Core 2 Solo SU3300 vs Atom x5-Z8500
Core 2 Solo SU3300
Atom x5-Z8500
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 Solo SU3300 is positioned at rank 1211 and the Atom x5-Z8500 is on rank 450, so the Atom x5-Z8500 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 Solo SU3300
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-Z8500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Solo SU3300 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cherry Trail (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Solo SU3300 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ 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 Solo SU3300 and Atom x5-Z8500
Core 2 Solo SU3300
The Core 2 Solo SU3300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 August 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 3 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,247 points. Launch price was $262.
Atom x5-Z8500
The Atom x5-Z8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.44 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,242 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Solo SU3300 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Atom x5-Z8500 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x5-Z8500 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Core 2 Solo SU3300 versus 2.24 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8500 — a 60.5% clock advantage for the Atom x5-Z8500. The Core 2 Solo SU3300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Solo SU3300 scores 1,247 against the Atom x5-Z8500's 1,242 — a 0.4% lead for the Core 2 Solo SU3300.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3300 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 4 / 4+300% |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2.24 GHz+87% |
| Base Clock | — | 1.44 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+50% | 2 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Cherry Trail (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,247 | 1,242 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Solo SU3300 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Solo SU3300 versus LPDDR3-1600 on the Atom x5-Z8500 — the Atom x5-Z8500 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom x5-Z8500 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Core 2 Solo SU3300) vs 2 (Atom x5-Z8500). PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Solo SU3300) vs 2 (Atom x5-Z8500) — the Atom x5-Z8500 offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3300 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | UTFCBGA1380 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | LPDDR3-1600+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 2 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core 2 Solo SU3300) / not specified (Atom x5-Z8500). The Atom x5-Z8500 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)), while the Core 2 Solo SU3300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core 2 Solo SU3300 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core 2 Solo SU3300 | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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