Pentium G3258 vs A8-3800
Pentium G3258
A8-3800
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 G3258 is positioned at rank 632 and the A8-3800 is on rank 886, so the Pentium G3258 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3258
Performance Per Dollar A8-3800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3258 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($72) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3258 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+79%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($72) | ✅ More affordable ($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 Pentium G3258 and A8-3800
Pentium G3258
The Pentium G3258 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,063 points. Launch price was $77.
A8-3800
The A8-3800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,051 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3258 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A8-3800 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3258 versus 2.7 GHz on the A8-3800 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Pentium G3258 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Pentium G3258 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the A8-3800 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3258 scores 2,063 against the A8-3800's 2,051 — a 0.6% lead for the Pentium G3258. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3258 vs 0 kB on the A8-3800.
| Feature | Pentium G3258 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+19% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+33% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,063 | 2,051 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 370 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,350 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3258 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-3800 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Pentium G3258 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Pentium G3258 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Pentium G3258) vs AMD-V (A8-3800). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Pentium G3258) and Radeon HD 6550D (A8-3800) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G3258 targets Desktop, A8-3800 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-3800 rivals Core i3-2100.
| Feature | Pentium G3258 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | Radeon HD 6550D |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3258 launched at $75 MSRP, while the A8-3800 debuted at $130. At current prices ($72 vs $40), the A8-3800 is $32 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G3258 delivers 28.7 pts/$ vs 51.3 pts/$ for the A8-3800 — making the A8-3800 the 56.6% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G3258 | A8-3800 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-42% | $130 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $72 | $40-44% |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.7 | 51.3+79% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2011 |
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