Atom C3338 vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Atom C3338
Ryzen 9 5900X
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. The Atom C3338 is positioned at rank #543 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3338
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3338 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3338 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 Ryzen 9 5900X
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.
Ryzen 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.
Processing Power
The Atom C3338 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Atom C3338 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 74.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 1.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Atom C3338 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3338 scores 1,028 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 189.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Atom C3338 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Atom C3338 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 12 / 24+500% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 4.8 GHz+118% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+147% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 64 MB+1500% |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 1,028 | 38,955+3689% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,174 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 11,888 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3338 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-1866 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (Atom C3338) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 5900X). PCIe lanes: 10 (Atom C3338) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 14 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3338) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).
| Feature | Atom C3338 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | 24+140% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3338) / AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Atom C3338 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
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