Intel Atom C2538 vs Intel Core i7-3540M

Comparative analysis of Intel Atom C2538 and Intel Core i7-3540M processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Atom C2538

Intel Core i7-3540M

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Atom C2538

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2x more maximum memory size: 64 GB vs 32 GB
2.3x lower typical power consumption: 15 Watt vs 35 Watt
Around 52% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1014 vs 665
Around 74% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2546 vs 1462

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum memory size	64 GB vs 32 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt vs 35 Watt
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1014 vs 665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2546 vs 1462

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3540M

3.3x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1787 vs 538
3.4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2977 vs 874

Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1787 vs 538
PassMark - CPU mark	2977 vs 874

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Atom C2538
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3540M

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

538

1787

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

874

2977

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1014

665

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2546

1462

Name	Intel Atom C2538	Intel Core i7-3540M
PassMark - Single thread mark	538	1787
PassMark - CPU mark	874	2977
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1014	665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2546	1462
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		2.315
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		7.421
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.261
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.115
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		2.627
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		2389
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		2389

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Atom C2538	Intel Core i7-3540M
Essentials
Architecture codename	Rangeley	Ivy Bridge
Launch date	Q3'13	1 January 2013
Place in performance rating	2438	2430
Processor Number	C2538	i7-3540M
Series	Intel® Atom™ Processor C Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Embedded	Mobile
Launch price (MSRP)		$349
Price now		$429.95
Value for money (0-100)		3.19
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.40 GHz	3.00 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	22 nm
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	4	4
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI
Die size		118 mm
L1 cache		128 KB
L2 cache		512 KB
L3 cache		4096 KB
Maximum core temperature		105 °C
Maximum frequency		3.70 GHz
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory size	64 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3/DDR3L 1600	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600
Maximum memory bandwidth		25.6 GB/s
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size	34 mm x 28 mm	37.5 x 37.5mm (rPGA988B); 31.0 x 24.0mm (BGA1023)
Sockets supported	FCBGA1283	FCBGA1023, FCPGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt	35 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Peripherals
Integrated LAN
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports	2
Number of USB ports	4
PCI Express revision	2	3.0
PCIe configurations	x1,x2,x4,x8,x16	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4
Total number of SATA ports	6
UART
USB revision	2
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Anti-Theft technology
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Integrated Intel® QuickAssist Technology
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	36-bit
4G WiMAX Wireless
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® AVX
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Graphics
Device ID		0x166
Graphics base frequency		650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.30 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.3 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics		Intel® HD Graphics 4000
Graphics interfaces
CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported		3
SDVO
Wireless Display (WiDi) support