
Atom N280

Atom E660
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 N280 is positioned at rank 367 and the Atom E660 is on rank 743, so the Atom N280 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N280
Performance Per Dollar Atom E660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N280 | Atom E660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (DiamondVille (2008−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Tunnel Creek (2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N280 | Atom E660 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 N280 and Atom E660

Atom N280
The Atom N280 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the DiamondVille (2008−2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA437. Thermal design power (TDP): 2.5 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 285 points. Launch price was $69.

Atom E660
The Atom E660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Tunnel Creek (2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA676. Thermal design power (TDP): 3 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 275 points. Launch price was $54.
Processing Power
Both the Atom N280 and Atom E660 share an identical 1-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Atom N280 versus 1.3 GHz on the Atom E660 — a 179.6% clock advantage for the Atom E660. The Atom N280 uses the DiamondVille (2008−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom E660 uses Tunnel Creek (2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N280 scores 285 against the Atom E660's 275 — a 3.6% lead for the Atom N280. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom N280 | Atom E660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 1.3 GHz+1757% |
| Base Clock | 1.66 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | DiamondVille (2008−2009) | Tunnel Creek (2010) |
| PassMark | 285+4% | 275 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N280 uses the PBGA437 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom E660 uses BGA676 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-533 memory speed. Both support up to 2 GB of RAM. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom N280) vs 4 (Atom E660) — the Atom E660 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel PBGA437 (Atom N280) and Intel FCBGA518 (Atom E660).
| Feature | Atom N280 | Atom E660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA437 | BGA676 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 4 |
Advanced Features
The Atom E660 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 600), while the Atom N280 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom N280 | Atom E660 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel GMA 600 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
















