Pentium G3420T vs Atom C3538
Pentium G3420T
Atom C3538
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 Pentium G3420T is positioned at rank 680 and the Atom C3538 is on rank 389, so the Atom C3538 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420T
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3538
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3420T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3420T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ 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 Pentium G3420T and Atom C3538
Pentium G3420T
The Pentium G3420T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,912 points. Launch price was $75.
Atom C3538
The Atom C3538 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,910 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3420T packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Atom C3538 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom C3538 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium G3420T versus 2.1 GHz on the Atom C3538 — a 25% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420T (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Pentium G3420T uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Atom C3538 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3420T scores 1,912 against the Atom C3538's 1,910 — a 0.1% lead for the Pentium G3420T. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3420T vs 8 MB on the Atom C3538.
| Feature | Pentium G3420T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+29% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+29% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 8 MB+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 8 MB+3100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 1,912 | 1,910 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3420T uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom C3538 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Pentium G3420T versus DDR4-2133 on the Atom C3538 — the Atom C3538 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Atom C3538 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Pentium G3420T) vs 12 (Atom C3538) — the Pentium G3420T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1150 (Pentium G3420T) and Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3538).
| Feature | Pentium G3420T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 256 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Pentium G3420T) / not specified (Atom C3538). The Pentium G3420T includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Atom C3538 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Pentium G3420T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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