Core i5-3330S vs Atom C3958
Core i5-3330S
Atom C3958
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 i5-3330S is positioned at rank 866 and the Atom C3958 is on rank 902, so the Core i5-3330S offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3330S
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3958
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3330S | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3330S | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 i5-3330S and Atom C3958
Core i5-3330S
The Core i5-3330S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,915 points. Launch price was $231.
Atom C3958
The Atom C3958 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 31 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,929 points. Launch price was $449.
Processing Power
The Core i5-3330S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Atom C3958 offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Atom C3958 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-3330S versus 2 GHz on the Atom C3958 — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-3330S (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-3330S uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Atom C3958 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3330S scores 3,915 against the Atom C3958's 3,929 — a 0.4% lead for the Atom C3958. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-3330S vs 16 MB on the Atom C3958.
| Feature | Core i5-3330S | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 16 / 16+300% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+60% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+35% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 16 MB+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 16 MB+6300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 3,915 | 3,929 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3330S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom C3958 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-3330S | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 256 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
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