Core i5-8500 vs Ryzen 7 3700X

Core i5-8500 vs Ryzen 7 3700X Performance Spectrum

Core i5-8500

6 / 6

9,521

0.0%

22,430

+135.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Core i5-8500 vs Ryzen 7 3700X 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 i5-8500 vs Ryzen 7 3700X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-8500

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $137 less on MSRP ($192 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,521 vs 22,430).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (9 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 49.6 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($192 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +90.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+255.6% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 9 MB).
✅Delivers 37.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 49.6 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $192 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
71.4% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$192 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Core i5-8500?

Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 90.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 135.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 90.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 3700X is the stronger fit. You are getting 135.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 255.6% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 9 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 3700X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 3700X comes in 71.4% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it still gives you a 90.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 37.5% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 49.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 7 3700X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018), 255.6% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 9 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/6. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-8500 vs Ryzen 7 3700X Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-8500

The Core i5-8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,521 points. Launch price was $202.

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-8500 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-8500 uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8500 scores 9,521 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 80.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Core i5-8500	Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads	6 / 6	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz	4.4 GHz+7%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.6 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	9 MB (total)	32 MB+256%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	9,521	22,430+136%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8500 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-8500	Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	24

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-8500 was priced at $192, while the Ryzen 7 3700X came in at $329. On launch pricing ($192 vs $329), Core i5-8500 was $137 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-8500 delivers 49.6 pts/$ vs 68.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 31.6% better value option.

Feature	Core i5-8500	Ryzen 7 3700X
MSRP	$192-42%	$329
Performance per Dollar	49.6	68.2+38%
Release Date	2018	2019

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