FX-6120 vs Atom C3958
FX-6120
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 FX-6120 is positioned at rank 787 and the Atom C3958 is on rank 902, so the FX-6120 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FX-6120
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3958
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | FX-6120 | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($54) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zambezi (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | FX-6120 | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($54) | ✅ 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 FX-6120 and Atom C3958
FX-6120
The FX-6120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,853 points. Launch price was $69.
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 FX-6120 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Atom C3958 offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Atom C3958 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the FX-6120 versus 2 GHz on the Atom C3958 — a 71% clock advantage for the FX-6120 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The FX-6120 uses the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Atom C3958 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the FX-6120 scores 3,853 against the Atom C3958's 3,929 — a 2% lead for the Atom C3958. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the FX-6120 vs 16 MB on the Atom C3958.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 16 / 16+167% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+110% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+80% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 16 MB+100% |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB | 16 MB+167% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Zambezi (2011−2012) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 3,853 | 3,929+2% |
Memory & Platform
The FX-6120 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom C3958 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FX-6120 | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 256 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
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