Atom C3858 vs i5-2500

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-2500
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.59
Atom C3858
2017
12 cores / 12 threads, 25 Watt
2.96
+14.3%

Atom C3858 outperforms Core i5-2500 by a moderate 14% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking17241642
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.660.94
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
Seriesno dataIntel Atom
Power efficiency2.5811.21
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Goldmont (2016−2017)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)15 August 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$85$332

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Atom C3858 has 42% better value for money than i5-2500.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858 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)
Threads412
Base clock speed3.3 GHz2 GHz
Boost clock speed3.7 GHz2 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
Multiplierno data20
L1 cache64 KB (per core)672 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)12 MB
L3 cache6144 KB (shared)12 MB
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size216 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature73 °C83 °C
Number of transistors1,160 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858 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 configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketLGA1155FCBGA1310
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt25 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXno data
AES-NI++
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
QuickAssistno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology--
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB++
Secure Bootno data+
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection+-
SGXno data-
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4: 2400
Maximum memory size32 GB256 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s38.397 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 2000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858.

PCIe version2.03
PCI Express lanes1616
USB revisionno data3
Total number of SATA portsno data16
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Portsno data16
Number of USB portsno data8
Integrated LANno data4x10/2.5/1 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.


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.

i5-2500 2.59
Atom C3858 2.96
+14.3%

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.

i5-2500 4111
Atom C3858 4707
+14.5%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.59 2.96
Recency 9 January 2011 15 August 2017
Physical cores 4 12
Threads 4 12
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 25 Watt

Atom C3858 has a 14.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, 200% more physical cores and 200% more threads, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 280% lower power consumption.

The Atom C3858 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500 in performance tests.

Note that Core i5-2500 is a desktop processor while Atom C3858 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-2500 and Atom C3858, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-2500
Core i5-2500
Intel Atom C3858
Atom C3858

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-2500 or Atom C3858, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.