Atom Z520 vs C-30
Atom Z520
C-30
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 Z520 is positioned at rank 523 and the C-30 is on rank 1226, 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 Z520
Performance Per Dollar C-30
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom Z520 | C-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ontario (2011−2012) / 40 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom Z520 | C-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Z520 and C-30
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.
C-30
The C-30 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 201 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Atom Z520 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the C-30's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.03 GHz on the Atom Z520 versus 1.2 GHz on the C-30 — a 190.2% clock advantage for the C-30. The Atom Z520 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the C-30 uses Ontario (2011−2012) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z520 scores 215 against the C-30's 201 — a 6.7% lead for the Atom Z520. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom Z520 | C-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 0.03 GHz | 1.2 GHz+3900% |
| Base Clock | 1.33 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 40 nm-11% |
| Architecture | Silverthorne (2008−2010) | Ontario (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 215+7% | 201 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom Z520 uses the PBGA441 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the C-30 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom Z520 versus DDR3-1066 on the C-30 — the C-30 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The C-30 supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom Z520) vs 4 (C-30) — the C-30 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel US15W (Atom Z520) and AMD BGA413 (C-30).
| Feature | Atom Z520 | C-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA441 | FT1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Atom Z520) / not specified (C-30). The C-30 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6250), while the Atom Z520 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Atom Z520 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Atom Z520 | C-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6250 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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