Intel Atom x5-E3940

The Intel Atom x5-E3940 is a 4-core, 4-thread Apollo Lake processor built on Intel's 14nm Goldmont architecture, with a base clock of 1600 MHz and a boost clock of 1800 MHz. Its benchmark results place it in the 11th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 557, making it a low-power part designed for basic, efficiency-focused workloads rather than demanding applications.

Who Should Consider It

The data indicates this chip is suited for light, single-purpose tasks where power consumption is a priority over performance. With a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1621 and a single-core score of 228, it handles everyday office productivity, web browsing, and document editing without strain, but it will struggle with heavy multitasking or content creation. The 680-point Cinebench R20 multi-core result reinforces that this is not a processor for video editing, 3D rendering, or software compilation, those workloads will take a very long time to complete. For basic home theater PCs, lightweight NAS units, or fanless industrial systems, the x5-E3940's capabilities are adequate. Gaming is not a realistic use case here; the HD Graphics 500 integrated GPU and low compute scores mean even older or esports titles will run poorly. This is a processor for systems that need to sip power and perform simple, consistent tasks, not a general-purpose desktop workhorse.

How It Compares

Benchmark results show the x5-E3940 sits in a peculiar competitive position. Its average score of 557 exactly matches the Intel Core i3-3130M, which has a deltaPct of 0. This is a notable parity, a modern low-power Atom matches an older dual-core mobile Core i3 in overall benchmark output, but the comparison flatters the Atom's efficiency rather than its speed. The Core i3-3130M likely delivers better burst performance in short tasks, while the Atom's advantage lies in its much lower thermal footprint.

Against the Intel Celeron G1850, the x5-E3940 scores 0.1% higher (deltaPct 0.1), which is effectively a statistical tie. The Celeron G1850 is a desktop part with a higher power envelope, yet the Atom keeps pace in aggregate benchmark scores. This suggests that for sustained workloads, the Atom's lower clock speed is offset by its architecture efficiency, but the Celeron may pull ahead in single-threaded responsiveness, as indicated by the Atom's low 228-point R23 single-core score.

The comparison with the Intel Xeon E5507 is similarly close, with the Atom ahead by 0.1%. The Xeon E5507 is a server-oriented quad-core from an older generation, and its parity with the Atom shows how far low-power architecture has come, the Atom achieves comparable multi-threaded results (R20 multi-core of 680) while using a fraction of the power. However, the Xeon's platform likely supports more memory and I/O, so this score parity does not imply feature parity.

Finally, the Intel Core M-5Y10c matches the Atom at a 0.1% deltaPct. Both are low-power mobile parts, but the Core M-5Y10c is built on a newer microarchitecture and has a higher boost clock. The fact that they score identically suggests the Atom's 4 physical cores help in multi-threaded tests, while the Core M-5Y10c probably wins in single-threaded tasks. The data shows this Atom is not a performance leader, it is a competent low-power option that trades speed for efficiency.

Power and Thermals

The x5-E3940 carries a TDP of 10 watts, which classifies it as an ultra-low-power part. This figure is critical for system design: it implies that a passive heatsink or a small, low-speed fan is entirely sufficient for cooling. In practice, this means the processor can be used in fanless embedded systems, thin client boxes, or industrial PCs where noise and heat dissipation are major concerns. The 14nm process node helps keep thermals manageable, and the lack of a high boost clock (1800 MHz) means power draw stays flat under load. A 10W TDP also simplifies motherboard power delivery, a basic 2-phase VRM is more than enough, and there is no need for large heatsinks or active cooling in most chassis. For builders, this translates to flexible enclosure choices and lower overall system power consumption, but it also caps sustained performance; the processor will not throttle if properly cooled, but there is no headroom for overclocking (the multiplier is locked).

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Atom x5-E3940 support ECC memory?

A: No, the FACT PACK lists ECC memory support as false, so it cannot be used in systems requiring error-correcting RAM.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of this processor?

A: The memory bus is dual-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, which is modest and appropriate for its low-power positioning.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does the CPU provide?

A: The processor provides 4 PCIe Gen 2 lanes directly from the CPU, which limits expansion options to a single low-bandwidth device or a few basic cards.

Q: What is the Cinebench R23 multi-core score?

A: The multi-core score in Cinebench R23 is 1621, and the single-core score is 228, indicating a large gap between multi-threaded and single-threaded performance.

Q: What integrated graphics does the x5-E3940 include?

A: It features HD Graphics 500, which is suitable for basic display output and video playback but not for gaming or GPU-accelerated compute.

Q: Is this processor still in production?

A: Yes, the production status is listed as Active, so it remains available for new designs.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Cinebench R23 results reveal a stark performance split: the multi-core score of 1621 is roughly 7.1 times higher than the single-core score of 228. This ratio is unusually large, and it indicates that the processor's 4 cores scale well in parallel workloads, but each individual core is very weak. In real terms, this means the x5-E3940 can handle multi-threaded tasks like file compression or running several lightweight background processes reasonably well for its class, but any single-threaded task, such as opening a complex web page, running a spreadsheet macro, or decoding a video stream, will feel sluggish. The R20 scores tell the same story: 680 multi-core versus 95 single-core. This behavior is typical of low-power Atoms: they are designed to spread work across cores to hide their individual slowness. For users, the implication is clear, avoid software that relies on a single fast core, and instead choose applications that can use all 4 threads. Interactive responsiveness will be poor, but batch processing of parallelizable data will be acceptable for basic tasks.

Platform and Compatibility

The x5-E3940 uses the Intel BGA 1296 socket, which means it is soldered directly to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded or replaced by the user. This is a critical point for system planning: the processor choice is final, so buyers must be certain of their needs before purchase. The platform supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, this is an older memory standard, so builders should source DDR3 modules accordingly. PCIe support is limited to Gen 2 with 4 lanes from the CPU, which restricts high-bandwidth expansion cards like modern NVMe SSDs or discrete GPUs; a basic SATA SSD or a low-end PCIe card is the realistic ceiling. The architecture is Goldmont on the Apollo Lake codename, and the processor is part of the Atom x5 generation. Since it is soldered and the platform is fixed, there is no upgrade path beyond what the motherboard offers at purchase time. The integrated HD Graphics 500 handles display output, so no discrete GPU is required for basic use. This is a closed, efficient platform best suited for purpose-built devices where longevity and low power matter more than flexibility.