Core i5-5257U vs Atom Z3735G
Core i5-5257U
Atom Z3735G
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 i5-5257U is positioned at rank 725 and the Atom Z3735G is on rank 5, so the Atom Z3735G offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-5257U
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z3735G
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-5257U | Atom Z3735G |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($17) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-5257U | Atom Z3735G |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($17) |
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 i5-5257U and Atom Z3735G
Core i5-5257U
The Core i5-5257U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,837 points. Launch price was $315.
Atom Z3735G
The Atom Z3735G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA592. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,891 points. Launch price was $17.
Processing Power
The Core i5-5257U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Atom Z3735G offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom Z3735G has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-5257U versus 1.83 GHz on the Atom Z3735G — a 51.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-5257U (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.33 GHz). The Core i5-5257U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Atom Z3735G uses Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-5257U scores 2,837 against the Atom Z3735G's 2,891 — a 1.9% lead for the Atom Z3735G. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-5257U vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Atom Z3735G.
| Feature | Core i5-5257U | Atom Z3735G |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+69% | 1.83 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+103% | 1.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Bay Trail-T (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 2,837 | 2,891+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 950 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,900 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-5257U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom Z3735G uses UTFCBGA592 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR3 1866 MHz on the Core i5-5257U versus DDR3L-RS 1333 on the Atom Z3735G — the Core i5-5257U supports 200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-5257U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 1 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-5257U) vs 1 (Atom Z3735G). PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i5-5257U) vs 0 (Atom Z3735G) — the Core i5-5257U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Broadwell-U (Core i5-5257U) and Intel FC-UTBGA592 (Atom Z3735G).
| Feature | Core i5-5257U | Atom Z3735G |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | UTFCBGA592 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR3 1866 MHz | DDR3L-RS 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+1500% | 1 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-5257U) / not specified (Atom Z3735G). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Iris Graphics 6100 (Core i5-5257U) and Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) (Atom Z3735G) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-5257U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i5-5257U | Atom Z3735G |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel Iris Graphics 6100 | Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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