Pentium Gold 8505 vs Ryzen 7 3700X

Intel

Pentium Gold 8505

5 Cores6 Thrd55 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022
Similar parts
·······
VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019
Ryzen family
·······

Pentium Gold 8505 vs Ryzen 7 3700X Performance Spectrum

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.

Pentium Gold 8505 vs Ryzen 7 3700X FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Pentium Gold 8505 vs Ryzen 7 3700X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium Gold 8505

2022

Why buy it

  • Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics, while Ryzen 7 3700X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (9,167 vs 22,430).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +93.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
  • 20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Pentium Gold 8505 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Pentium Gold 8505 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Pentium Gold 8505 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Pentium Gold 8505?
Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 93.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 144.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 93.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 3700X is the stronger fit. You are getting 144.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 3700X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 3700X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 93.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium Gold 8505 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of AM4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Pentium Gold 8505 vs Ryzen 7 3700X Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Pentium Gold 8505

The Pentium Gold 8505 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: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 9,167 points. Launch price was $69.

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

Processing Power

The Pentium Gold 8505 packs 5 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Pentium Gold 8505 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — identical boost frequencies. The Ryzen 7 3700X is built on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium Gold 8505 scores 9,167 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 84% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium Gold 8505 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

FeaturePentium Gold 8505Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads
5 / 6
8 / 16+60%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz
4.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz
L3 Cache
8 MB Intel® Smart Cache
32 MB+300%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
Process
Intel 7 nm
7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark
9,167
22,430+145%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,550
Geekbench 6 Multi
4,055
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Pentium Gold 8505 uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Pentium Gold 8505 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Pentium Gold 8505 supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Pentium Gold 8505) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Pentium Gold 8505) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).

FeaturePentium Gold 8505Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket
FCBGA1744
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800+50%
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
128 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
24+20%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Pentium Gold 8505) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). The Pentium Gold 8505 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU.

FeaturePentium Gold 8505Ryzen 7 3700X
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
Yes