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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-8500B

2018

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($192 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Processor U300 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Processor U300 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,897 vs 8,900).
❌
0.5% HIGHER MSRP
$193 MSRPvs$192 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8500B can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-8500B

2018

Processor U300

2023

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($192 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Processor U300 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Processor U300 moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,897 vs 8,900).
❌
0.5% HIGHER MSRP
$193 MSRPvs$192 MSRP
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8500B can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Processor U300 better than Core i5-8500B?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Processor U300 is ahead with a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8500B pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8500B is the better fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Processor U300 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Processor U300 is 0.5% more expensive on MSRP at $193 MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-8500B only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Processor U300 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-8500B Benchmark Check

Processor U300 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-8500B	Processor U300
1080p
low	179 FPS	183 FPS
medium	144 FPS	150 FPS
high	115 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	152 FPS	150 FPS
medium	122 FPS	118 FPS
high	96 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	84 FPS
medium	61 FPS	72 FPS
high	48 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i5-8500B Open Processor U300

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-8500B	Processor U300
1080p
low	222 FPS	166 FPS
medium	222 FPS	137 FPS
high	222 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	214 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	146 FPS
medium	222 FPS	123 FPS
high	218 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	194 FPS	99 FPS
4K
low	222 FPS	113 FPS
medium	208 FPS	98 FPS
high	188 FPS	85 FPS
ultra	164 FPS	72 FPS

Open Core i5-8500B Open Processor U300

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-8500B	Processor U300
1080p
low	222 FPS	222 FPS
medium	222 FPS	222 FPS
high	222 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	222 FPS
medium	222 FPS	222 FPS
high	222 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	222 FPS	222 FPS
medium	222 FPS	222 FPS
high	192 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	163 FPS

Open Core i5-8500B Open Processor U300

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-8500B	Processor U300
1080p
low	222 FPS	222 FPS
medium	222 FPS	222 FPS
high	222 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	222 FPS
medium	222 FPS	222 FPS
high	222 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	222 FPS	222 FPS
medium	222 FPS	222 FPS
high	222 FPS	222 FPS
ultra	222 FPS	222 FPS

Open Core i5-8500B Open Processor U300

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-8500B and Processor U300

Core i5-8500B

The Core i5-8500B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,900 points. Launch price was $192.

Processor U300

The Processor U300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 5 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 8,897 points. Launch price was $193.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-8500B packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Processor U300 offers 5 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-8500B has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500B versus 4.4 GHz on the Processor U300 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Processor U300 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Core i5-8500B uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Processor U300 uses Raptor Lake-U (2023) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8500B scores 8,900 against the Processor U300's 8,897 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-8500B. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500B vs 8 MB (total) on the Processor U300.

Feature	Core i5-8500B	Processor U300
Cores / Threads	6 / 6+20%	5 / 6
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz	4.4 GHz+7%
Base Clock	3 GHz+150%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	9 MB (total)+13%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	10 nm-29%
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Raptor Lake-U (2023)
PassMark	8,900	8,897
Geekbench 6 Single	1,364	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8500B uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Processor U300 uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-8500B	Processor U300
Socket	BGA1440	FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8500B) / not specified (Processor U300). The Core i5-8500B includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Processor U300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8500B targets Mini PC/Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i5-8500B rivals Ryzen 5 2600.

Feature	Core i5-8500B	Processor U300
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	Mini PC/Embedded	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-8500B launched at $192 MSRP, while the Processor U300 debuted at $193. On MSRP ($192 vs $193), the Core i5-8500B is $1 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-8500B delivers 46.4 pts/$ vs 46.1 pts/$ for the Processor U300 — making the Core i5-8500B the 0.6% better value option.