CPU
GPU
Atom x7-E3950
Core i3-2100
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 x7-E3950 is positioned at rank 480 and the Core i3-2100 is on rank 885, so the Atom x7-E3950 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom x7-E3950
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom x7-E3950 | Core i3-2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom x7-E3950 | Core i3-2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 x7-E3950 and Core i3-2100
Atom x7-E3950
The Atom x7-E3950 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 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 12 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,864 points. Launch price was $57.
Core i3-2100
The Core i3-2100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,856 points. Launch price was $73.
Processing Power
The Atom x7-E3950 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-2100 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x7-E3950 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Atom x7-E3950 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2100 — a 43.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-2100 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Atom x7-E3950 uses the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-2100 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x7-E3950 scores 1,864 against the Core i3-2100's 1,856 — a 0.4% lead for the Atom x7-E3950. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom x7-E3950 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2100.
| Feature | Atom x7-E3950 | Core i3-2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.1 GHz+55% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+94% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,864 | 1,856 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 245 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Atom x7-E3950 uses the FCBGA1296 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-2100 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Atom x7-E3950 | Core i3-2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1296 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 6 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Atom x7-E3950) / not specified (Core i3-2100). The Atom x7-E3950 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 505), while the Core i3-2100 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Atom x7-E3950 | Core i3-2100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 505 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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