AMD FX FD8300WMHKBOX 8-core AM3+

Eight cores of 2012 nostalgia that overclocks like a champ but gets lapped by budget Ryzen chips. Buy it only if your AM3+ board is on life support and you refuse to let go.

The multi-core score of 5327 in PassMark lands it right in the middle of the pack, which is honestly better than I expected from a 32nm chip from 2012. Single-core at 1484 is where the pain lives. That's a weak spot, and it shows in everyday tasks. The 4.2GHz boost helps a bit, but you're still fighting a decade-old architecture. The unlocked multiplier is the saving grace here. Owners report hitting 4.7GHz on air, which is genuinely fun if you're into that sort of thing.

Against the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F, this thing is a museum piece. The Ultra 5 destroys it in every metric that matters. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is a more interesting comparison since both are old server-adjacent silicon, but the Xeon at least has some workstation credibility. The real competitor here is any used Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5. A Ryzen 3 3100 costs about the same on the used market and runs circles around the FX-8300 while sipping power. If you're building new, don't even look at this. If you're rescuing an old AM3+ board, it's the best drop-in option you'll find.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US you can snag one for as low as USD 45, which is almost impulse-buy territory for a tinkerer. But European buyers are looking at EUR 187 to EUR 253, and at that point you're getting robbed. The best deal is the USD 45 listing on Amazon. If you're paying more than USD 60 for this chip, you're doing it wrong.

The AMD FX-8300 is a relic from a time when AMD was throwing cores at a problem instead of making each core actually good. Eight cores at 3.3GHz sounds impressive on paper, but this Vishera chip is ancient by modern standards. The one thing to know: it's a budget stopgap for old AM3+ systems, not a foundation for anything new.

If you're building a new PC, skip this entirely. Go grab a used Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 and a cheap B450 board. You'll spend a bit more but get a system that actually runs modern software without wheezing. This chip is for AM3+ owners who need a cheap drop-in upgrade and nothing more.

The FX-8300 is a nostalgia purchase or a last-ditch upgrade for a dying AM3+ system. It's not a smart buy for anyone building a new PC in 2024. The overclocking headroom is fun, and eight cores for USD 45 is a novelty, but the single-core performance will frustrate you daily. If you have an old AM3+ board and need a cheap bump, fine. Otherwise, save your money for a used Ryzen.