Atom N550 vs Phenom X3 8750
Atom N550
Phenom X3 8750
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 Phenom X3 8750 is on rank 1043, 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 Phenom X3 8750
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N550 | Phenom X3 8750 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Pineview (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Toliman (2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N550 | Phenom X3 8750 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 Phenom X3 8750
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.
Phenom X3 8750
The Phenom X3 8750 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toliman (2008) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,445 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Atom N550 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom X3 8750 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom X3 8750 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Atom N550 versus 2.4 GHz on the Phenom X3 8750 — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Phenom X3 8750. The Atom N550 uses the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Phenom X3 8750 uses Toliman (2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N550 scores 1,435 against the Phenom X3 8750's 1,445 — a 0.7% lead for the Phenom X3 8750. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom N550 vs 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X3 8750.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Phenom X3 8750 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2.4 GHz+60% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Pineview (2009−2011) | Toliman (2008) |
| PassMark | 1,435 | 1,445 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N550 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom X3 8750 uses AM2+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Phenom X3 8750 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA559 | AM2+ |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-667 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
The Atom N550 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 3150), while the Phenom X3 8750 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom N550 | Phenom X3 8750 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel GMA 3150 | — |
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