
Atom C3508 vs Core 2 Duo T5550

Atom C3508

Core 2 Duo T5550
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 C3508 is positioned at rank 409 and the Core 2 Duo T5550 is on rank 23, so the Core 2 Duo T5550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3508
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3508 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3508 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
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.

Path of Exile 2

Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Atom C3508 and Core 2 Duo T5550

Atom C3508
The Atom C3508 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,831 points. Launch price was $69.

Core 2 Duo T5550
The Core 2 Duo T5550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,826 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Atom C3508 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core 2 Duo T5550 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Atom C3508 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Atom C3508 versus 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5550 — a 13.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo T5550 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 1.83 GHz). The Atom C3508 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5550 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3508 scores 1,831 against the Core 2 Duo T5550's 1,826 — a 0.3% lead for the Atom C3508. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Atom C3508 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5550.
| Feature | Atom C3508 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.83 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.83 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB+300% | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+300% | 2 MB |
| Process | 14 nm-78% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,831 | 1,826 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3508 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo T5550 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Atom C3508 | Core 2 Duo T5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
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