A4-1200 vs Atom x5-Z8500

A4-1200 vs Atom x5-Z8500 Performance Spectrum

A4-1200

2 / 2

1,248

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Atom x5-Z8500

4 / 4

1,242

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

A4-1200 vs Atom x5-Z8500 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A4-1200 vs Atom x5-Z8500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A4-1200

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 2) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Atom x5-Z8500

2015

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,242 vs 1,248).

Quick Answers

So, is A4-1200 better than Atom x5-Z8500?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Atom x5-Z8500 is ahead with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A4-1200 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A4-1200 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A4-1200 still makes the most sense overall. A4-1200 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Atom x5-Z8500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A4-1200 vs Atom x5-Z8500 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A4-1200

The A4-1200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Temash (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,248 points. Launch price was $50.

Atom x5-Z8500

The Atom x5-Z8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.44 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,242 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The A4-1200 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Atom x5-Z8500 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x5-Z8500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1 GHz on the A4-1200 versus 2.24 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8500 — a 76.5% clock advantage for the Atom x5-Z8500. The A4-1200 uses the Temash (2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A4-1200 scores 1,248 against the Atom x5-Z8500's 1,242 — a 0.5% lead for the A4-1200. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	A4-1200	Atom x5-Z8500
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	1 GHz	2.24 GHz+124%
Base Clock	—	1.44 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+25500%	2 MB
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Temash (2013)	Cherry Trail (2015−2016)
PassMark	1,248	1,242
Geekbench 6 Single	70	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-1200 uses the FT3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1066 on the A4-1200 versus LPDDR3-1600 on the Atom x5-Z8500 — the Atom x5-Z8500 supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (A4-1200) vs 2 (Atom x5-Z8500). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-1200) vs 2 (Atom x5-Z8500) — the A4-1200 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	A4-1200	Atom x5-Z8500
Socket	FT3	UTFCBGA1380
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1066	LPDDR3-1600+50%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8+300%	2

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (A4-1200) / not specified (Atom x5-Z8500). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 8180 (A4-1200) and Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) (Atom x5-Z8500) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-1200 targets Tablet. Direct competitor: A4-1200 rivals Atom Z2760.