Atom C3538 vs Celeron G1850
Atom C3538
Celeron G1850
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 C3538 is positioned at rank 389 and the Celeron G1850 is on rank 450, so the Atom C3538 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3538
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3538 | Celeron G1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3538 | Celeron G1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 C3538 and Celeron G1850
Atom C3538
The Atom C3538 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,910 points. Launch price was $75.
Celeron G1850
The Celeron G1850 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,907 points. Launch price was $101.
Processing Power
The Atom C3538 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron G1850 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Atom C3538 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Atom C3538 versus 2.9 GHz on the Celeron G1850 — a 32% clock advantage for the Celeron G1850 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Atom C3538 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Celeron G1850 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3538 scores 1,910 against the Celeron G1850's 1,907 — a 0.2% lead for the Atom C3538. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Atom C3538 vs 3 MB (total) on the Celeron G1850.
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Celeron G1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.9 GHz+38% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.9 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB+167% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,910 | 1,907 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 543 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 945 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3538 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron G1850 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Atom C3538 versus DDR3-1333 on the Celeron G1850 — the Atom C3538 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom C3538 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Atom C3538) vs 16 (Celeron G1850) — the Celeron G1850 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3538) and H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1850).
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Celeron G1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB+700% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3538) / VT-x (Celeron G1850). The Celeron G1850 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Atom C3538 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1850 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G1850 rivals Pentium G3258.
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Celeron G1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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