Core i5-661 vs A8-3850
Core i5-661
A8-3850
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 i5-661 is positioned at rank 959 and the A8-3850 is on rank 497, so the A8-3850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-661
Performance Per Dollar A8-3850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-661 | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-661 | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-661 and A8-3850
Core i5-661
The Core i5-661 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 87 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,387 points. Launch price was $252.
A8-3850
The A8-3850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,421 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i5-661 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-3850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-661 versus 2.9 GHz on the A8-3850 — a 21.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-661 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-661 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A8-3850 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-661 scores 2,387 against the A8-3850's 2,421 — a 1.4% lead for the A8-3850. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-661 vs 0 kB on the A8-3850.
| Feature | Core i5-661 | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+24% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+15% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,387 | 2,421+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 363 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-661 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A8-3850 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-661 | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i5-661) / AMD-V (A8-3850). The A8-3850 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6550D), while the Core i5-661 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3850 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-3850 rivals Core i3-2105.
| Feature | Core i5-661 | A8-3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6550D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Desktop |
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