Neither did the i3 or i5 of the time.
There was way too much
Going on back then. Everyone was so intent on roasting AMD. And the viral marketers and others with a horse in the race were relentless on the attack. But I searched a few old articles just now. They made me remember why I bought the A8 Trinity with board combo here in FS/FT for like $100 back then. It was my wife's Farmville boxen.
Here is a page from Benchmark Steve on the 6800K when paired with a Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition at 1920x1200. Looks like it is doing fine to me. The iGPU gaming charts have it easily besting that i5 3450. -
https://www.techspot.com/review/681-amd-a10-6800k-a4-4000/page7.html
Here is a Legit Reviews on the wife's 5600K -
https://www.legitreviews.com/amd-a8-5600k-trinity-desktop-apu-review_2054/14
His conclusion makes the most important point -
i7 was expensive, and none of us knew a i7 Sandy or Ivy were going to become legendary futureproof kings. Consequently, I did what I still do, buy at the sweet spot. That is why I never regretted buying FX 8 series or A series CPUs back then. Heck, I have a FX 8350 on the way from
@VirtualLarry as we speak.
The ackchyually crowd can type till their fingers fall off, but I will never succumb. I paid for a BNIB 8350 in 2021 because it was fun to tweak when I had one, and will be fun to play with and see how well it aged for myself. If I can bring myself to break the seal on the box.
You'd have to give me a i3 or i5 through 7th gen, no way I paid for one of those now. That's why those old 4/8 i7s hold value so well, they are the only ones of that era worth having, below HEDT and Xeon. All my opinion of course. And if anyone takes umbrage at anything I typed, grow thicker skin?
EDIT: I also put my money where my mouth is about the old i5. I sold one here a couple years ago. I ended up not accepting payment, and told the buyer I was just happy it found a good home.