Core i5-8265U vs Atom C3955
Core i5-8265U
Atom C3955
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 i5-8265U is positioned at rank 353 and the Atom C3955 is on rank 765, so the Core i5-8265U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8265U
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3955
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8265U | Atom C3955 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8265U | Atom C3955 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-8265U and Atom C3955
Core i5-8265U
The Core i5-8265U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,812 points. Launch price was $297.
Atom C3955
The Atom C3955 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 32 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2400. Passmark benchmark score: 5,803 points. Launch price was $434.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8265U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Atom C3955 offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Atom C3955 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8265U versus 2.4 GHz on the Atom C3955 — a 47.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-8265U (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-8265U uses the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Atom C3955 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8265U scores 5,812 against the Atom C3955's 5,803 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-8265U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8265U vs 16 MB on the Atom C3955.
| Feature | Core i5-8265U | Atom C3955 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 16 / 16+300% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+63% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.1 GHz+31% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 16 MB+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 16 MB+6300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 5,812 | 5,803 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8265U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom C3955 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Atom C3955 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 i5-8265U) vs 12 (Atom C3955) — the Core i5-8265U offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core i5-8265U) and Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3955).
| Feature | Core i5-8265U | Atom C3955 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | 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, EPT (Core i5-8265U) / not specified (Atom C3955). The Core i5-8265U includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 620), while the Atom C3955 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8265U targets Mainstream Laptop.
| Feature | Core i5-8265U | Atom C3955 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 620 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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