Core i7-8500Y vs Core i3-4170
Core i7-8500Y
Core i3-4170
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 i7-8500Y is positioned at rank 1035 and the Core i3-4170 is on rank 585, so the Core i3-4170 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8500Y
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4170
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8500Y | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8500Y | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 i7-8500Y and Core i3-4170
Core i7-8500Y
The Core i7-8500Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,590 points. Launch price was $393.
Core i3-4170
The Core i3-4170 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,626 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-8500Y and Core i3-4170 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-8500Y versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-8500Y (base: 1.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-8500Y uses the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-4170 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8500Y scores 3,590 against the Core i3-4170's 3,626 — a 1% lead for the Core i3-4170. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-8500Y vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170.
| Feature | Core i7-8500Y | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+14% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+147% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,590 | 3,626+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,140 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,897 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8500Y uses the FCBGA1515 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4170 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-8500Y | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1515 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-8500Y) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170). The Core i3-4170 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Core i7-8500Y requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-8500Y | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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