A8-3500M vs Pentium G840

A8-3500M vs Pentium G840 Performance Spectrum

A8-3500M

4 / 4

1,391

+1.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium G840

2 / 2

1,367

0.0%

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.

A8-3500M vs Pentium G840 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A8-3500M vs Pentium G840: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A8-3500M

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6620G, while Pentium G840 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Pentium G840

2011

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than A8-3500M across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,367 vs 1,391).
❌Launch MSRP is still $64 MSRP, while A8-3500M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A8-3500M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A8-3500M better than Pentium G840?

Yes. A8-3500M is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A8-3500M is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A8-3500M is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A8-3500M is still the much better call for a fresh build. A8-3500M comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $64 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium G840 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2011 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (21.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1155.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A8-3500M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A8-3500M vs Pentium G840 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A8-3500M

The A8-3500M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,391 points. Launch price was $90.

Pentium G840

The Pentium G840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,367 points. Launch price was $60.

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Processing Power

The A8-3500M packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G840 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the A8-3500M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the A8-3500M versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G840 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Pentium G840 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The A8-3500M uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G840 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A8-3500M scores 1,391 against the Pentium G840's 1,367 — a 1.7% lead for the A8-3500M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-3500M vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G840.

Feature	A8-3500M	Pentium G840
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz	2.8 GHz+17%
Base Clock	1.5 GHz	2.8 GHz+87%
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,391+2%	1,367
Geekbench 6 Single	231	—

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Memory & Platform

The A8-3500M uses the FS1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G840 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	A8-3500M	Pentium G840
Socket	FS1	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A8-3500M) / not specified (Pentium G840). The A8-3500M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6620G), while the Pentium G840 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3500M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A8-3500M rivals Core i3-2310M.