Intel Atom C2538 vs Intel Core i5-3550

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Intel Atom C2538 or Intel Atom C2538 – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Atom C2538 features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q3/2013 and belongs to the 3 generation of the Intel Atom series.
To use the Intel Atom C2538, you'll need a motherboard with a BGA 1283 socket.
The Intel Core i5-3550 features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q2/2012 and belongs to the 3 generation of the Intel Core i5 series.
To use the Intel Core i5-3550, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1155 socket.
Intel Atom Family Intel Core i5
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
3 Generation 3
Intel Atom C2538 Name Intel Core i5-3550
Intel Atom C2000 Group Intel Core i 3000
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Atom C2538 has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Atom C2538 is 2.4 GHz
The Intel Core i5-3550 has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i5-3550 is 3.3 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 3.7 GHz.
No Overclocking No
2.4 GHz Frequency 3.3 GHz
None None 3.7 GHz
4x Cores 4x
4 Threads 4
4 CPU Cores 4
normal Core architecture normal
No Hyperthreading No
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Intel Atom C2538 does not have integrated graphics.
The Intel Core i5-3550 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i5-3550 uses the Intel HD Graphics 2500, which has 48 texture shaders
and 6 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
-- Execution units 6
-- Generation 7
-- Direct X 11.0
-- Shaders 48
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 2.0 GB
-- GPU frequency 0.65 GHz
-- Technology 22 nm
-- Release date Q2/2012
-- Max. displays --
-- GPU (Turbo) 1.15 GHz
GPU name Intel HD Graphics 2500
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI specifications --
-- AI hardware --
 
 

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
-- AVC Decode / Encode
-- VP8 No
-- h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
-- h264 Decode / Encode
-- h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
-- VP9 No
-- JPEG Decode
-- VC-1 Decode
-- AV1 No
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 64.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 32.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
64.0 GB Max. Memory 32.0 GB
Yes ECC No
Yes AES-NI Yes
2 Memory channels 2
pci PCIe pci
25.6 GB/s Bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
DDR3L-1600, DDR3-1600 Memory type DDR3-1600
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 15 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 77 W watts.
-- Tjunction max --
15 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 77 W
 
 

Technical details

The Intel Atom C2538 is manufactured using a 22 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core i5-3550 is manufactured using a 22 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 6.0 MB cache.
0 bytes L3-Cache 6.0 MB
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
SSE4.1, SSE4.2 ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
104 $ Release price 213 $
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
Q3/2013 Release date Q2/2012
2.0 MB L2-Cache 0 bytes
VT-x, VT-x EPT Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
-- Part Number --
Avoton Architecture Ivy Bridge S
22 nm Technology 22 nm
BGA 1283 Socket LGA 1155
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic