Core i3-8350K
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Ryzen 5 3500U
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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.
Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook
This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.
Core i3-8350K
2017Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +29.3% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
Trade-offs
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $250 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 3500U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌506.7% higher power demand at 91W vs 15W.
- ❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 3500U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Ryzen 5 3500U
2019Why buy it
- ✅Draws 15W instead of 91W, a 76W reduction.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 8, while Core i3-8350K needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-8350K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (6,836 vs 6,911).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
Core i3-8350K
2017Ryzen 5 3500U
2019Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +29.3% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
Why buy it
- ✅Draws 15W instead of 91W, a 76W reduction.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 8, while Core i3-8350K needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $250 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 3500U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌506.7% higher power demand at 91W vs 15W.
- ❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 3500U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-8350K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (6,836 vs 6,911).
- ❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
Quick Answers
So, is Core i3-8350K better than Ryzen 5 3500U?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
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.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | Core i3-8350K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 169 FPS |
| medium | 162 FPS | 149 FPS |
| high | 128 FPS | 120 FPS |
| ultra | 90 FPS | 98 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 142 FPS |
| medium | 137 FPS | 121 FPS |
| high | 106 FPS | 95 FPS |
| ultra | 75 FPS | 76 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 74 FPS | 67 FPS |
| medium | 63 FPS | 61 FPS |
| high | 48 FPS | 48 FPS |
| ultra | 38 FPS | 37 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | Core i3-8350K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 120 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 105 FPS |
| high | 173 FPS | 97 FPS |
| ultra | 149 FPS | 78 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 103 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 90 FPS |
| high | 161 FPS | 83 FPS |
| ultra | 132 FPS | 70 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 77 FPS |
| medium | 149 FPS | 69 FPS |
| high | 121 FPS | 56 FPS |
| ultra | 92 FPS | 42 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | Core i3-8350K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| high | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| ultra | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| high | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| ultra | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| high | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| ultra | 154 FPS | 171 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | Core i3-8350K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| high | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| ultra | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| high | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| ultra | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| medium | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| high | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
| ultra | 173 FPS | 171 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-8350K and Ryzen 5 3500U
Core i3-8350K
Core i3-8350K
The Core i3-8350K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,911 points. Launch price was $168.
Ryzen 5 3500U
Ryzen 5 3500U
The Ryzen 5 3500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,836 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8350K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Ryzen 5 3500U's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i3-8350K versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500U — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-8350K (base: 4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i3-8350K uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3500U uses Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8350K scores 6,911 against the Ryzen 5 3500U's 6,836 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-8350K. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-8350K vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500U.
| Feature | Core i3-8350K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+8% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+90% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 12 nm-14% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 6,911+1% | 6,836 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,545 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 876 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8350K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3500U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-8350K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | No |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-8350K) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 3500U). The Ryzen 5 3500U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Core i3-8350K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3500U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3500U rivals Core i5-10210U.
| Feature | Core i3-8350K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Vega 8 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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