Atom C3338 vs Celeron 2981U
Atom C3338
Celeron 2981U
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 Atom C3338 is positioned at rank 543 and the Celeron 2981U is on rank 426, so the Celeron 2981U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3338
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2981U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3338 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3338 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) |
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 Atom C3338 and Celeron 2981U
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.
Celeron 2981U
The Celeron 2981U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,036 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Atom C3338 and Celeron 2981U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Atom C3338 versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Atom C3338 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Atom C3338 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Celeron 2981U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3338 scores 1,028 against the Celeron 2981U's 1,036 — a 0.8% lead for the Celeron 2981U. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Atom C3338 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U.
| Feature | Atom C3338 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+38% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 1.6 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+100% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512 kB |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,028 | 1,036 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3338 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron 2981U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-1866 on the Atom C3338 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2981U — the Atom C3338 supports 28.6% 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: 1 (Atom C3338) vs 2 (Celeron 2981U). PCIe lanes: 10 (Atom C3338) vs 12 (Celeron 2981U) — the Celeron 2981U offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3338) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U).
| Feature | Atom C3338 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866+33% | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+700% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | 12+20% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3338) / VT-x (Celeron 2981U). The Celeron 2981U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Atom C3338 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Atom C3338 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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