Atom C3858 vs Core i5-7300HQ

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 C3858 vs Core i5-7300HQ 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 C3858 vs Core i5-7300HQ: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Atom C3858

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.8% higher average FPS across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 25W instead of 45W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,040 vs 5,077).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-7300HQ can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-7300HQ

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 630, while Atom C3858 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Atom C3858 across 23 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 12 MB).
❌80% higher power demand at 45W vs 25W.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom C3858 better than Core i5-7300HQ?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Atom C3858 is ahead with a 13.8% average FPS lead across 23 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-7300HQ pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark. Atom C3858 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-7300HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Atom C3858 still makes the most sense overall. Atom C3858 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.8% average FPS lead across 23 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i5-7300HQ is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Atom C3858 vs Core i5-7300HQ Technical Specifications

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

Atom C3858

The Atom C3858 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 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2400. Passmark benchmark score: 5,040 points. Launch price was $332.

Core i5-7300HQ

The Core i5-7300HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,077 points. Launch price was $250.

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Processing Power

The Atom C3858 packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-7300HQ offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom C3858 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Atom C3858 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7300HQ — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-7300HQ (base: 2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Atom C3858 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-7300HQ uses Kaby Lake-H (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3858 scores 5,040 against the Core i5-7300HQ's 5,077 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-7300HQ. L3 cache: 12 MB on the Atom C3858 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7300HQ.

Feature	Atom C3858	Core i5-7300HQ
Cores / Threads	12 / 12+200%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2 GHz	3.5 GHz+75%
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.5 GHz+25%
L3 Cache	12 MB+100%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	12 MB	256K (per core)+2033%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Goldmont (2016−2017)	Kaby Lake-H (2017)
PassMark	5,040	5,077

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Memory & Platform

The Atom C3858 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-7300HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Atom C3858 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Atom C3858) vs 16 (Core i5-7300HQ) — the Core i5-7300HQ offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Atom C3858	Core i5-7300HQ
Socket	FCBGA1310	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+300%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	12	16+33%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3858) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7300HQ). The Core i5-7300HQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Atom C3858 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7300HQ targets Mobile.