Core i5-3360M vs Pentium 8500
Core i5-3360M
Pentium 8500
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 i5-3360M is positioned at rank 183 and the Pentium 8500 is on rank 991, so the Core i5-3360M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3360M
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 8500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3360M | Pentium 8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3360M | Pentium 8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i5-3360M and Pentium 8500
Core i5-3360M
The Core i5-3360M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,892 points. Launch price was $266.
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 Core i5-3360M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium 8500 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Pentium 8500 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-3360M versus 4.4 GHz on the Pentium 8500 — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Pentium 8500 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1 GHz). The Core i5-3360M uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium 8500 uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3360M scores 2,892 against the Pentium 8500's 2,900 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium 8500. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3360M vs 8 MB (total) on the Pentium 8500.
| Feature | Core i5-3360M | Pentium 8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 5 / 6+150% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+180% | 1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 22 nm | Intel 7 nm-68% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Alder Lake-U (2022) |
| PassMark | 2,892 | 2,900 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,100 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3360M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium 8500 uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1600 on the Core i5-3360M versus LPDDR5-5200 on the Pentium 8500 — the Core i5-3360M supports 198.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium 8500 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-3360M) vs 14 (Pentium 8500) — the Core i5-3360M offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3360M) and SoC (Pentium 8500).
| Feature | Core i5-3360M | Pentium 8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FCBGA1781 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+31900% | LPDDR5-5200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | 64 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+14% | 14 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i5-3360M) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Pentium 8500). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3360M) and Intel UHD Graphics (48 EU) (Pentium 8500) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium 8500 targets Entry Level Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-3360M rivals AMD A10-4600M.
| Feature | Core i5-3360M | Pentium 8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | Intel UHD Graphics (48 EU) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Entry Level Laptop |
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