Core i3-550 vs Atom N570
Core i3-550
Atom N570
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 i3-550 is positioned at rank 965 and the Atom N570 is on rank 35, so the Atom N570 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-550
Performance Per Dollar Atom N570
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-550 | Atom N570 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Pineview (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-550 | Atom N570 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ 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 i3-550 and Atom N570
Core i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
Atom N570
The Atom N570 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.66 GHz, with boost up to 1.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 8.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,630 points. Launch price was $86.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-550 and Atom N570 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 versus 1.67 GHz on the Atom N570 — a 62.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-550 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.66 GHz). The Core i3-550 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom N570 uses Pineview (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-550 scores 1,632 against the Atom N570's 1,630 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-550. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-550 vs 0 kB on the Atom N570.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Atom N570 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+92% | 1.67 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+93% | 1.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Pineview (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,632 | 1,630 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,320 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 437 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 899 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-550 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom N570 uses FCBGA559 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-550 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-550) vs 1 (Atom N570). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-550) vs 0 (Atom N570) — the Core i3-550 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H55,H57,P55,Q57 (Core i3-550) and Intel NM10 (Atom N570).
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Atom N570 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FCBGA559 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+700% | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i3-550) / not specified (Atom N570). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Core i3-550) and Intel GMA 3150 (Atom N570) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | Atom N570 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | Intel GMA 3150 |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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