Xeon W3503 vs Atom x5-Z8550
Xeon W3503
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 Xeon W3503 is positioned at rank 978 and the Atom x5-Z8550 is on rank 723, so the Atom x5-Z8550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3503
Performance Per Dollar Atom x5-Z8550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3503 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cherry Trail (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3503 | 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 Xeon W3503 and Atom x5-Z8550
Xeon W3503
The Xeon W3503 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,125 points. Launch price was $65.
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 Xeon W3503 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Atom x5-Z8550 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x5-Z8550 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon W3503 versus 2.4 GHz on the Atom x5-Z8550 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.44 GHz). The Xeon W3503 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom x5-Z8550 uses Cherry Trail (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3503 scores 1,125 against the Atom x5-Z8550's 1,143 — a 1.6% lead for the Atom x5-Z8550. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Xeon W3503 vs 0 kB on the Atom x5-Z8550.
| Feature | Xeon W3503 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+67% | 1.44 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Bloomfield (2008−2010) | Cherry Trail (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,125 | 1,143+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3503 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom x5-Z8550 uses UTFCBGA1380 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3503 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | 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 Xeon W3503 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon W3503 | Atom x5-Z8550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Cherry Trail) |
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