Atom C3955 vs Core i7-3820
Atom C3955
Core i7-3820
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 C3955 is positioned at rank 765 and the Core i7-3820 is on rank 791, so the Atom C3955 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3955
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3820
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3955 | Core i7-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3955 | Core i7-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 C3955 and Core i7-3820
Atom C3955
The Atom C3955 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 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 32 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2400. Passmark benchmark score: 5,803 points. Launch price was $434.
Core i7-3820
The Core i7-3820 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Fevereiro 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,787 points. Launch price was $400.
Processing Power
The Atom C3955 packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-3820 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Atom C3955 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Atom C3955 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-3820 — a 45.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-3820 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Atom C3955 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-3820 uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3955 scores 5,803 against the Core i7-3820's 5,787 — a 0.3% lead for the Atom C3955. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Atom C3955 vs 10240 kB (total) on the Core i7-3820.
| Feature | Atom C3955 | Core i7-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 16+300% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.8 GHz+58% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB+60% | 10240 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+6300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,803 | 5,787 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 624 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3955 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3820 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Atom C3955 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i7-3820 — the Atom C3955 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom C3955 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Atom C3955) vs 4 (Core i7-3820). PCIe lanes: 12 (Atom C3955) vs 40 (Core i7-3820) — the Core i7-3820 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3955) and X79 (Core i7-3820).
| Feature | Atom C3955 | Core i7-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB+300% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 40+233% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3955) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3820). Primary use case: Core i7-3820 targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3820 rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Atom C3955 | Core i7-3820 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | HEDT Desktop |
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