Atom N550 vs Celeron 3955U
Atom N550
Celeron 3955U
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 Celeron 3955U is on rank 616, so the Celeron 3955U 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 Celeron 3955U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N550 | Celeron 3955U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Pineview (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N550 | Celeron 3955U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 N550 and Celeron 3955U
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.
Celeron 3955U
The Celeron 3955U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, LPDDR3-1600/1866, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,443 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Atom N550 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 3955U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Atom N550 versus 2 GHz on the Celeron 3955U — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Celeron 3955U (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Atom N550 uses the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 3955U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N550 scores 1,435 against the Celeron 3955U's 1,443 — a 0.6% lead for the Celeron 3955U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom N550 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 3955U.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Celeron 3955U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Pineview (2009−2011) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,435 | 1,443 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 431 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 741 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N550 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 3955U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-667 on the Atom N550 versus DDR4-2133 on the Celeron 3955U — the Celeron 3955U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 3955U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom N550) vs 2 (Celeron 3955U). PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom N550) vs 12 (Celeron 3955U) — the Celeron 3955U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel NM10 (Atom N550) and Sunrise Point-LP (Celeron 3955U).
| Feature | Atom N550 | Celeron 3955U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA559 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-667 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 32 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom N550) / VT-x, VT-d (Celeron 3955U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel GMA 3150 (Atom N550) and HD Graphics 510 (Celeron 3955U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 3955U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 3955U rivals Pentium 3825U.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Celeron 3955U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel GMA 3150 | HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Atom N550 and Celeron 3955U
