Atom N570 vs Core i3-550
Atom N570
Core i3-550
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 N570 is positioned at rank 35 and the Core i3-550 is on rank 965, so the Atom N570 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N570
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N570 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Pineview (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N570 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) |
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 N570 and Core i3-550
Atom N570
The Atom N570 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.66 GHz, with boost up to 1.67 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: 1,630 points. Launch price was $86.
Core i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
Processing Power
Both the Atom N570 and Core i3-550 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.67 GHz on the Atom N570 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 — a 62.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-550 (base: 1.66 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Atom N570 uses the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-550 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N570 scores 1,630 against the Core i3-550's 1,632 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-550. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom N570 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-550.
| Feature | Atom N570 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.67 GHz | 3.2 GHz+92% |
| Base Clock | 1.66 GHz | 3.2 GHz+93% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Pineview (2009−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,630 | 1,632 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,320 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 437 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 899 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N570 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-550 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-667 memory speed. The Core i3-550 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom N570) vs 2 (Core i3-550). PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom N570) vs 16 (Core i3-550) — the Core i3-550 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel NM10 (Atom N570) and H55,H57,P55,Q57 (Core i3-550).
| Feature | Atom N570 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA559 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-667 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 16 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom N570) / Yes (Core i3-550). Both include integrated graphics — Intel GMA 3150 (Atom N570) and Intel HD Graphics (Core i3-550) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom N570 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel GMA 3150 | Intel HD Graphics |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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