Atom C3338 vs Pentium J2850

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.

Atom C3338 vs Pentium J2850 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.

Atom C3338 vs Pentium J2850: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Atom C3338

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (10 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌350% higher power demand at 9W vs 2W.

Pentium J2850

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 9W, a 7W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Atom C3338 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,016 vs 1,028).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 4 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $94 MSRP, while Atom C3338 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom C3338 better than Pentium J2850?

Yes. Atom C3338 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Atom C3338 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Atom C3338 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).

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

Atom C3338 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Atom C3338 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $94 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium J2850 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 3.6% in the shared gaming data.

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

Atom C3338 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2013), 100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Atom C3338 vs Pentium J2850 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Pentium J2850

The Pentium J2850 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.41 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,016 points. Launch price was $94.

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Processing Power

The Atom C3338 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium J2850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium J2850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Atom C3338 versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium J2850 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Pentium J2850 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.41 GHz). The Atom C3338 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium J2850 uses Bay Trail-D (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3338 scores 1,028 against the Pentium J2850's 1,016 — a 1.2% lead for the Atom C3338. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Atom C3338 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium J2850.

Feature	Atom C3338	Pentium J2850
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz	2.4 GHz+9%
Base Clock	1.5 GHz	2.41 GHz+61%
L3 Cache	4 MB+100%	2 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	4 MB+100%	2 MB
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Goldmont (2016−2017)	Bay Trail-D (2013)
PassMark	1,028+1%	1,016

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Memory & Platform

The Atom C3338 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium J2850 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Atom C3338	Pentium J2850
Socket	FCBGA1310	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-1866	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	1	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	10	—