Pentium 8500 vs Core i5-3360M
Pentium 8500
Core i5-3360M
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 Pentium 8500 is positioned at rank 991 and the Core i5-3360M is on rank 183, so the Core i5-3360M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 8500
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3360M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 8500 | Core i5-3360M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 8500 | Core i5-3360M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ 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 Pentium 8500 and Core i5-3360M
Pentium 8500
The Pentium 8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 2,900 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i5-3360M
The Core i5-3360M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,892 points. Launch price was $266.
Processing Power
The Pentium 8500 packs 5 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i5-3360M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium 8500 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Pentium 8500 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-3360M — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Pentium 8500 (base: 1 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Pentium 8500 uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-3360M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 8500 scores 2,900 against the Core i5-3360M's 2,892 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium 8500. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Pentium 8500 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3360M.
| Feature | Pentium 8500 | Core i5-3360M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 5 / 6+150% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+26% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1 GHz | 2.8 GHz+180% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-68% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,900 | 2,892 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,250 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,100 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 8500 uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-3360M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-5200 on the Pentium 8500 versus 1600 on the Core i5-3360M — the Core i5-3360M supports 198.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium 8500 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 14 (Pentium 8500) vs 16 (Core i5-3360M) — the Core i5-3360M offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Pentium 8500) and HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3360M).
| Feature | Pentium 8500 | Core i5-3360M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1781 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | 1600+31900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+209715100% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 14 | 16+14% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Pentium 8500) vs true (Core i5-3360M). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics (48 EU) (Pentium 8500) and Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3360M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium 8500 targets Entry Level Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-3360M rivals AMD A10-4600M.
| Feature | Pentium 8500 | Core i5-3360M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics (48 EU) | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Entry Level Laptop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium 8500 and Core i5-3360M
