Core i7-8705G vs Ryzen 3 2300X

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 i7-8705G

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.1 vs 58.6 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).

Ryzen 3 2300X

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $271 less on MSRP ($129 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Delivers 207.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.6 vs 19.1 PassMark/$ ($129 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-8705G across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,564 vs 7,633).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).

Core i7-8705G

2018

Ryzen 3 2300X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $271 less on MSRP ($129 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Delivers 207.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.6 vs 19.1 PassMark/$ ($129 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 19.1 vs 58.6 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-8705G across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,564 vs 7,633).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-8705G better than Ryzen 3 2300X?

Yes. Core i7-8705G is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 3.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-8705G is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.7% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-8705G is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Core i7-8705G is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core i7-8705G is 210.1% more expensive on MSRP at $400 MSRP versus $129 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 2300X only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the smarter recommendation now. At roughly 7,564 PassMark with 4 cores and 4 threads, it only makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

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

Ryzen 3 2300X is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

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 i7-8705G Benchmark Check

Ryzen 3 2300X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-8705G	Ryzen 3 2300X
1080p
low	188 FPS	180 FPS
medium	149 FPS	156 FPS
high	119 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	151 FPS	150 FPS
medium	118 FPS	125 FPS
high	93 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	66 FPS
medium	59 FPS	59 FPS
high	47 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-8705G Open Ryzen 3 2300X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-8705G	Ryzen 3 2300X
1080p
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	189 FPS
high	191 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	164 FPS
1440p
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	172 FPS
high	191 FPS	160 FPS
ultra	169 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	191 FPS	151 FPS
medium	176 FPS	130 FPS
high	146 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i7-8705G Open Ryzen 3 2300X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-8705G	Ryzen 3 2300X
1080p
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	189 FPS
high	191 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	189 FPS
high	191 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	189 FPS
4K
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	189 FPS
high	191 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	156 FPS

Open Core i7-8705G Open Ryzen 3 2300X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-8705G	Ryzen 3 2300X
1080p
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	189 FPS
high	191 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	189 FPS
1440p
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	189 FPS
high	191 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	189 FPS
4K
low	191 FPS	189 FPS
medium	191 FPS	189 FPS
high	191 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	189 FPS

Open Core i7-8705G Open Ryzen 3 2300X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-8705G and Ryzen 3 2300X

Core i7-8705G

The Core i7-8705G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake G (2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2270. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,633 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 3 2300X

The Ryzen 3 2300X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 August 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 7,564 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-8705G packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 3 2300X's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i7-8705G versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 3 2300X — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 2300X (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-8705G uses the Kaby Lake G (2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 2300X uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8705G scores 7,633 against the Ryzen 3 2300X's 7,564 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-8705G. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8705G vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 2300X.

Feature	Core i7-8705G	Ryzen 3 2300X
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 4
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz	4.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	3.5 GHz+13%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+100%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake G (2018)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	7,633	7,564

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-8705G uses the FCBGA2270 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 2300X uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-8705G	Ryzen 3 2300X
Socket	FCBGA2270	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0

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Value Analysis

The Core i7-8705G launched at $400 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 2300X debuted at $129. On MSRP ($400 vs $129), the Ryzen 3 2300X is $271 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-8705G delivers 19.1 pts/$ vs 58.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 2300X — making the Ryzen 3 2300X the 101.8% better value option.