Atom C3538

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Atom C3538

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Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Atom C3538 based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,034 Rank: 1855
Rank Name Score Visual
1851 Celeron 2980U 4,040
+0.1%
1852 Pentium 997 4,038
+0.1%
1853 Phenom X4 9850 4,038
+0.1%
1854 Core 2 Duo T5850 4,036
+0%
1855 Atom C3538 4,034
1856 Athlon II P360 4,034
+0%
1857 Celeron J3455 4,033
+-0%
1858 A6-7000 4,032
+-0%
1859 A4-3305M 4,031
-0.1%
1860 Celeron B820 4,030
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Atom C3538 based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,390 Rank: 1483
Rank Name Score Visual
1479 Core i3-4030U 4,391
+0%
1480 A8-6500B 4,391
+0%
1481 Core i3-2310M 4,390
+0%
1482 Celeron 3965U 4,390
+0%
1483 Atom C3538 4,390
1484 Core i5-2390T 4,390
+0%
1485 Celeron G1840 4,389
+-0%
1486 Core i7-920XM 4,389
+-0%
1487 Core i5-2540M 4,387
-0.1%
1488 Xeon L5520 4,386
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Atom C3538 based on single-threaded benchmark results.

3,796 Rank: 1891
Rank Name Score Visual
1887 Core i3-2357M 3,804
+0.2%
1888 A8-3500M 3,802
+0.2%
1889 Atom C3338 3,801
+0.1%
1890 A10-4655M 3,799
+0.1%
1891 Atom C3538 3,796
1892 Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 3,795
+-0%
1893 Atom C3508 3,793
-0.1%
1894 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 3,793
-0.1%
1895 C-50 3,792
-0.1%
1896 Pentium 967 3,790
-0.2%

View full ranking →

Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Atom C3538 based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,518 Rank: 1400
Rank Name Score Visual
1396 A8-7410 4,519
+0%
1397 Phenom II X4 805 4,519
+0%
1398 Core i5-2450M 4,518
+0%
1399 Core i3-6006U 4,518
+0%
1400 Atom C3538 4,518
1401 Core i3-5015U 4,518
+0%
1402 Core i3-5005U 4,518
+0%
1403 Core i3-560 4,518
+0%
1404 Core i3-530 4,518
+0%
1405 Phenom II X3 B75 4,518
+0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Atom C3538 based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,504 Rank: 1302
Rank Name Score Visual
1298 Athlon II X3 445 4,505
+0%
1299 Pentium N4200 4,505
+0%
1300 Core i5-4350U 4,505
+0%
1301 Core i5-650 4,505
+0%
1302 Atom C3538 4,504
1303 Core i5-4310U 4,504
+0%
1304 Core i3-7100U 4,504
+0%
1305 Core i7-3537U 4,504
+0%
1306 A10-6700T 4,504
+0%
1307 Core i3-5157U 4,504
+0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Atom C3538 based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,493 Rank: 1453
Rank Name Score Visual
1449 Pentium 2020M 4,494
+0%
1450 Phenom II X3 B75 4,494
+0%
1451 Pentium 3825U 4,494
+0%
1452 Pentium G2020T 4,494
+0%
1453 Atom C3538 4,493
1454 Athlon II X4 620 4,493
+0%
1455 Phenom II X3 720 4,493
+0%
1456 Xeon X3220 4,493
+0%
1457 A8-3510MX 4,493
+0%
1458 A10-7300 4,493
+0%

View full ranking →

Atom C3538 Details

As of March 2026, the Intel Atom C3538 represents a niche offering in the embedded computing space, built on the Goldmont microarchitecture and fabricated on a 14 nm process. Designed for low-power, high-efficiency environments, this processor is part of Intel's 3000 series and is targeted at network and enterprise storage applications. Despite its modest performance relative to modern desktop and server CPUs, the C3538 holds relevance in specific industrial and edge computing deployments where power efficiency and integration are prioritized over raw speed.

The Atom C3538 features four cores and four threads, with a base clock speed of 2.1 GHz and no turbo boost capability. It supports DDR3L-1600 and DDR4-1866 memory, offering up to 262 GB of RAM across two channels and a maximum memory bandwidth of 27.82 GB/s. The processor includes 0.219 MiB of L1 cache, 8 MiB of L2 cache, and no unified L3 cache. Its TDP of 15 W makes it suitable for compact, fanless systems, and it operates within a junction temperature range of 273.15 K to 373.15 K.

In terms of integrated features, the C3538 includes Intel QuickAssist Technology, which accelerates encryption and compression workloads, making it ideal for security and data processing tasks. It also supports advanced virtualization technologies such as VT-x and VT-d, along with Intel's Enhanced SpeedStep for dynamic frequency scaling. The processor includes support for AES-NI, SHA extensions, and memory protection features like NX and EPT, ensuring robust performance and security in embedded environments.

Benchmark results place the Atom C3538 at a single-core score of 3796 (ranked #1891 of 2060) and a multicore score of 4390 (ranked #1481 of 2060), with an overall score of 4034 (ranked #1855 of 2060). These results position it below most modern consumer and mainstream processors but competitive with other embedded and low-power Atom variants like the C3338 and C3508. In the top 50 multicore rankings, it trails far behind leaders like the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX (score: 12029), while its single-core performance is outpaced by flagship Intel and AMD processors such as the Core Ultra 9 285K (score: 8776).

The Atom C3538’s strongest attribute is its efficiency and integration, particularly in systems requiring minimal power consumption and high reliability. However, its performance is clearly constrained by its age and architectural limitations. While it may still serve well in legacy embedded systems or industrial control units, it is not suited for general-purpose computing or modern workloads requiring high computational throughput. For users seeking a balance of low power and basic processing capability in embedded applications, the C3538 remains a viable, albeit dated, option.
Frequently Compared

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Intel Atom C3538

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Atom C3538
Family: Atom
Series: 3000
Model Number: C3538
Cores: 4
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 2100 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 21x (locked)
Microarchitecture: Goldmont
Core Name: Denverton
Core Family: 6
Core Model: 95
Package: FCBGA-1310
Target Segment: Embedded
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 15 W
Release Price: $75.00

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 224.256 KiB
L1 Instruction Cache: 128 KiB (8-way set associative)
L1 Data Cache: 96.0512 KiB (6-way set associative)
L2 Cache: 8 MiB (16-way set associative)

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3L-1600 and DDR4-1866
Memory Channels: 2
Maximum Memory: 256 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 27.82 GB/s
ECC Support: Yes

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 3.0
PCIe Lanes: 12
PCIe Configuration: x8, x4, x2, x1

Physical Specifications

Process: 14 nm
Manufacturer: Intel
Technology: CMOS
Word Size: 64-bit
ISA: x86-64 (x86)

CPU Features

MMX EMMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AES RdRand x86-16 x86-32 x86-64 Real Protected SMM FPU NX EIST VT-x VT-d EPT MPX SHA QAT
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