AMD FX 8370 8-core AM3+

The AMD FX-8370 is an 8-core AM3+ processor that still works as a drop-in upgrade for legacy systems, but its single-thread performance and power efficiency are badly outdated. It only makes sense if you're locked into an AM3+ motherboard and find one cheap. For anyone building new, skip it and go Ryzen.

In our database, the FX-8370 lands a PassMark multi-thread score of 6166 and a single-thread score of 1612. The multi-core number is solid for what it is, roughly middle of the pack among all desktop CPUs we track, but the single-core result is where the age shows. That 1612 score falls behind most modern processors, which means everyday tasks like launching apps, browsing heavy websites, and running older single-threaded games feel sluggish compared to anything from the last five years.

The 4.3GHz boost clock helps in short bursts, and the unlocked multiplier means overclockers can push it further if they have decent cooling. The 125W TDP is no joke though. You'll want a capable cooler and a motherboard with solid VRMs if you plan to tinker. The included Wraith cooler handles stock speeds fine, but this chip gets toasty under load. Efficiency is the weakest area in our scoring, and that's no surprise for a 32nm part from 2014.

Stacked against something like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, the FX-8370 looks like a museum piece. The Ultra 9 is a modern hybrid architecture chip with efficiency cores, DDR5 support, and single-thread performance that's in a completely different universe. But that's not a fair fight. The FX-8370 is a budget stopgap for legacy systems, not a competitor to flagship silicon.

A more realistic comparison is against other AM3+ era chips or entry-level modern alternatives. The ADVB3 Phenom II X6 HDT90ZFBGRBOX is another old-school option, but the FX-8370's 8 cores and higher clock speeds give it a clear edge in multi-threaded tasks. Against a modern budget chip like a Ryzen 3, the FX-8370 loses badly in single-thread and efficiency, but it does offer more physical cores for heavily parallel workloads. The be quiet! Ryzen 3 Dark Rock Pro 5 isn't a CPU at all, it's a cooler, so that's a weird one to see in the competitor list. Ignore that noise.

Value is where this gets weird. In the US, you'll see listings from USD 252 to USD 317, and that's a huge spread for a processor this old. The best deal in our data comes from Newegg's refurbished listing at the lower end of that range, while Amazon's pricing sits higher. In Canada, the spread is even wilder, from CAD 230 all the way up to CAD 687. If you're paying anywhere near the top of those ranges, stop. You're in used Ryzen 5 or even Ryzen 7 territory at that point, and those chips will embarrass the FX-8370 in every metric that matters. The only way this makes financial sense is if you find it cheap and you're locked into an AM3+ motherboard.

The AMD FX-8370 is an old-school 8-core desktop processor from the Vishera era, built on a 32nm process and designed for the AM3+ socket. It runs at a 4.0GHz base clock with a 4.3GHz turbo, packs 8MB of L3 cache, and comes with AMD's Wraith cooler in the box. If you're hunting for a cheap AM3+ upgrade or building a retro rig, this chip shows up in the USD 252 to USD 317 range on the used and refurbished market, though prices swing wildly depending on where you look.

Is the FX-8370 good for gaming in 2025? Not really, not by modern standards. Its single-thread score of 1612 in PassMark puts it well behind even budget chips from the last few generations. But if you're running older titles or games that lean on multiple cores, the 8 physical cores can still push out playable framerates. It's a nostalgia piece with a pulse, not a daily driver for new builds.

People searching for "AMD FX-8370 vs Ryzen" or "is the FX-8370 still good" are usually trying to squeeze life out of an aging AM3+ motherboard. And honestly, that's the only sane reason to buy one. You already have the board, you don't want to rebuild, and you just need a drop-in upgrade from something like an FX-6300.

Skip the FX-8370 if you're building a new PC, upgrading from anything made in the last five years, or care about power efficiency. It's also a bad choice for anyone who wants to run modern AAA games at high framerates, since the single-thread performance and PCIe 2.0 support will bottleneck current GPUs. If you need a budget chip for a new build, look at a used Ryzen 5 3600 or even a Ryzen 3 3100 instead. You'll get better performance, lower power draw, and a platform that isn't a dead end. And if you're paying more than about USD 150 for an FX-8370, you're overpaying, full stop.

Should you buy the AMD FX-8370? Only if you already own an AM3+ motherboard and you need a cheap drop-in upgrade from a weaker FX or Phenom chip. In that specific scenario, it's a reasonable way to breathe a little more life into an old system without rebuilding everything. The 8 cores help with video encoding, older multi-threaded games, and general multitasking, and the unlocked multiplier gives you some overclocking headroom.

But if you're building a new PC or upgrading from anything remotely modern, no. Absolutely not. The single-thread performance is a real weak spot, the 125W power draw is rough, and DDR3 plus PCIe 2.0 means you're leaving performance on the table with any modern GPU or storage. Save your money and put it toward a used Ryzen system instead.