AMD FX-Series FX-8150 8-core Socket AM3+

The AMD FX-8150 is an 8-core relic from 2011 that still shows up on refurbished listings for around $88 USD. It scores 5304 in PassMark multi-thread, which is decent for the price, but single-thread performance is mediocre and the 125W TDP means it runs hot and hungry. If you're locked into an AM3+ board and need cheap cores, it's a reasonable stopgap. For anyone else, save your money for a used Ryzen.

Let's talk numbers. The FX-8150 scores 5304 in PassMark multi-thread and 1432 in single-thread. For context, that multi-thread score puts it right around the 40th percentile in our database. Not terrible for a chip this old, but not exactly thrilling either. The single-thread score is where things get rough. At the 31st percentile, it's mediocre by modern standards. That means everyday tasks like launching apps, browsing heavy websites, or running older games that lean on one or two cores will feel sluggish compared to even a budget modern CPU.

The 8 cores and 8 threads sound great on paper, and for workloads that actually use all of them, like video encoding or running multiple VMs, the FX-8150 can still do some work. The 8MB of L3 cache and 8MB of L2 cache help a bit with data-heavy tasks. But the 125W TDP tells the real story. This chip pulls a lot of power for the performance it delivers. Efficiency sits at the 35th percentile, which means you're paying for it on your power bill. And the platform score is even worse, at the 18th percentile. AM3+ is a dead socket with no modern features, no NVMe boot support out of the box, and DDR3 memory that's getting harder to find at reasonable prices.

Stacked against its competitors in our database, the FX-8150 is in a strange spot. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 is a modern chip that runs circles around it in every metric, but it also costs way more and requires a new motherboard and DDR5. That's not really a fair fight. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is an interesting comparison. It's also old, also cheap on the used market, but it's built for servers and has better single-thread performance. If you're doing productivity work, the Xeon might actually be the better pick.

The Phenom II X6 HDT90ZFBGRBOX is the most direct comparison. It's the predecessor to the FX line, and if you're already on AM3, it's a cheaper drop-in option. But the FX-8150 beats it in multi-thread performance thanks to those two extra cores. The be quiet! Ryzen 3 Dark Rock Pro 5 is a completely different beast. It's a modern budget chip that will outperform the FX-8150 in almost everything while using a fraction of the power. The only reason to pick the FX-8150 over any of these is if you're locked into AM3+ and can't afford a platform upgrade.

At $88 USD refurbished, the FX-8150 is a weird value proposition. If you already have an AM3+ motherboard, DDR3 RAM, and a decent cooler, this is a cheap way to get 8 cores. The affordability score sits at the 83rd percentile, which means it's priced well below most CPUs in our database. But that's because it's old, not because it's a hidden gem.

Compare that to what $88 USD gets you on the used market today. You can often find a used Ryzen 3 or even a first-gen Ryzen 5 for not much more, and those chips will absolutely destroy the FX-8150 in both single-thread and efficiency. The $60 CAD listing is even more tempting if you're in Canada, but remember that you'll need a compatible AM3+ board, which is getting harder to find. The real cost here isn't just the chip. It's the power draw, the heat, and the fact that you're investing in a platform that was already outdated when this CPU launched.

The AMD FX-8150 is a relic from a weird time in CPU history. Back in 2011, AMD bet hard on more cores and high clock speeds, hoping that software would eventually catch up. Spoiler: it mostly didn't. But here we are, over a decade later, and this thing still shows up on refurbished listings for around $88 USD or $60 CAD. That's cheap for an 8-core chip, even if those cores are built on a 32nm process that was already showing its age when it launched.

Who's this for? Honestly, it's for tinkerers, budget builders who need a cheap AM3+ drop-in upgrade, or someone trying to squeeze a few more years out of an old motherboard. If you've got an AM3+ board sitting around and you're still running a Phenom II, this is a meaningful step up. But if you're building anything new, you should probably look elsewhere. The platform is dead, DDR3 is old news, and there's no upgrade path from here.

The interesting thing about the FX-8150 is that it was AMD's first real shot at an 8-core desktop part. It's unlocked, so overclocking is on the table, and it's got a 4.2GHz boost clock that sounds impressive until you remember that single-thread performance is, well, not great. We'll get into that. But for the right price and the right use case, this chip still has a pulse.

If you're building a new system, skip this. The AM3+ platform is dead, DDR3 is outdated, and there's no upgrade path. You'd be spending money on a chip that was already behind the curve when it launched. Anyone who cares about single-thread performance, which is most people doing everyday computing, should look elsewhere. The 1432 single-thread PassMark score means slow app launches and sluggish web browsing compared to even budget modern CPUs.

Also skip it if you're concerned about power efficiency or noise. The 125W TDP means more heat, more fan noise, and a higher electricity bill. If you're building a quiet home server or a low-power NAS, this is the wrong chip. Look at a used Ryzen 3 or even a low-power Intel chip instead. And if you're a gamer, don't bother. The single-thread weakness will hold you back in most modern titles, and you'd be better off putting that $88 USD toward a used Ryzen 5 or an older Intel i5.

If you're nursing an old AM3+ system and you need more cores for cheap, the FX-8150 is a reasonable stopgap. It'll handle multi-threaded workloads like video encoding, file compression, and running a home server better than a Phenom II. The unlocked multiplier means you can push it past 4.2GHz if you've got the cooling and the patience. Just don't expect it to feel snappy in single-threaded tasks.

For everyone else, skip it. The single-thread performance is a real problem for daily use, the power draw is high, and the platform is a dead end. You'd be better off saving a bit more and jumping to a used Ryzen system. The FX-8150 was an ambitious chip in 2011, but in 2024 it's a curiosity, not a recommendation.