Atom C3958 vs Core i3-7101TE
Atom C3958
Core i3-7101TE
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 Core i3-7101TE is on rank 552, so the Core i3-7101TE 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 Core i3-7101TE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom C3958 | Core i3-7101TE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom C3958 | Core i3-7101TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) |
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 Core i3-7101TE
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.
Core i3-7101TE
The Core i3-7101TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,956 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
The Atom C3958 packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i3-7101TE offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Atom C3958 has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Atom C3958 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-7101TE — a 51.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-7101TE (base: 2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Atom C3958 uses the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-7101TE uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom C3958 scores 3,929 against the Core i3-7101TE's 3,956 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-7101TE. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Atom C3958 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-7101TE.
| Feature | Atom C3958 | Core i3-7101TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 16+700% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.4 GHz+70% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.4 GHz+70% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB+433% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+3100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont (2016−2017) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,929 | 3,956 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,188 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,368 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom C3958 uses the FCBGA1310 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-7101TE uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Atom C3958 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 C3958) vs 16 (Core i3-7101TE) — the Core i3-7101TE offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3958) and H110,B150,H170,Z170,B250,H270,Z270 (Core i3-7101TE).
| Feature | Atom C3958 | Core i3-7101TE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1310 | LGA1151 |
| 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 C3958) / Yes (Core i3-7101TE). The Core i3-7101TE includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 630), while the Atom C3958 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom C3958 | Core i3-7101TE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 630 |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
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