes it better suited for tasks that rely on single-core performance, such as gaming or everyday productivity.
  • Larger L3 Cache: The Intel Core i7-8700 features a larger L3 cache of 12MB compared to the AMD Athlon II X4 557's 6MB. A larger cache improves performance in memory-intensive tasks, such as video editing or 3D rendering, by reducing latency and speeding up data access.

Cons:

  • Not available


Productivity


AMD Athlon II X4 557
This cpu Handles Entry Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Entry Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.

Intel Core i7-8700
This cpu Handles Mid Level level office applications, web browsing, and media playback with ease. It can also be used for Mid Level level multitasking or CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.


Gaming

AMD Athlon II X4 557
Ideal for Entry Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Entry Level level computing.

Intel Core i7-8700
Ideal for Mid Level level gaming (when paired with a dedicated GPU) and Mid Level level computing.



Verdict

AMD Athlon II X4 557

The AMD Athlon II X4 557 is a reliable and Entry Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Entry Level computing needs or those building a New PC.

Intel Core i7-8700

The Intel Core i7-8700 is a reliable and Mid Level processor for your PC builds. It delivers excellent value for users with Mid Level computing needs or those building a New PC.