Atom Z3735G vs Pentium 8500

Intel

Atom Z3735G

4 Cores4 Thrd2 WWMax: 1.83 GHz2014
VS
Intel

Pentium 8500

5 Cores6 Thrd9 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Atom Z3735G vs Pentium 8500 Performance Spectrum

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.

Atom Z3735G vs Pentium 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 Z3735G vs Pentium 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 Z3735G

2014

Why buy it

  • βœ…Costs $183 less on MSRP ($17 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
  • βœ…Delivers 1072.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 170.1 vs 14.5 PassMark/$ ($17 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
  • βœ…Draws 2W instead of 9W, a 7W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium 8500 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower PassMark (2,891 vs 2,900).
  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 8 MB).
  • ❌Older platform position on UTFCBGA592, while Pentium 8500 moves to FCBGA1781 and DDR5.

Pentium 8500

2022

Why buy it

  • βœ…Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • βœ…+300% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 2 MB).
  • βœ…Newer platform on FCBGA1781 with DDR5 support instead of UTFCBGA592 and older memory support.
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (14 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.5 vs 170.1 PassMark/$ ($200 MSRP vs $17 MSRP).
  • ❌350% higher power demand at 9W vs 2W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium 8500 better than Atom Z3735G?
Yes. Pentium 8500 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% 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 8500 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.8% 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 8500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 5 cores and 6 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 2 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Pentium 8500 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium 8500 comes in 1076.5% more expensive on MSRP at $200 MSRP versus $17 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Atom Z3735G only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2014 platform. Even with 1072.8% better value on paper (170.1 vs 14.5 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on UTFCBGA592.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium 8500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2014), a healthier platform with FCBGA1781 and DDR5 instead of UTFCBGA592, 300% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 2 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 5 cores / 6 threads instead of 4/4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Atom Z3735G vs Pentium 8500 Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Atom Z3735G

The Atom Z3735G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-T (2013βˆ’2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA592. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,891 points. Launch price was $17.

Intel

Pentium 8500

The Pentium 8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 2,900 points. Launch price was $69.

⚑

Processing Power

The Atom Z3735G packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium 8500 offers 5 cores / 6 threads β€” the Pentium 8500 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Atom Z3735G versus 4.4 GHz on the Pentium 8500 β€” a 82.5% clock advantage for the Pentium 8500 (base: 1.33 GHz vs 1 GHz). The Atom Z3735G uses the Bay Trail-T (2013βˆ’2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium 8500 uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z3735G scores 2,891 against the Pentium 8500's 2,900 β€” a 0.3% lead for the Pentium 8500. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Atom Z3735G vs 8 MB (total) on the Pentium 8500.

FeatureAtom Z3735GPentium 8500
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
5 / 6+25%
Boost Clock
1.83 GHz
4.4 GHz+140%
Base Clock
1.33 GHz+33%
1 GHz
L3 Cache
2 MB L2 Cache
8 MB (total)+300%
L2 Cache
2 MB+60%
1.25 MB (per core)
Process
22 nm
Intel 7 nm-68%
Architecture
Bay Trail-T (2013βˆ’2014)
Alder Lake-U (2022)
PassMark
2,891
2,900
Geekbench 6 Single
β€”
1,250
Geekbench 6 Multi
β€”
2,100
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Atom Z3735G uses the UTFCBGA592 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium 8500 uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 5.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-RS 1333 on the Atom Z3735G versus LPDDR5-5200 on the Pentium 8500 β€” the Pentium 8500 supports 290.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium 8500 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 1 GB β€” 6300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom Z3735G) vs 2 (Pentium 8500). PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom Z3735G) vs 14 (Pentium 8500) β€” the Pentium 8500 offers 14 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom Z3735G) and SoC (Pentium 8500).

FeatureAtom Z3735GPentium 8500
Socket
UTFCBGA592
FCBGA1781
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 5.0+150%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3L-RS 1333
LPDDR5-5200+290%
Max RAM Capacity
1 GB
64 GB+6300%
RAM Channels
1
2+100%
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
0
14
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom Z3735G) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Pentium 8500). Both include integrated graphics β€” Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) (Atom Z3735G) and Intel UHD Graphics (48 EU) (Pentium 8500) β€” useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium 8500 targets Entry Level Laptop.

FeatureAtom Z3735GPentium 8500
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)
Intel UHD Graphics (48 EU)
Unlocked
β€”
No
AVX-512
β€”
No
Virtualization
β€”
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
β€”
Entry Level Laptop
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Atom Z3735G was priced at $17, while the Pentium 8500 came in at $200. On launch pricing ($17 vs $200), Atom Z3735G was $183 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Atom Z3735G delivers 170.1 pts/$ vs 14.5 pts/$ for the Pentium 8500 β€” making the Atom Z3735G the 168.6% better value option.

FeatureAtom Z3735GPentium 8500
MSRP
$17-92%
$200
Performance per Dollar
170.1+1073%
14.5
Release Date
2014
2022

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