i7-12700K vs Atom C3538

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Aggregate performance score

Atom C3538
2017
4 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.19
Core i7-12700K
2021
12 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
21.78
+1730%

Core i7-12700K outperforms Atom C3538 by a whopping 1730% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2361244
Place by popularitynot in top-10073
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.0441.85
Market segmentServerDesktop processor
SeriesIntel AtomIntel Core i7
Power efficiency7.5016.48
Architecture codenameGoldmont (2016−2017)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date15 August 2017 (7 years ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$75$409

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-12700K has 104525% better value for money than Atom C3538.

Detailed specifications

Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads420
Base clock speed2.1 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed2.1 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rateno data8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplier2136
L1 cache224 KB80K (per core)
L2 cache8 MB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache8 MB25 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm10 nm
Die sizeno data215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperature87 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCBGA1310FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
QuickAssist+no data
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4: 2133DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size256 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth29.871 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support++

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.5 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K.

PCIe version35.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1220
USB revision3no data
Total number of SATA ports12no data
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports12no data
Number of USB ports8no data
Integrated LAN2x10/2.5/1 GBE + 2x2.5/1 GBEno 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.


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.

Atom C3538 1.19
i7-12700K 21.78
+1730%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Atom C3538 1889
i7-12700K 34598
+1732%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Atom C3538 255
i7-12700K 2555
+902%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Atom C3538 895
i7-12700K 13786
+1440%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.19 21.78
Recency 15 August 2017 4 November 2021
Physical cores 4 12
Threads 4 20
Chip lithography 14 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 125 Watt

Atom C3538 has 733.3% lower power consumption.

i7-12700K, on the other hand, has a 1730.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, 200% more physical cores and 400% more threads, and a 40% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i7-12700K is our recommended choice as it beats the Atom C3538 in performance tests.

Be aware that Atom C3538 is a server/workstation processor while Core i7-12700K is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Atom C3538 and Core i7-12700K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Atom C3538
Atom C3538
Intel Core i7-12700K
Core i7-12700K

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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4.2 2022 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Atom C3538 or Core i7-12700K, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.