Intel Atom x5-Z8500 vs Intel Atom x5-Z8550. Specifications, performance, tests

Comprehensive background on the processors being compared, detailing their series, generation, and targeted market segment.

• Segment
  Mobile Mobile
• Family
  Intel Atom Intel Atom
• Generation
  1 1
• CPU group
  Intel Atom x3/x5/x7 Intel Atom x3/x5/x7

Essential parameters including the number of cores, threads, base and turbo frequencies, and cache size. These metrics provide insight into the processor’s speed—higher values generally indicate better performance.

• Frequency
  1.44 GHz 1.44 GHz
• CPU Cores
  4 4
• Turbo (1 Core)
  2.24 GHz 2.40 GHz
• CPU Threads
  4 4
• Turbo (4 Cores)
  2.24 GHz 2.40 GHz
• Hyperthreading
  No No
• Overclocking
  No No
• Core architecture
  normal normal

The integrated graphics (iGPU) do not influence the CPU performance significantly; they serve as a substitute for a dedicated graphics card in the absence of one or are utilized in mobile devices.

• GPU name
  Intel HD Graphics 400 Intel HD Graphics 400
• GPU frequency
  0.20 GHz 0.20 GHz
• GPU (Turbo)
  0.60 GHz 0.60 GHz
• Execution units
  12 12
• Shader
  96 96
• Max. GPU Memory
  8 GB 8 GB
• Max. displays
  3 3
• Generation
  8 8
• DirectX Version
  12 12
• Technology
  14 nm 14 nm
• Release date
  Q1/2015 Q1/2015

This section details the built-in codecs used for encoding and decoding media content, which significantly enhance processing speed and efficiency.

• h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
  No No
• h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
  No No
• h264
  Decode / Encode Decode / Encode
• VP9
  No No
• VP8
  Decode Decode
• AV1
  No No
• AVC
  Decode / Encode Decode / Encode
• VC-1
  Decode Decode
• JPEG
  Decode Decode

Overview of the types and quantities of RAM supported by Intel Atom x5-Z8550 and Intel Atom x5-Z8500. The supported memory frequencies may vary depending on the motherboard configuration.

• Memory type
  DDR3L-1600 SO-DIMM DDR3L-1600 SO-DIMM
• ECC
  No No
• Memory channels
  2 2
• PCIe version
  2.0 2.0
• PCIe lanes
  2 2

• AES-NI
  Yes Yes

Analyze the TDP (Thermal Design Power) requirements of Intel Atom x5-Z8500 and Intel Atom x5-Z8550 to make an informed decision on the appropriate cooling system. Remember that TDP refers to thermal watts, not electrical watts.

• TDP (PL1)
  2 W 2 W

Information on architecture, interfaces, and additional instructions supported by Intel Atom x5-Z8500 and Intel Atom x5-Z8550, including virtual machine technologies and fabrication processes.

• Instruction set (ISA)
  x86-64 (64 bit) x86-64 (64 bit)
• Virtualization
  VT-x, VT-x EPT VT-x, VT-x EPT
• ISA extensions
  SSE4.1, SSE4.2 SSE4.1, SSE4.2
• L3-Cache
  2.00 MB 2.00 MB
• Architecture
  Cherry Trail Cherry Trail
• Technology
  14 nm 14 nm
• Socket
  BGA 138 BGA 138
• Release date
  Q2/2015 Q1/2016