Atom E3826 vs Pentium M 780

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.

Atom E3826 vs Pentium M 780 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Atom E3826 vs Pentium M 780: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Atom E3826

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 7W instead of 27W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), while Pentium M 780 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (545 vs 575).

Pentium M 780

2005

Why buy it

✅+5.5% higher PassMark.
✅300% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌285.7% higher power demand at 27W vs 7W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom E3826 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom E3826 better than Pentium M 780?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Atom E3826 is ahead with 4800% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium M 780 pulls ahead with 5.5% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium M 780 is the stronger fit. You are getting 5.5% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Atom E3826 still makes the most sense overall. Atom E3826 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 4800% higher max boost clock.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Atom E3826 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2005). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Atom E3826 vs Pentium M 780 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Atom E3826

The Atom E3826 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 October 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-I (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.47 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 545 points. Launch price was $69.

Pentium M 780

The Pentium M 780 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Dothan (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 0.03 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 27 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 575 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Atom E3826 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium M 780 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Atom E3826 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.47 GHz on the Atom E3826 versus 0.03 GHz on the Pentium M 780 — a 192% clock advantage for the Atom E3826. The Atom E3826 uses the Bay Trail-I (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium M 780 uses Dothan (2004−2005) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Atom E3826 scores 545 against the Pentium M 780's 575 — a 5.4% lead for the Pentium M 780. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Atom E3826	Pentium M 780
Cores / Threads	2 / 2+100%	1 / 1
Boost Clock	1.47 GHz+4800%	0.03 GHz
Base Clock	—	2.26 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	2 MB+300%
Process	22 nm-76%	90 nm
Architecture	Bay Trail-I (2013)	Dothan (2004−2005)
PassMark	545	575+6%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Atom E3826 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium M 780 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1066 on the Atom E3826 versus DDR2-533 on the Pentium M 780 — the Atom E3826 supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom E3826 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Atom E3826) vs 16 (Pentium M 780) — the Pentium M 780 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1170 (Atom E3826) and 915GM,945GT (Pentium M 780).

Feature	Atom E3826	Pentium M 780
Socket	FCBGA1170	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1066+100%	DDR2-533
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB+100%	4 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	4	16+300%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom E3826) / false (Pentium M 780). The Atom E3826 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)), while the Pentium M 780 requires a dedicated GPU.