Athlon 64 X2 3600+ vs Atom C3338
Athlon 64 X2 3600+
Atom C3338
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon 64 X2 3600+ is positioned at rank 1053 and the Atom C3338 is on rank 543, so the Atom C3338 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 X2 3600+
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3338
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 3600+ | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Manchester (2005−2006) / 90 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 3600+ | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 64 X2 3600+ and Atom C3338
Athlon 64 X2 3600+
The Athlon 64 X2 3600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 1,020 points. Launch price was $149.
Atom C3338
The Atom C3338 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 February 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 8.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,028 points. Launch price was $27.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 X2 3600+ and Atom C3338 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 3600+ versus 2.2 GHz on the Atom C3338 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Atom C3338. The Athlon 64 X2 3600+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Atom C3338 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 3600+ scores 1,020 against the Atom C3338's 1,028 — a 0.8% lead for the Atom C3338. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 X2 3600+ vs 4 MB on the Atom C3338.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 3600+ | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.2 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | — | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 90 nm | 14 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Manchester (2005−2006) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 1,020 | 1,028 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 3600+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom C3338 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 3600+ versus DDR4-1866 on the Atom C3338 — the Atom C3338 supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom C3338 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon 64 X2 3600+) vs 1 (Atom C3338). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 3600+) vs 10 (Atom C3338) — the Atom C3338 offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 3600+) and Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3338).
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 3600+ | Atom C3338 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 939 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR4-1866+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 128 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 10 |
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