Atom C3958 vs A8-5500B
Atom C3958
A8-5500B
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 C3958 is positioned at rank 902 and the A8-5500B is on rank 326, so the A8-5500B offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3958
Performance Per Dollar A8-5500B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3958 | A8-5500B |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3958 | A8-5500B |
|---|---|---|
| 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 C3958 and A8-5500B
Atom C3958
The Atom C3958 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 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 31 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,929 points. Launch price was $449.
A8-5500B
The A8-5500B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,967 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Atom C3958 packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the A8-5500B offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom C3958 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Atom C3958 versus 3.7 GHz on the A8-5500B — a 59.6% clock advantage for the A8-5500B (base: 2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Atom C3958 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-5500B uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3958 scores 3,929 against the A8-5500B's 3,967 — a 1% lead for the A8-5500B. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Atom C3958 vs 0 kB on the A8-5500B.
| Feature | Atom C3958 | A8-5500B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 16+300% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+85% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.2 GHz+60% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+1500% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,929 | 3,967 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3958 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-5500B uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Atom C3958 versus 1866 on the A8-5500B — the A8-5500B supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom C3958 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Atom C3958) vs 16 (A8-5500B) — the A8-5500B offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3958) and FM2 (A8-5500B).
| Feature | Atom C3958 | A8-5500B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | 1866+46550% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB+419430300% | 64 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom C3958) / true (A8-5500B). The A8-5500B includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 7560D), while the Atom C3958 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-5500B rivals Pentium G2120.
| Feature | Atom C3958 | A8-5500B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 7560D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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