CPU
GPU
Pentium Gold 8500
Core i7-3840QM
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 8500 is positioned at rank 527 and the Core i7-3840QM is on rank 238, so the Core i7-3840QM 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 8500
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3840QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Gold 8500 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Gold 8500 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8500 and Core i7-3840QM
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.
Core i7-3840QM
The Core i7-3840QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,871 points. Launch price was $568.
Processing Power
The Pentium Gold 8500 packs 5 cores / 6 threads, while the Core i7-3840QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Pentium Gold 8500 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Pentium Gold 8500 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-3840QM — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold 8500. The Core i7-3840QM is built on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium Gold 8500 scores 5,949 against the Core i7-3840QM's 5,871 — a 1.3% lead for the Pentium Gold 8500. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium Gold 8500 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-3840QM.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 8500 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 5 / 6+25% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+16% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-68% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | — | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,949+1% | 5,871 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 676 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Gold 8500 uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-3840QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 8500 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1781 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium Gold 8500) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3840QM). The Core i7-3840QM includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Pentium Gold 8500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3840QM targets Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-3840QM rivals A10-5750M.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 8500 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mobile Workstation |
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