Atom Z2580 vs Core i3-390M
Atom Z2580
Core i3-390M
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 Z2580 is positioned at rank 9 and the Core i3-390M is on rank 585, so the Atom Z2580 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z2580
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-390M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom Z2580 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clovertrail (2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom Z2580 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Z2580 and Core i3-390M
Atom Z2580
The Atom Z2580 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 February 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Clovertrail (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FC-MB4760. Thermal design power (TDP): 3 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,303 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-390M
The Core i3-390M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,292 points. Launch price was $39.
Processing Power
Both the Atom Z2580 and Core i3-390M share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Atom Z2580 versus 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M — a 99.6% clock advantage for the Atom Z2580. The Atom Z2580 uses the Clovertrail (2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-390M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z2580 scores 1,303 against the Core i3-390M's 1,292 — a 0.8% lead for the Atom Z2580. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom Z2580 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-390M.
| Feature | Atom Z2580 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+199% | 0.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Clovertrail (2013) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,303 | 1,292 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom Z2580 uses the FC-MB4760 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-390M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR2-1066 on the Atom Z2580 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i3-390M — the Core i3-390M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-390M supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom Z2580) vs 16 (Core i3-390M) — the Core i3-390M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Atom Z2580 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FC-MB4760 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR2-1066 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 8 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom Z2580) / VT-x (Core i3-390M). Both include integrated graphics — PowerVR SGX544MP2 (Atom Z2580) and HD Graphics (Core i3-390M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile.
| Feature | Atom Z2580 | Core i3-390M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | PowerVR SGX544MP2 | HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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