Atom C3538 vs Core i3-4158U
Atom C3538
Core i3-4158U
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 Core i3-4158U is on rank 576, 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 Core i3-4158U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3538 | Core i3-4158U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3538 | Core i3-4158U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Core i3-4158U
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.
Core i3-4158U
The Core i3-4158U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,921 points. Launch price was $315.
Processing Power
The Atom C3538 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-4158U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Atom C3538 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Atom C3538 versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-4158U — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Atom C3538 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Atom C3538 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-4158U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3538 scores 1,910 against the Core i3-4158U's 1,921 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-4158U. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Atom C3538 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4158U.
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Core i3-4158U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz+5% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz+5% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB+167% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,910 | 1,921 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 457 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3538 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4158U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Atom C3538 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-4158U — 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 16 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3538) and HM86,HM87 (Core i3-4158U).
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Core i3-4158U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB+1500% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3538) / VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i3-4158U). The Core i3-4158U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Graphics 5100), while the Atom C3538 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4158U targets Multimedia.
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Core i3-4158U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel Iris Graphics 5100 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x / VT-d / EPT |
| Target Use | — | Multimedia |
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