A8-3800 vs Pentium G3258

CPU

GPU

A8-3800

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2011

Similar parts

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Pentium G3258

2 Cores2 Thrd54 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2014

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A8-3800 vs Pentium G3258 Performance Spectrum

A8-3800

4 / 4

2,051

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium G3258

2 / 2

2,063

+0.6%

Celeron E3300

Core Duo T2300

Pentium Dual Core T2370

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.

A8-3800 vs Pentium G3258 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.

A8-3800 vs Pentium G3258: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A8-3800

2011

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Pentium G3258.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,051 vs 2,063).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.8 vs 27.5 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $75 MSRP).
❌20.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 54W.

Pentium G3258

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $55 less on MSRP ($75 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Delivers 74.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 27.5 vs 15.8 PassMark/$ ($75 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Draws 54W instead of 65W, a 11W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A8-3800.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium G3258 better than A8-3800?

Yes. Pentium G3258 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.6% 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, Pentium G3258 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.3% 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, Pentium G3258 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium G3258 is the better buy right now. Pentium G3258 comes in $55 cheaper on MSRP at $75 MSRP versus $130 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 74.3% better value on MSRP (27.5 vs 15.8 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium G3258 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A8-3800 vs Pentium G3258 Technical Specifications

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

A8-3800

The A8-3800 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,051 points. Launch price was $90.

Pentium G3258

The Pentium G3258 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,063 points. Launch price was $77.

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Processing Power

The A8-3800 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G3258 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the A8-3800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the A8-3800 versus 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3258 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Pentium G3258 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The A8-3800 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G3258 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A8-3800 scores 2,051 against the Pentium G3258's 2,063 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium G3258. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-3800 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3258.

Feature	A8-3800	Pentium G3258
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	3.2 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.2 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	2,051	2,063
Geekbench 6 Single	370	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,350	—

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Memory & Platform

The A8-3800 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3258 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the A8-3800 versus DDR3-1333 on the Pentium G3258 — the A8-3800 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

Feature	A8-3800	Pentium G3258
Socket	FM1	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866+40%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Only the Pentium G3258 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A8-3800) vs VT-x (Pentium G3258). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 6550D (A8-3800) and HD Graphics (Pentium G3258) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3800 targets Budget Desktop, Pentium G3258 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-3800 rivals Core i3-2100.

Feature	A8-3800	Pentium G3258
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Radeon HD 6550D	HD Graphics
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x
Target Use	Budget Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A8-3800 was priced at $130, while the Pentium G3258 came in at $75. On launch pricing ($130 vs $75), Pentium G3258 was $55 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A8-3800 delivers 15.8 pts/$ vs 27.5 pts/$ for the Pentium G3258 — making the Pentium G3258 the 54.2% better value option.

Feature	A8-3800	Pentium G3258
MSRP	$130	$75-42%
Performance per Dollar	15.8	27.5+74%
Release Date	2011	2014

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