Atom C3538 vs Pentium G3420T
Atom C3538
Pentium G3420T
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 Pentium G3420T is on rank 680, 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 Pentium G3420T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3538 | Pentium G3420T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3538 | Pentium G3420T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 Pentium G3420T
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.
Pentium G3420T
The Pentium G3420T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,912 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Atom C3538 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium G3420T offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Atom C3538 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Atom C3538 versus 2.7 GHz on the Pentium G3420T — a 25% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420T (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Atom C3538 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium G3420T uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3538 scores 1,910 against the Pentium G3420T's 1,912 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium G3420T. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Atom C3538 vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3420T.
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Pentium G3420T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.7 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.7 GHz+29% |
| 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 | 1,912 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3538 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium G3420T uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Atom C3538 versus DDR3-1600 on the Pentium G3420T — 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 (Pentium G3420T) — the Pentium G3420T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3538) and LGA1150 (Pentium G3420T).
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Pentium G3420T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1600 |
| 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, VT-d (Pentium G3420T). The Pentium G3420T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Atom C3538 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom C3538 | Pentium G3420T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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