Core i5-7260U vs Atom C3958
Core i5-7260U
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 i5-7260U is positioned at rank 297 and the Atom C3958 is on rank 902, so the Core i5-7260U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7260U
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3958
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7260U | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7260U | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-7260U and Atom C3958
Core i5-7260U
The Core i5-7260U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,953 points. Launch price was $304.
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 i5-7260U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Atom C3958 offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Atom C3958 has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-7260U versus 2 GHz on the Atom C3958 — a 51.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-7260U (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-7260U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Atom C3958 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7260U scores 3,953 against the Atom C3958's 3,929 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-7260U. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i5-7260U vs 16 MB on the Atom C3958.
| Feature | Core i5-7260U | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 16 / 16+700% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+70% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+10% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 16 MB+300% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 16 MB+3100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 3,953 | 3,929 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,192 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7260U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom C3958 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Atom C3958 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Kaby Lake-U (Core i5-7260U) and Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3958).
| Feature | Core i5-7260U | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 256 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7260U) / not specified (Atom C3958). The Core i5-7260U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics 640), while the Atom C3958 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7260U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-7260U rivals A12-9720P.
| Feature | Core i5-7260U | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Iris Plus Graphics 640 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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