Core i3-10100Y vs Pentium 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.

Core i3-10100Y 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.

Core i3-10100Y 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.

Core i3-10100Y

2018

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium 8500 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌5588.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 9W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1515, while Pentium 8500 moves to FCBGA1781 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium 8500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Pentium 8500

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Draws 9W instead of 512W, a 503W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1781 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1515 and older memory support.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (14 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,900 vs 2,918).
❌Launch MSRP is still $200 MSRP, while Core i3-10100Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium 8500 better than Core i3-10100Y?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium 8500 is ahead with a 5.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-10100Y pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark. Pentium 8500 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-10100Y is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Pentium 8500 is the better buy right now. Pentium 8500 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $200 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i3-10100Y is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.6% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (14.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 8500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FCBGA1781 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1515, and 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i3-10100Y vs Pentium 8500 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-10100Y

The Core i3-10100Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,918 points. Launch price was $69.

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.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-10100Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium 8500 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Pentium 8500 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-10100Y versus 4.4 GHz on the Pentium 8500 — a 12% clock advantage for the Pentium 8500 (base: 1.3 GHz vs 1 GHz). The Core i3-10100Y uses the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium 8500 uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-10100Y scores 2,918 against the Pentium 8500's 2,900 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-10100Y. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i3-10100Y vs 8 MB (total) on the Pentium 8500.

Feature	Core i3-10100Y	Pentium 8500
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	5 / 6+150%
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.4 GHz+13%
Base Clock	1.3 GHz+30%	1 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB	8 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	512 kB	1.25 MB (per core)+150%
Process	14 nm	Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture	Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021)	Alder Lake-U (2022)
PassMark	2,918	2,900
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,250
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	2,100

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-10100Y uses the FCBGA1515 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium 8500 uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-10100Y	Pentium 8500
Socket	FCBGA1515	FCBGA1781
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	14

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-10100Y) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Pentium 8500). The Pentium 8500 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics (48 EU)), while the Core i3-10100Y requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium 8500 targets Entry Level Laptop.