
Atom Z515 vs Atom Z520

Atom Z515

Atom Z520
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 Z515 is positioned at rank 894 and the Atom Z520 is on rank 523, so the Atom Z520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z515
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom Z515 | Atom Z520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom Z515 | Atom Z520 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Z515 and Atom Z520

Atom Z515
The Atom Z515 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA441. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.4 Watt. Memory support: unknown. Passmark benchmark score: 195 points. Launch price was $69.

Atom Z520
The Atom Z520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 0.03 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA441. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 215 points. Launch price was $65.
Processing Power
The Atom Z515 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, matching the Atom Z520's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Atom Z515 versus 0.03 GHz on the Atom Z520 — a 190.2% clock advantage for the Atom Z515 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 1.33 GHz). Both are built on the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Atom Z515 scores 195 against the Atom Z520's 215 — a 9.8% lead for the Atom Z520. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom Z515 | Atom Z520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz+3900% | 0.03 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 1.33 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Silverthorne (2008−2010) | Silverthorne (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 195 | 215+10% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the PBGA441 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR2-533 memory speed. Both support up to 2 GB of RAM. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel US15W (Atom Z515) and Intel US15W (Atom Z520).
| Feature | Atom Z515 | Atom Z520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA441 | PBGA441 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR2-533 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom Z515) / VT-x (Atom Z520). Primary use case: Atom Z520 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Atom Z515 | Atom Z520 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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