Ryzen 5 5600X vs Atom C3958
Ryzen 5 5600X
Atom C3958
Popular choices:
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3958
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ 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 Ryzen 5 5600X and Atom C3958
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
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 Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Atom C3958 offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Atom C3958 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 2 GHz on the Atom C3958 — a 78.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Atom C3958 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Atom C3958's 3,929 — a 139% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 16 MB on the Atom C3958.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 16 / 16+167% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+130% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+85% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB+100% | 16 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 16 MB+3100% |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 21,845+456% | 3,929 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Atom C3958 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Atom C3958 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) vs 12 (Atom C3958) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X) and Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3958).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 256 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24+100% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X) / not specified (Atom C3958). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Atom C3958 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Ryzen 5 5600X and Atom C3958
