CPU
GPU
Core i3-2328M
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 i3-2328M is positioned at rank 76 and the Atom x5-Z8500 is on rank 450, so the Core i3-2328M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2328M
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-Z8500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2328M | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cherry Trail (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2328M | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-2328M and Atom x5-Z8500
Core i3-2328M
The Core i3-2328M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,234 points. Launch price was $225.
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 i3-2328M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Atom x5-Z8500 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x5-Z8500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core i3-2328M versus 2.24 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8500 — a 1.8% clock advantage for the Atom x5-Z8500 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.44 GHz). The Core i3-2328M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2328M scores 1,234 against the Atom x5-Z8500's 1,242 — a 0.6% lead for the Atom x5-Z8500. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2328M vs 0 kB on the Atom x5-Z8500.
| Feature | Core i3-2328M | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.24 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+53% | 1.44 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Cherry Trail (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,234 | 1,242 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 329 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2328M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x5-Z8500 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-2328M supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-2328M) vs 2 (Atom x5-Z8500) — the Core i3-2328M offers 14 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,HM75,HM76,HM77 (Core i3-2328M) and Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom x5-Z8500).
| Feature | Core i3-2328M | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | UTFCBGA1380 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | LPDDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+700% | 2 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2328M) / not specified (Atom x5-Z8500). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 3000 (Core i3-2328M) and Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) (Atom x5-Z8500) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2328M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-2328M rivals Pentium B980.
| Feature | Core i3-2328M | Atom x5-Z8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 3000 | Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Laptop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i3-2328M and Atom x5-Z8500
