Core i9-12900HK vs Atom C3958

Primary details

Comparing Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1612	317
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.59	no data
Market segment	Server	Laptop
Series	Intel Atom	Intel Alder Lake-P
Architecture codename	Goldmont (2016−2017)	Alder Lake-H (2022)
Release date	15 August 2017 (6 years ago)	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$449	no data
Current price	$740 (1.6x MSRP)	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	16 (Hexadeca-Core)	14 (Tetradeca-Core)
Threads	16	20
Base clock speed	2 GHz	2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed	2 GHz	5 GHz
L1 cache	896 KB	80K (per core)
L2 cache	16 MB	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB	24 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	no data	217 mm2
Maximum core temperature	83 °C	100 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCBGA1310	FCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)	31 Watt	45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	no data	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
QuickAssist	+	no data
Speed Shift	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	no data	+
Thermal Monitoring	no data	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	no data	+
Status	Launched	Launched

Security technologies

Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	no data	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Boot	+	no data
Secure Key	+	+
SGX	-	no data
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4: 2400	DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size	256 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	38.397 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	no data	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible
Quick Sync Video	no data	+
Graphics max frequency	no data	1.45 GHz
Execution Units	no data	96

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

no data

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12.1
OpenGL	no data	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK.

PCIe version	3	4.0
PCI Express lanes	16	28
USB revision	3	no data
Total number of SATA ports	16	no data
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports	16	no data
Number of USB ports	8	no data
Integrated LAN	4x10/2.5/1 GBE	no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i9-12900HK outperforms Atom C3958 by 545% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	2.77	17.88
Recency	15 August 2017	4 January 2022
Physical cores	16	14
Threads	16	20
Power consumption (TDP)	31 Watt	45 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Atom C3958 and Core i9-12900HK, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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