Atom N550 vs A6-8500P
Atom N550
A6-8500P
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 N550 is positioned at rank 618 and the A6-8500P is on rank 992, so the Atom N550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N550
Performance Per Dollar A6-8500P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N550 | A6-8500P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($16) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Pineview (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Carrizo (2015−2018) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N550 | A6-8500P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($16) |
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 N550 and A6-8500P
Atom N550
The Atom N550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 August 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 8.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,435 points. Launch price was $86.
A6-8500P
The A6-8500P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,445 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Atom N550 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A6-8500P's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Atom N550 versus 3 GHz on the A6-8500P — a 66.7% clock advantage for the A6-8500P (base: 1.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Atom N550 uses the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the A6-8500P uses Carrizo (2015−2018) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N550 scores 1,435 against the A6-8500P's 1,445 — a 0.7% lead for the A6-8500P.
| Feature | Atom N550 | A6-8500P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz | 3 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 1.6 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1024 kB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 28 nm-38% |
| Architecture | Pineview (2009−2011) | Carrizo (2015−2018) |
| PassMark | 1,435 | 1,445 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N550 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A6-8500P uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-667 on the Atom N550 versus 1600 on the A6-8500P — the A6-8500P supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-8500P supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 2 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom N550) vs 2 (A6-8500P). PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom N550) vs 16 (A6-8500P) — the A6-8500P offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel NM10 (Atom N550) and FP4 (A6-8500P).
| Feature | Atom N550 | A6-8500P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA559 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-667 | 1600+53233% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB+13107100% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom N550) / true (A6-8500P). Both include integrated graphics — Intel GMA 3150 (Atom N550) and Radeon R5 Graphics (A6-8500P) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A6-8500P rivals Pentium 3825U.
| Feature | Atom N550 | A6-8500P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel GMA 3150 | Radeon R5 Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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