FX-8350 vs Pentium Gold 8500

FX-8350 vs Pentium Gold 8500 Performance Spectrum

FX-8350

8 / 8

5,936

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Pentium Gold 8500

5 / 6

5,949

+0.2%

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.

FX-8350 vs Pentium Gold 8500 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.

FX-8350 vs Pentium Gold 8500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

FX-8350

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,936 vs 5,949).
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Pentium Gold 8500 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌331% higher power demand at 125W vs 29W.
❌Older platform position on AM3+, while Pentium Gold 8500 moves to FCBGA1781 and DDR5.

Pentium Gold 8500

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 29W instead of 125W, a 96W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1781 with DDR5 support instead of AM3+ and older memory support.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than FX-8350 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold 8500 better than FX-8350?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, FX-8350 is ahead with a 17.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold 8500 pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold 8500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 5 cores and 6 threads.

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

Pentium Gold 8500 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Gold 8500 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. FX-8350 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2012 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (29.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3+.

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

Pentium Gold 8500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2012), a healthier platform with FCBGA1781 and DDR5 instead of AM3+, and more multi-core headroom with 5 cores / 6 threads instead of 8/8. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

FX-8350 vs Pentium Gold 8500 Technical Specifications

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

FX-8350

The FX-8350 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 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,936 points. Launch price was $199.

Pentium Gold 8500

The Pentium Gold 8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Max frequency: 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 29 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5-5200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 5,949 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The FX-8350 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Pentium Gold 8500 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the FX-8350 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the FX-8350 versus 4.4 GHz on the Pentium Gold 8500 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold 8500. The FX-8350 is built on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. In PassMark, the FX-8350 scores 5,936 against the Pentium Gold 8500's 5,949 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium Gold 8500.

Feature	FX-8350	Pentium Gold 8500
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+60%	5 / 6
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.4 GHz+5%
Base Clock	4 GHz	—
L3 Cache	—	8 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache	8192 kB	—
Process	32 nm	Intel 7 nm-78%
Architecture	Vishera (2012−2015)	—
PassMark	5,936	5,949

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Memory & Platform

The FX-8350 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Gold 8500 uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.