CPU
GPU
Atom C3858
Core i5-7300HQ
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 C3858 is positioned at rank 310 and the Core i5-7300HQ is on rank 698, so the Atom C3858 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3858
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7300HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3858 | Core i5-7300HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3858 | Core i5-7300HQ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 C3858 and Core i5-7300HQ
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.
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+4700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Kaby Lake-H (2017) |
| PassMark | 5,040 | 5,077 |
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 — 120% 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 | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
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.
| Feature | Atom C3858 | Core i5-7300HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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