CPU
GPU
Core i5-7300HQ
Atom C3858
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 i5-7300HQ is positioned at rank 698 and the Atom C3858 is on rank 310, so the Atom C3858 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7300HQ
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3858
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7300HQ | Atom C3858 |
|---|---|---|
| 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-H (2017) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7300HQ | Atom C3858 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-7300HQ and Atom C3858
Core i5-7300HQ
The Core i5-7300HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,077 points. Launch price was $250.
Atom C3858
The Atom C3858 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 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. L2 cache: 12 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2400. Passmark benchmark score: 5,040 points. Launch price was $332.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7300HQ packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Atom C3858 offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the Atom C3858 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7300HQ versus 2 GHz on the Atom C3858 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-7300HQ (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-7300HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Atom C3858 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7300HQ scores 5,077 against the Atom C3858's 5,040 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-7300HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7300HQ vs 12 MB on the Atom C3858.
| Feature | Core i5-7300HQ | Atom C3858 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 12 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+75% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+25% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 12 MB+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 12 MB+4700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake-H (2017) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 5,077 | 5,040 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7300HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom C3858 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Atom C3858 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-7300HQ) vs 12 (Atom C3858) — the Core i5-7300HQ offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-7300HQ | Atom C3858 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 256 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7300HQ) / not specified (Atom C3858). The Core i5-7300HQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Atom C3858 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7300HQ targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i5-7300HQ | Atom C3858 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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