CPU
GPU
Pentium Gold 8500
FX-8350
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 FX-8350 is on rank 598, so the Pentium Gold 8500 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 FX-8350
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Gold 8500 | FX-8350 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($130) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Vishera (2012−2015) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Gold 8500 | FX-8350 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($130) |
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 FX-8350
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Pentium Gold 8500 packs 5 cores / 6 threads, while the FX-8350 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8350 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Pentium Gold 8500 versus 4.2 GHz on the FX-8350 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold 8500. The FX-8350 is built on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium Gold 8500 scores 5,949 against the FX-8350's 5,936 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium Gold 8500.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 8500 | FX-8350 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 5 / 6 | 8 / 8+60% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+5% | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | — | 8192 kB |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-78% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | — | Vishera (2012−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,949 | 5,936 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Gold 8500 uses the FCBGA1781 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the FX-8350 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 8500 | FX-8350 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1781 | AM3+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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