Atom x5-E3940 vs A8-5550M
Atom x5-E3940
A8-5550M
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 x5-E3940 is positioned at rank 337 and the A8-5550M is on rank 692, so the Atom x5-E3940 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-E3940
Performance Per Dollar A8-5550M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom x5-E3940 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom x5-E3940 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 x5-E3940 and A8-5550M
Atom x5-E3940
The Atom x5-E3940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,816 points. Launch price was $69.
A8-5550M
The A8-5550M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,811 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
Both the Atom x5-E3940 and A8-5550M share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Atom x5-E3940 versus 3.1 GHz on the A8-5550M — a 53.1% clock advantage for the A8-5550M (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Atom x5-E3940 uses the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-5550M uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x5-E3940 scores 1,816 against the A8-5550M's 1,811 — a 0.3% lead for the Atom x5-E3940. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.1 GHz+72% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.1 GHz+31% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,816 | 1,811 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom x5-E3940 uses the FCBGA1296 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-5550M uses FS1r2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1866 on the Atom x5-E3940 versus 1600 on the A8-5550M — the A8-5550M supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A8-5550M supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 6 (Atom x5-E3940) vs 16 (A8-5550M) — the A8-5550M offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1296 (Atom x5-E3940) and FP2,FS1r2 (A8-5550M).
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1296 | FS1r2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1866 | 1600+53233% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+52428700% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 6 | 16+167% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom x5-E3940) / true (A8-5550M). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 500 (Atom x5-E3940) and Radeon HD 8510G / 8550G (A8-5550M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-5550M rivals Core i3-4000M.
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | A8-5550M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 500 | Radeon HD 8510G / 8550G |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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