Core i3-2105
VS
Atom N2800

Core i3-2105 vs Atom N2800

Intel

Core i3-2105

2 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2011
VS
Intel

Atom N2800

2 Cores4 Thrd7 WWMax: 1.87 GHz2011

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 i3-2105 is positioned at rank 935 and the Atom N2800 is on rank 147, so the Atom N2800 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2105

#1
Ryzen 9 7950X
MSRP: $194|Avg: $20
23420%
#2
Core i9-10900T
MSRP: $120|Avg: $5
22129%
#3
Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP: $423|Avg: $5
16068%
#4
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85
4840%
#5
Ryzen 9 9950X
MSRP: $649|Avg: $129
3834%
#6
Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP: $303|Avg: $55
3354%
#7
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $60
1921%
#8
Ryzen 5 2600X
MSRP: $229|Avg: $55
1896%
#9
Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $60
1726%
#10
Core Ultra 5 245KF
MSRP: $294|Avg: $189
1726%
#11
Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP: $159|Avg: $85
1707%
#12
Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $80
1661%
#13
Core i3-9100E
MSRP: $202|Avg: $30
1638%
#14
Core Ultra 5 245K
MSRP: $319|Avg: $200
1631%
#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
1616%
#934
Athlon II X3 405e
MSRP: $100|Avg: $10
100%
#935
Core i3-2105
MSRP: $138|Avg: $30
100%
#936
Core i3-3225
MSRP: $172|Avg: $167
99%
#937
Athlon II X3 400e
MSRP: $100|Avg: $10
99%
#938
Core i3-3220T
MSRP: $149|Avg: $146
98%
#939
Athlon II X2 245e
MSRP: $87|Avg: $15
98%
#940
Athlon II X2 240e
MSRP: $77|Avg: $77
98%
#941
Pentium G630T
MSRP: $79|Avg: $15
98%
#942
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
MSRP: $990|Avg: $175
98%
#945
Core i5-650
MSRP: $176|Avg: $22
96%
#946
A10-6790B
MSRP: $122|Avg: $50
95%
#947
Phenom X3 8600
MSRP: $100|Avg: $20
95%
#948
Core i3-6100TE
MSRP: $250|Avg: $90
95%
#949
FX-4320
MSRP: $250|Avg: $100
95%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Atom N2800

#42
Ryzen 9 9955HX3D
MSRP: $749|Avg: N/A
96%
#135
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
321%
#136
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
316%
#137
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
290%
#138
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
289%
#139
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
286%
#141
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
276%
#142
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
265%
#143
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
265%
#144
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
258%
#147
Atom N2800
MSRP: $47|Avg: $3
100%
#158
Core i5-3210M
MSRP: $225|Avg: $30
96%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i3-2105 delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Atom N2800 in both compute-intensive tasks (0.4% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightCore i3-2105Atom N2800
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($30)
More affordable ($3)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Cedarview-M (2011−2012) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Value Proposition: While both processors are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Atom N2800 holds the technical lead in efficiency. Priced at $3 (vs $30), it costs 90% less. While offering basic entry-level performance, it results in a 896% higher cost efficiency score compared to the Core i3-2105.
InsightCore i3-2105Atom N2800
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Better overall value (+896%)
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($30)
More affordable ($3)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 i3-2105 and Atom N2800

Intel

Core i3-2105

The Core i3-2105 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 22 May 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: 1,837 points. Launch price was $145.

Intel

Atom N2800

The Atom N2800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Cedarview-M (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 6.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,829 points. Launch price was $47.

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-2105 and Atom N2800 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2105 versus 1.87 GHz on the Atom N2800 — a 49.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-2105 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Core i3-2105 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom N2800 uses Cedarview-M (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2105 scores 1,837 against the Atom N2800's 1,829 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-2105. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2105 vs 0 kB on the Atom N2800.

FeatureCore i3-2105Atom N2800
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3.1 GHz+66%
1.87 GHz
Base Clock
3.1 GHz+67%
1.86 GHz
L3 Cache
3 MB (total)
0 kB
L2 Cache
256 kB (per core)
512K (per core)+100%
Process
32 nm
32 nm
Architecture
Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Cedarview-M (2011−2012)
PassMark
1,837
1,829
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-2105 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom N2800 uses FCBGA559 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-2105 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-2105) vs 1 (Atom N2800). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-2105) vs 4 (Atom N2800) — the Core i3-2105 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

FeatureCore i3-2105Atom N2800
Socket
LGA1155
FCBGA559
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB+700%
4 GB
RAM Channels
2+100%
1
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16+300%
4
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-2105) / not specified (Atom N2800). Both include integrated graphics HD Graphics 3000 (Core i3-2105) and Intel GMA 3650 (Atom N2800) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2105 targets Desktop.

FeatureCore i3-2105Atom N2800
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 3000
Intel GMA 3650
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x
Target Use
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-2105 launched at $138 MSRP, while the Atom N2800 debuted at $47. At current prices ($30 vs $3), the Atom N2800 is $27 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2105 delivers 61.2 pts/$ vs 609.7 pts/$ for the Atom N2800 — making the Atom N2800 the 163.5% better value option.

FeatureCore i3-2105Atom N2800
MSRP
$138
$47-66%
Avg Price (30d)
$30
$3-90%
Performance per Dollar
61.2
609.7+896%
Release Date
2011
2011