Atom x7809C vs Core i5-8500

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.

Atom x7809C vs Core i5-8500 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.

Atom x7809C vs Core i5-8500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Atom x7809C

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 25W instead of 65W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1264 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (9 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,409 vs 9,521).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 9 MB).

Core i5-8500

2018

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Atom x7809C across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $192 MSRP, while Atom x7809C mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌160% higher power demand at 65W vs 25W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Atom x7809C moves to FCBGA1264 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom x7809C better than Core i5-8500?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Atom x7809C is ahead with a 3.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8500 pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. Core i5-8500 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 6 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (9 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Atom x7809C is still the much better call for a fresh build. Atom x7809C comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-8500 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (49.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

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

Atom x7809C makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1264 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Atom x7809C vs Core i5-8500 Technical Specifications

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

Atom x7809C

The Atom x7809C is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Amston Lake (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 9,409 points. Launch price was $117.

Core i5-8500

The Core i5-8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,521 points. Launch price was $202.

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Processing Power

The Atom x7809C packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-8500 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Atom x7809C has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Atom x7809C versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500 — a 13% clock advantage for the Core i5-8500 (base: 2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Atom x7809C uses the Amston Lake (2024−2025) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i5-8500 uses Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x7809C scores 9,409 against the Core i5-8500's 9,521 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-8500. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Atom x7809C vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500.

Feature	Atom x7809C	Core i5-8500
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 6
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4.1 GHz+14%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	9 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per module)	256K (per core)+12700%
Process	10 nm-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Amston Lake (2024−2025)	Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)
PassMark	9,409	9,521+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,102	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,657	—

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Memory & Platform

The Atom x7809C uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-8500 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Atom x7809C	Core i5-8500
Socket	FCBGA1264	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	1	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	9	—