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Intel Pentium Gold 8505

Intel Pentium Gold 8505: Budget Processor for Everyday Tasks

March 2025

The Intel Pentium Gold 8505 processor, released as part of the 12th generation (Alder Lake), continues to be a popular choice for budget laptops. Despite newer models emerging by 2025, this chip remains relevant due to its balance of price, energy efficiency, and sufficient performance for basic tasks. Let's explore who this processor is suitable for and what to consider when purchasing a device based on it.

Architecture and Technology: Hybrid Approach and Modest Ambitions

Hybrid Cores and Intel 7 Technology

The Pentium Gold 8505 is built on the hybrid Alder Lake architecture, which combines Performance (P-cores) and Efficient (E-cores) cores. In this case, the configuration is modest:

- 1 P-core with Hyper-Threading support (2 threads);

- 4 E-cores without Hyper-Threading (4 threads).

In total: 5 cores and 6 threads. The maximum frequency of P-cores in turbo mode reaches 4.4 GHz, with base frequencies lower:

- P-core: 1.2 GHz (base), 4.4 GHz (turbo);

- E-cores: 0.9 GHz (base), 3.3 GHz (turbo).

The Intel 7 process (10nm Enhanced SuperFin) ensures good energy efficiency, and the integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics for the 12th generation (Xe-LP, 48 EU) handles basic multimedia tasks. However, it is not a gaming solution; by 2025, even mobile APUs from AMD (such as the Radeon 740M) offer twice as many execution units.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Performance and Battery Life

The processor's TDP is 15 W, which is typical for ultrabooks and thin laptops. In turbo mode, power can briefly rise to 20–25 W, but the cooling systems of budget devices are rarely designed for sustained loads.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

- Intel Dynamic Tuning 2.0 — automatically adjusts frequencies and voltage based on load;

- Speed Shift — instant switching between power consumption modes;

- Disabling unused cores — E-cores are activated only during multitasking.

These features lower power consumption in idle mode to 2–3 W, which is critical for battery life.

Performance: Modest, But Sufficient

Real-World Scenario Tests

- Office Work (Chrome, Excel, Zoom): The processor easily handles 10–15 tabs, documents, and video conferences. There are no delays; however, when simultaneously running "heavy" PDF files and Excel with macros, E-cores may struggle to keep up with the load.

- Multimedia: 4K video plays without issues (hardware acceleration through Quick Sync), but rendering a 10-minute video in DaVinci Resolve takes 25–30 minutes (compared to 15 minutes for the Ryzen 5 7530U).

- Gaming: CS2 at minimum settings in 720p delivers 30–40 FPS, while Fortnite runs at 20–25 FPS. This is not the best choice for gaming.

Turbo Mode activates during short loads (such as opening an application), but in sustained mode (like rendering), P-core frequencies drop to 3.8–4.0 GHz due to overheating in thin cases.

Use Cases: Who Is the Pentium Gold 8505 Suitable For?

- Students: Working on texts, presentations, online courses.

- Office Workers: Emails, spreadsheets, video calls.

- Home Users: Surfing, streaming, light photo editing.

Not Suitable For:

- Gamers — weak graphics;

- Designers/Video Editors — poor multithreading;

- Enthusiasts — lack of overclocking and limited TDP.

Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours Under Ideal Conditions

Laptops with the Pentium Gold 8505 (like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 or Acer Aspire 5) are equipped with 40–50 Wh batteries. In real-world usage, this results in:

- 8–10 hours when working with documents and moderate brightness;

- 5–6 hours watching YouTube;

- 3–4 hours in multitasking mode (video call + browser).

Tip: Disable Turbo Boost in Windows power settings to increase battery life by 15–20% — P-core frequencies will be limited to 1.2 GHz, but that will suffice for office tasks.

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (Mendocino, 6nm):

- 4 cores/8 threads, Radeon 610M (2 CU);

- Geekbench 6: 1850 (Single), 4200 (Multi);

- Better in multithreading, but more expensive (laptops from $500).

Apple M1 (2020):

- 8 cores (4+4), 7-core graphics;

- Geekbench 6: 2300 (Single), 8500 (Multi);

- MacBook Air M1 starts at $800 — this is a different price segment.

Intel Core i3-1215U (Alder Lake):

- 2 P-cores + 4 E-cores, 96 EU Xe Graphics;

- Geekbench 6: 2100 (Single), 5500 (Multi);

- Laptop prices start at $600.

Conclusion: The Pentium Gold 8505 is the most affordable option (devices starting at $400), but it even falls short compared to budget Ryzen and Core i3 in multitasking.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low laptop prices;

- Energy efficiency;

- Sufficient for basic tasks;

- Supports Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 (depending on the laptop model).

Weaknesses:

- Weak integrated graphics;

- Limited multithreading;

- Quick heating in turbo mode.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

- Type of Device: Ultrabook or budget laptop (HP 15, ASUS VivoBook).

- What to Pay Attention To:

- Screen: Full HD (at least), IPS panel;

- RAM: 8 GB (preferably 16 GB for Windows 11);

- Storage: SSD 256 GB (preferably NVMe);

- Ports: USB-C with charging support, HDMI.

Avoid:

- Devices with HDD and 4 GB RAM;

- Laptops with TN screens — outdated color reproduction.

Final Verdict

The Intel Pentium Gold 8505 is a great choice for those looking for an affordable laptop (around $400–$550) for studying, document work, and browsing. Its key advantages are energy efficiency and low price, but it is not suited for gaming or professional tasks. If your budget allows for an additional $100–150, consider options with Ryzen 5 or Core i3 — they will last longer and handle a wider range of tasks.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

January 2022

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

8505

Code Name

Alder Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.40 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

4.40 GHz

Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

3.30 GHz

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1744

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

Intel 7

Processor Base Power

The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.

15 W

Maximum Turbo Power

The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific.

55 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

Microprocessor PCIe Revision

Gen 4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

12.1

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU

A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

8 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel High Definition Audio

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel QuickAssist Software Acceleration

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.6

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1914

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4349

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1396

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

3980

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

3321

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

9372

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i3-1215UE

2091 +9.2%

EPYC 9354P

2004 +4.7%

Pentium Gold 8505

1914

Ryzen 5 6600H

1782 -6.9%

Core i9-10900

1690 -11.7%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon D-2752TER

4895 +12.6%

Xeon E7-8890 v4

4604 +5.9%

Pentium Gold 8505

4349

Core i7-6700

4117 -5.3%

Xeon E5-1620 v4

3871 -11%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Ryzen 5 5600

1543 +10.5%

Ryzen 7 7735HS

1457 +4.4%

Pentium Gold 8505

1396

Core i5-11260H

1335 -4.4%

Ryzen 5 7530U

1293 -7.4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-8500B

4446 +11.7%

Core i5-7640X

4230 +6.3%

Pentium Gold 8505

3980

Xeon E3-1283L v4

3799 -4.5%

Core i5-8279U

3655 -8.2%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Ryzen 9 5900X

3471 +4.5%

Ryzen 7 5800

3394 +2.2%

Pentium Gold 8505

3321

Ryzen 7 6800H

3256 -2%

Ryzen 5 7535HS

3200 -3.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-5930K

10345 +10.4%

Core i5-1135G7

9875 +5.4%

Pentium Gold 8505

9372

Xeon E3-1280 v6

9028 -3.7%

Xeon W-2123

8507 -9.2%