Atom C3538 vs Opteron 3320 EE

Atom C3538 vs Opteron 3320 EE Performance Spectrum

Atom C3538

4 / 4

1,910

0.0%

1,918

+0.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Atom C3538 vs Opteron 3320 EE 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 C3538 vs Opteron 3320 EE: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Atom C3538

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 25W, a 10W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,910 vs 1,918).

Opteron 3320 EE

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌66.7% higher power demand at 25W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Opteron 3320 EE better than Atom C3538?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 3320 EE makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Atom C3538 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Opteron 3320 EE is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.4% more average FPS across 38 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Opteron 3320 EE is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Opteron 3320 EE still makes the most sense overall. Opteron 3320 EE comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Atom C3538 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Atom C3538 vs Opteron 3320 EE Technical Specifications

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

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.

Opteron 3320 EE

The Opteron 3320 EE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Delhi (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,918 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

Both the Atom C3538 and Opteron 3320 EE share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Atom C3538 versus 2.5 GHz on the Opteron 3320 EE — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Opteron 3320 EE (base: 2.1 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Atom C3538 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Opteron 3320 EE uses Delhi (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3538 scores 1,910 against the Opteron 3320 EE's 1,918 — a 0.4% lead for the Opteron 3320 EE. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Atom C3538 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Opteron 3320 EE.

Feature	Atom C3538	Opteron 3320 EE
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.1 GHz	2.5 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz+11%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB	8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache	8 MB+100%	4096 kB
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Goldmont (2016−2017)	Delhi (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,910	1,918

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Memory & Platform

The Atom C3538 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Opteron 3320 EE uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Atom C3538	Opteron 3320 EE
Socket	FCBGA1310	AM3+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133	—
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	12	—