Intel Core i7-960 vs Intel Atom C2550

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i7-960 CPU1 vs CPU2 Intel Atom C2550
Intel Core i7-960 Intel Atom C2550

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i7-960 and the Intel Atom C2550 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Intel Core i7-960 4 core processor released in Q4/2009 with the Intel Atom C2550 which has 4 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2013.
Intel Core i7 (298) Family Intel Atom (108)
Intel Core i7 900 (7) CPU group Intel Atom C2000 (7)
1 Generation 3
Bloomfield Architecture Avoton
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
-- Predecessor --
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-960 is a 4 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.20 GHz (3.46 GHz). The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The Intel Atom C2550 clocks with 2.40 GHz (2.60 GHz), has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.

Intel Core i7-960 Characteristic Intel Atom C2550
4 Cores 4
8 Threads 4
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
3.20 GHz Frequency 2.40 GHz
3.46 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) 2.60 GHz
-- Turbo Frequency (All Cores) 2.60 GHz

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.

Intel Core i7-960 Characteristic Intel Atom C2550
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --

Internal Graphics

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
GPU frequency --
-- GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation --
Technology
Max. displays
-- Compute units --
-- Shader --
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory --
-- DirectX Version --

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.

no iGPU GPU no iGPU
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
No Codec h264 No
No Codec VP9 No
No Codec VP8 No
No Codec AV1 No
No Codec AVC No
No Codec VC-1 No
No Codec JPEG No

Memory & PCIe

Up to 24 GB of memory in a maximum of 3 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i7-960, while the Intel Atom C2550 supports a maximum of 64 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s enabled.

Intel Core i7-960 Characteristic Intel Atom C2550
DDR3-1066 Memory DDR3L-1600, DDR3-1600
24 GB Max. Memory 64 GB
3 Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
25.6 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
No ECC Yes
1.00 MB L2 Cache --
8.00 MB L3 Cache 2.00 MB
-- PCIe version 2.0
-- PCIe lanes 16
-- PCIe Bandwidth 8.0 GB/s

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i7-960 has a TDP of 130 W. The TDP of the Intel Atom C2550 is 14 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Intel Core i7-960 Characteristic Intel Atom C2550
130 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 14 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-960 has 9.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 45 nm. The cache of Intel Atom C2550 is at 2.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 22 nm.

Intel Core i7-960 Characteristic Intel Atom C2550
45 nm Technology 22 nm
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2 ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2
LGA 1366 Socket BGA 1283
VT-x, VT-x EPT Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT
No AES-NI Yes
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Q4/2009 Release date Q3/2013
305 $ Release price 74 $
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Intel Core i7-960 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 3.7 stars (3 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Intel Atom C2550 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 0 stars (0 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 1 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-960 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 (45%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-960 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 (56%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Intel Core i7-960 Intel Core i7-960
4C 8T @ 3.46 GHz
576 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 Intel Atom C2550
4C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
259 (45%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Intel Core i7-960 Intel Core i7-960
4C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
2370 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 Intel Atom C2550
4C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
971 (41%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Intel Core i7-960 Intel Core i7-960
4C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
3266 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 Intel Atom C2550
4C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
2330 (71%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Intel Core i7-960 Intel Core i7-960
4C 8T @ 3.46 GHz
610 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 Intel Atom C2550
4C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
0 (0%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
Intel Core i7-960 Intel Core i7-960
4C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
2130 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 Intel Atom C2550
4C 4T @ 2.60 GHz
0 (0%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Intel Core i7-960 Intel Core i7-960
4C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
1503 (100%)
Intel Atom C2550 Intel Atom C2550
4C 4T @ 2.40 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i7-960 Intel Atom C2550
Unknown Unknown

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