Atom C3958 vs Core i5-8500

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1018	1612
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	11.78	0.60
Market segment	Desktop processor	Server
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Atom
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)	Goldmont (2016−2017)
Release date	14 February 2018 (6 years ago)	15 August 2017 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$202	$449
Current price	$139 (0.7x MSRP)	$740 (1.6x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-8500 has 1863% better value for money than Atom C3958.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 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	6 (Hexa-Core)	16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads	6	16
Base clock speed	3 GHz	2 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.1 GHz	2 GHz
L1 cache	64K (per core)	896 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	16 MB
L3 cache	9 MB (shared)	16 MB
Chip lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Die size	149 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	83 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 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	FCLGA1151	FCBGA1310
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	31 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	no data
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	no data
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
QuickAssist	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	-
TSX	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	no data
SIPP	+	no data
Status	Discontinued	Launched

Security technologies

Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	no data
EDB	+	+
Secure Boot	no data	+
Secure Key	+	+
MPX	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	no data
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	-
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	no data
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3, DDR4	DDR4: 2400
Maximum memory size	64 GB	256 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	38.397 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel UHD Graphics 630	no data
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	no data
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958.

PCIe version	3.0	3
PCI Express lanes	16	16
USB revision	no data	3
Total number of SATA ports	no data	16
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports	no data	16
Number of USB ports	no data	8
Integrated LAN	no data	4x10/2.5/1 GBE

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 i5-8500 outperforms Atom C3958 by 123% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	6.18	2.77
Recency	14 February 2018	15 August 2017
Physical cores	6	16
Threads	6	16
Cost	$202	$449
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	31 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-8500 and Atom C3958, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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