Atom x5-E3940 vs Xeon E5503
Atom x5-E3940
Xeon E5503
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 Xeon E5503 is on rank 895, 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 Xeon E5503
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom x5-E3940 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Gainestown (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom x5-E3940 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E5503
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.
Xeon E5503
The Xeon E5503 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gainestown (2009−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,815 points. Launch price was $287.
Processing Power
The Atom x5-E3940 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5503 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Atom x5-E3940 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Atom x5-E3940 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5503 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5503 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Atom x5-E3940 uses the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5503 uses Gainestown (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x5-E3940 scores 1,816 against the Xeon E5503's 1,815 — a 0.1% lead for the Atom x5-E3940. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom x5-E3940 vs 4 MB (total) on the Xeon E5503.
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) | Gainestown (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,816 | 1,815 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom x5-E3940 uses the FCBGA1296 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5503 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1296 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 6 | — |
Advanced Features
The Atom x5-E3940 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 500), while the Xeon E5503 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom x5-E3940 | Xeon E5503 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 500 | — |
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