CPU
GPU
Core i3-5157U
A8-5500
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-5157U is positioned at rank 663 and the A8-5500 is on rank 472, so the A8-5500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-5157U
Performance Per Dollar A8-5500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-5157U | A8-5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-5157U | A8-5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-5157U and A8-5500
Core i3-5157U
The Core i3-5157U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,593 points. Launch price was $315.
A8-5500
The A8-5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,615 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i3-5157U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-5500 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-5500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-5157U versus 3.7 GHz on the A8-5500 — a 38.7% clock advantage for the A8-5500 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-5157U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-5500 uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-5157U scores 2,593 against the A8-5500's 2,615 — a 0.8% lead for the A8-5500. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-5157U vs 0 kB on the A8-5500.
| Feature | Core i3-5157U | A8-5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+48% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.2 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,593 | 2,615 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 793 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-5157U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-5500 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR3-1866 on the Core i3-5157U versus 1866 on the A8-5500 — the A8-5500 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A8-5500 supports up to 64 of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-5157U) vs 16 (A8-5500) — the A8-5500 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-5157U | A8-5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR3-1866 | 1866+62100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+26214300% | 64 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-5157U) vs true (A8-5500). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Graphics 6100 (Core i3-5157U) and Radeon HD 7560D (A8-5500) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5157U targets Premium Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-5157U rivals A12-8800B; A8-5500 rivals Pentium G2120.
| Feature | Core i3-5157U | A8-5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Graphics 6100 | Radeon HD 7560D |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Premium Laptop | — |
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