Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs Atom C3538
Core 2 Quad Q8300
Atom C3538
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 Core 2 Quad Q8300 is positioned at rank 985 and the Atom C3538 is on rank 389, so the Atom C3538 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q8300
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3538
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Yorkfield (2007−2009) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core 2 Quad Q8300 and Atom C3538
Core 2 Quad Q8300
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,917 points. Launch price was $249.
Atom C3538
The Atom C3538 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,910 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Quad Q8300 and Atom C3538 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 versus 2.1 GHz on the Atom C3538 — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q8300 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses the Yorkfield (2007−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom C3538 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Quad Q8300 scores 1,917 against the Atom C3538's 1,910 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q8300. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q8300 vs 8 MB on the Atom C3538.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+19% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+19% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Yorkfield (2007−2009) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 1,917 | 1,910 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Quad Q8300 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom C3538 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Quad Q8300 | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 256 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core 2 Quad Q8300 and Atom C3538
