FX-6300 vs Core i3-8109U

FX-6300

6 Cores6 Thrd95 WWMax: 3.8 GHz2012

Core i3-8109U

2 Cores4 Thrd28 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2018

Performance Spectrum - CPU

FX-6300

6 / 6

4,137

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-8109U

2 / 4

4,184

+1.1%

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 FX-6300 is positioned at rank 579 and the Core i3-8109U is on rank 857, so the FX-6300 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar FX-6300

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

9946%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

9398%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

6824%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

2056%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

1628%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

1425%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

816%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

805%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

733%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

733%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

725%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

705%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

696%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

693%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

686%

#278

Ryzen Threadripper 1900X

MSRP: $549|Avg: $116

98%

#382

Ryzen Embedded R2544

MSRP: $280|Avg: $280

97%

#579

FX-6300

MSRP: $132|Avg: $35

100%

#581

Core i3-6100T

MSRP: $117|Avg: $20

99%

#582

Athlon X4 970

MSRP: $85|Avg: $85

99%

#583

FX-8370

MSRP: $199|Avg: $100

99%

#584

Pentium G4520

MSRP: $86|Avg: $45

99%

#585

Core i3-4170

MSRP: $117|Avg: $40

99%

#586

Celeron G460

MSRP: $37|Avg: $10

99%

#587

A4 PRO-7350B

MSRP: $50|Avg: $11

99%

#589

Pentium G3220T

MSRP: $54|Avg: $15

97%

#590

Celeron G1620

MSRP: $52|Avg: $40

97%

#591

Core i5-7600T

MSRP: $192|Avg: $60

97%

#593

Core i3-7300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $128

96%

#594

Celeron G1830

MSRP: $52|Avg: $5

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8109U

#845

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

1402%

#846

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

1382%

#847

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1269%

#848

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1263%

#849

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

1251%

#851

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

1208%

#852

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

1159%

#853

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

1157%

#854

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

1126%

#857

Core i3-8109U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#863

Pentium Dual Core T2390

MSRP: $86|Avg: $5

98%

#867

Core i7-1160G7

MSRP: $426|Avg: N/A

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i3-8109U (2018) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	FX-6300	Core i3-8109U
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($35)	✅ More affordable ($0)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Vishera (2012−2015) / 32 nm)	✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The FX-6300 (2012) relies on 32 nm technology and DDR3-1866, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	FX-6300	Core i3-8109U
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($35)	✅ More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

FX-6300 Benchmark Check

Core i3-8109U Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of FX-6300 and Core i3-8109U

FX-6300

The FX-6300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB. L2 cache: 6144 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,137 points. Launch price was $132.

Core i3-8109U

The Core i3-8109U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,184 points. Launch price was $304.

⚡

Processing Power

The FX-6300 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i3-8109U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the FX-6300 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the FX-6300 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i3-8109U — a 5.4% clock advantage for the FX-6300 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The FX-6300 uses the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-8109U uses Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the FX-6300 scores 4,137 against the Core i3-8109U's 4,184 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-8109U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 534 vs 1,100, a 69.3% lead for the Core i3-8109U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 8192 kB on the FX-6300 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8109U.

Feature	FX-6300	Core i3-8109U
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+200%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+6%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+17%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	8192 kB+100%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	6144 kB+2300%	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Vishera (2012−2015)	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)
PassMark	4,137	4,184+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	534	1,100+106%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The FX-6300 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-8109U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the FX-6300 versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-8109U — the Core i3-8109U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (FX-6300) vs 16 (Core i3-8109U) — the Core i3-8109U offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	FX-6300	Core i3-8109U
Socket	AM3+	FCBGA1528
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	DDR4-2400+33%
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	0	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the FX-6300 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (FX-6300) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8109U). The Core i3-8109U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics 655), while the FX-6300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8109U targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-8109U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.