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Intel Atom Z520 vs Intel Atom Z550 vs Intel Atom 230

Intel Atom Z520

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The Intel Atom Z520 is a power saving netbook / MID single-core processor. Compared to the Atom N-series, the Z-series supports Virtualization in hardware and got the Idle States and Demand Based Switching functions.

The Atom core was designed for a low power consumption and cheap production. The downside is the relative low performance per Watt (due to the in-order execution) compared to similar clocked Celeron processors, e.g.. Still the integrated Hyper-Threading (the operating system sees the CPU as a dual core CPU) decreases the penalty of the in-order execution a bit.

The performance of the Z520 is only compareable to a 800-900 MHz clocked Celeron M and therfore only sufficient for non demanding applications like Office or web surfing. HD videos, advanced photo editing, video cutting may not run fluently. 

Intel Atom Z550

► remove from comparison

The Intel Atom Z550 is a power saving netbook / MID single-core processor. Compared to the Atom N-series, the Z-series supports Virtualization in hardware and got the Idle States and Demand Based Switching functions. Therefore, the Z-Series also has a lower TDP rating.

The Atom core was designed for a low power consumption and cheap production. The downside is the relative low performance per Watt (due to the in-order execution) compared to similar clocked Celeron processors, e.g.. Still the integrated Hyper-Threading (the operating system sees the CPU as a dual core CPU) decreases the penalty of the in-order execution a bit.

Intel Atom 230

► remove from comparison

The Intel Atom 230 is a small and cheap CPU for small desktops (Nettops). It is similar to the Atom N270, but lacks Speedstep and features a higher TDP.

Due to the "in-order" Architecture of the Atom series, the 230 is slower than similar clocked Core 2 Duo processors and only suited for low demanding tasks. The Atom 230 support Hyperthreading.

ModelIntel Atom Z520Intel Atom Z550Intel Atom 230
CodenameSilverthorneSilverthorneSilverthorne
SeriesIntel AtomIntel AtomIntel Atom
Series: Atom Silverthorne
Intel Atom Z5602.13 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5502 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5401.83 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom 2301.6 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5301.6 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z520 « 1.33 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5101.1 GHz1 / 1 cores
Intel Atom Z5000.8 GHz1 / 1 cores
Intel Atom Z5602.13 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z550 « 2 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5401.83 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom 2301.6 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5301.6 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5201.33 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5101.1 GHz1 / 1 cores
Intel Atom Z5000.8 GHz1 / 1 cores
Intel Atom Z5602.13 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5502 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5401.83 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom 230 « 1.6 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5301.6 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5201.33 GHz1 / 2 cores
Intel Atom Z5101.1 GHz1 / 1 cores
Intel Atom Z5000.8 GHz1 / 1 cores
Clock1333 MHz2000 MHz1600 MHz
FSB533533533
L2 Cache512 KB512 KB512 KB
Cores / Threads1 / 21 / 21 / 2
TDP2 Watt2.4 Watt4 Watt
Transistors47 Million47 Million47 Million
Technology45 nm45 nm45 nm
Voltage0.75-1.1V V0.9-1.162V V
Die Size26 mm226 mm226 mm2
max. Temp.90 °C85.2 °C
SocketPBGA441PBGA441PBGA437
FeaturesMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, HHTMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, HHT, HyperthreadingMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, EM64T, HHT
Architecturex86x86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
Z520 +
min: 424     avg: 443     median: 449 (3%)     max: 454 Points
146%
Z550 +
657 Points (4%)
124%
230 +
557 Points (3%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
Z520 +
min: 635     avg: 706     median: 689.5 (0%)     max: 869 Points
142%
Z550 +
980 Points (1%)
123%
230 +
851 Points (1%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 Z520 +
min: 4528     avg: 4595     median: 4594.5 (54%)     max: 4661 s
127%
1 Z550 +
3625 s (43%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 Z520 +
min: 141     avg: 145.8     median: 146.3 (29%)     max: 150.2 s
144%
1 Z550 +
101.5 s (20%)
wPrime 1.55 - wPrime 1.55 1024m *
100%
1 230 +
5606 s (22%)
wPrime 1.55 - wPrime 1.55 32m *
100%
1 230 +
173 s (91%)
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
1 Z520 +
391 Points (1%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
Z520 +
min: 113     avg: 121.7     median: 115 (25%)     max: 137 s
124%
230 +
93 s (20%)
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 Z520 +
min: 251     avg: 258     median: 258 (11%)     max: 265 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 Z520 +
min: 5602     avg: 6153     median: 6153 (27%)     max: 6704 s
170%
1 230 +
3616 s (16%)
SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS) - SiSoft Sandra Dhrystone (MIPS)
100%
1 Z520 +
min: 3125     avg: 3279     median: 3353 (2%)     max: 3360 MIPS
SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS) - SiSoft Sandra Whetstone (MFLOPS)
100%
1 Z520 +
min: 2608     avg: 2738     median: 2797 (2%)     max: 2808 MFLOPS
PCMark 05 - PCMark 05 - Standard
100%
Z520 +
min: 692     avg: 949     median: 1002 (2%)     max: 1099 Points
150%
Z550 +
1506 Points (3%)
171%
230 +
1718 Points (4%)
Windows Vista Experience Index - Windows Vista Leistungsindex - Prozessor
100%
1 Z520 +
2.7 Points (39%)
100%
1 Z550 +
2.7 Points (39%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 CPU
2.1 Points (27%)
100%
1 Z550 +
2.7 Points (35%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Atom Z520 → 100% n=4

Average Benchmarks Intel Atom Z550 → 145% n=4

Average Benchmarks Intel Atom 230 → 136% n=4

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
red legend - Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

v1.33
log 30. 03:34:19

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 462 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 522 +0s ... 0s

#3 checking url part for id 463 +0s ... 0s

#4 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#5 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:16:39 +0200 +0s ... 0s

#6 composed specs +0.003s ... 0.003s

#7 did output specs +0s ... 0.003s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 462 +0.001s ... 0.004s

#9 got single benchmarks 462 +0.008s ... 0.012s

#10 getting avg benchmarks for device 522 +0.001s ... 0.012s

#11 got single benchmarks 522 +0.003s ... 0.016s

#12 getting avg benchmarks for device 463 +0.001s ... 0.016s

#13 got single benchmarks 463 +0.003s ... 0.019s

#14 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.019s

#15 No cached benchmark found, getting uncached values +0.011s ... 0.03s

#16 min, max, avg, median took s +0s ... 0.03s

#17 return log +0s ... 0.03s

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)