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 C2000 Group Intel Core i 3000
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
Intel Atom Family Intel Core i5
3 Generation 3
Intel Atom C2538 Name Intel Core i5-3550
 
 

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 Hyperthreading No
4 Threads 4
None None 3.7 GHz
normal Core architecture normal
4x Cores 4x
No Overclocking No
4 CPU Cores 4
2.4 GHz Frequency 3.3 GHz
 
 

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
-- Release date Q2/2012
-- GPU frequency 0.65 GHz
-- Direct X 11.0
-- Generation 7
-- Technology 22 nm
-- GPU (Turbo) 1.15 GHz
-- Shaders 48
-- Max. displays --
GPU name Intel HD Graphics 2500
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 2.0 GB
 
 

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.
-- h264 Decode / Encode
-- JPEG Decode
-- AV1 No
-- h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
-- VP8 No
-- AVC Decode / Encode
-- VC-1 Decode
-- VP9 No
-- h265 / HEVC (10 bit) 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.
Yes ECC No
pci PCIe pci
2 Memory channels 2
Yes AES-NI Yes
DDR3L-1600, DDR3-1600 Memory type DDR3-1600
64.0 GB Max. Memory 32.0 GB
25.6 GB/s Bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
 
 

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.
SSE4.1, SSE4.2 ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
0 bytes L3-Cache 6.0 MB
VT-x, VT-x EPT Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Q3/2013 Release date Q2/2012
22 nm Technology 22 nm
104 $ Release price 213 $
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
-- Part Number --
Avoton Architecture Ivy Bridge S
2.0 MB L2-Cache 0 bytes
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
BGA 1283 Socket LGA 1155