Core i3-2100 vs Atom x7-E3950
Core i3-2100
Atom x7-E3950
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 i3-2100 is positioned at rank 885 and the Atom x7-E3950 is on rank 480, so the Atom x7-E3950 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2100
Performance Per Dollar Atom x7-E3950
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2100 | Atom x7-E3950 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2100 | Atom x7-E3950 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-2100 and Atom x7-E3950
Core i3-2100
The Core i3-2100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,856 points. Launch price was $73.
Atom x7-E3950
The Atom x7-E3950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 12 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,864 points. Launch price was $57.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2100 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Atom x7-E3950 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x7-E3950 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2100 versus 2 GHz on the Atom x7-E3950 — a 43.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-2100 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i3-2100 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom x7-E3950 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2100 scores 1,856 against the Atom x7-E3950's 1,864 — a 0.4% lead for the Atom x7-E3950. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2100 vs 0 kB on the Atom x7-E3950.
| Feature | Core i3-2100 | Atom x7-E3950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+55% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+94% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,856 | 1,864 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 245 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2100 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x7-E3950 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2100 | Atom x7-E3950 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1296 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 6 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-2100) / VT-x, VT-d (Atom x7-E3950). The Atom x7-E3950 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 505), while the Core i3-2100 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-2100 | Atom x7-E3950 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 505 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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