Atom C3955 vs Core i7-9700K
Atom C3955
Core i7-9700K
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. The Atom C3955 is positioned at rank #765 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3955
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3955 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3955 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Atom C3955 packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Atom C3955 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Atom C3955 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 68.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Atom C3955 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3955 scores 5,803 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 85.1% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Atom C3955 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Atom C3955 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 16+100% | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4.9 GHz+104% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB+33% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+6300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,803 | 14,397+148% |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3955 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Atom C3955 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Atom C3955) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Core i7-9700K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3955) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Atom C3955 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB+100% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3955) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Atom C3955 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Atom C3955 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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