Phenom X3 8850 vs Atom x5-Z8550
Phenom X3 8850
Atom x5-Z8550
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 Phenom X3 8850 is positioned at rank 516 and the Atom x5-Z8550 is on rank 723, so the Phenom X3 8850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X3 8850
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-Z8550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X3 8850 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Toliman (2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cherry Trail (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X3 8850 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phenom X3 8850 and Atom x5-Z8550
Phenom X3 8850
The Phenom X3 8850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toliman (2008) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,142 points. Launch price was $149.
Atom x5-Z8550
The Atom x5-Z8550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 February 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.44 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: UTFCBGA1380. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,143 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Phenom X3 8850 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Atom x5-Z8550 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x5-Z8550 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Phenom X3 8850 versus 2.4 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8550 — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Phenom X3 8850. The Phenom X3 8850 uses the Toliman (2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Atom x5-Z8550 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X3 8850 scores 1,142 against the Atom x5-Z8550's 1,143 — a 0.1% lead for the Atom x5-Z8550. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X3 8850 vs 0 kB on the Atom x5-Z8550.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8850 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+4% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.44 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 65 nm | 14 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Toliman (2008) | Cherry Trail (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,142 | 1,143 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X3 8850 uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x5-Z8550 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8850 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | UTFCBGA1380 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 2 |
Advanced Features
The Atom x5-Z8550 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail)), while the Phenom X3 8850 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8850 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) |
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