CPU
GPU
Pentium Gold 5405U
A8-3870K
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 Gold 5405U is positioned at rank 476 and the A8-3870K is on rank 502, so the Pentium Gold 5405U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Gold 5405U
Performance Per Dollar A8-3870K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Gold 5405U | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Gold 5405U | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Gold 5405U and A8-3870K
Pentium Gold 5405U
The Pentium Gold 5405U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,357 points. Launch price was $161.
A8-3870K
The A8-3870K 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 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,360 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Pentium Gold 5405U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-3870K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3870K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Gold 5405U versus 3 GHz on the A8-3870K — a 26.4% clock advantage for the A8-3870K (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Pentium Gold 5405U uses the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-3870K uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Gold 5405U scores 2,357 against the A8-3870K's 2,360 — a 0.1% lead for the A8-3870K. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold 5405U vs 0 kB on the A8-3870K.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 5405U | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3 GHz+30% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3 GHz+30% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,357 | 2,360 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 380 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Gold 5405U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-3870K uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 5405U | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium Gold 5405U) / AMD-V (A8-3870K). The A8-3870K includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6550D), while the Pentium Gold 5405U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3870K targets Budget Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-3870K rivals Core i3-2125.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 5405U | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6550D |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Gaming Desktop |
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