AMD EPYC 7261 vs Intel Atom x7211RE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a one-sided comparison. The AMD EPYC 7261 wins all five recorded head-to-head tests, with the Intel Atom x7211RE trailing by a consistent margin of roughly 81% in every workload. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7261 scores 954 against the Atom's 181, a delta of -81%. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the EPYC posts 3979 versus 757, again an 81% gap. Single-core results are equally decisive: the EPYC 7261 scores 561 in Cinebench R20 single-core against the Atom's 106, a delta of -81.1%. Cinebench R23 shows the EPYC at 9476 multi-core and 1337 single-core, while the Atom manages 1804 and 254 respectively, both at -81%.

The consistency of the delta across all five tests is notable. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the EPYC 7261 maintains the same proportional advantage. This suggests the performance gap is not tied to core count scaling alone, but reflects a fundamental difference in per-thread capability as well. The Atom x7211RE's best showing is in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where it reaches 1804 points, yet this still places it far behind the EPYC's 9476. In absolute terms, the EPYC 7261 delivers 5.3 times the multi-core score in R23, and 5.3 times the single-core score in the same test, mirroring the 81% delta reported in the database.

There are no benchmark wins for the Intel Atom x7211RE in the recorded head-to-head set. The database lists zero wins for the Atom and five for the EPYC. This is not a close contest by any measured metric. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the EPYC leads by 81.1%, which is statistically indistinguishable from the other deltas. For context, the Atom's average benchmark score is 2811, placing it in the 51st percentile of all CPUs, while the EPYC's average score is 2740, placing it in the 50th percentile. Despite the EPYC winning every head-to-head test, the overall averages are similar, indicating that the Atom's broader benchmark suite, which includes PassMark tests, balances out its Cinebench deficits.

The PassMark data for the Atom shows mixed results across different workloads. It scores 20820 in data compression, 1556 in data encryption, 1007 in extended instructions, and 6517 in integer math. These figures, while not directly comparable to the EPYC since the EPYC lacks PassMark entries in the database, suggest the Atom has specific strengths in certain integer and compression tasks. However, in the Cinebench suite, which is the only common ground for both processors, the EPYC dominates without exception.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the AMD EPYC 7261 is the superior processor for any workload represented in the head-to-head benchmark set. It wins every Cinebench test by an 81% margin, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios. The Intel Atom x7211RE cannot compete on raw compute performance in these tests. The EPYC's 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with its 2.50 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost clock, provide a substantial advantage over the Atom's 2 cores and 2 threads, which boost to 3.20 GHz from a 1.00 GHz base.

However, the verdict is not simply "the EPYC wins." The two processors occupy entirely different market segments. The Atom is a mobile processor with a 6 W TDP, while the EPYC is a server and workstation part with a 170 W TDP. The Atom's average benchmark score of 2811 is actually slightly higher than the EPYC's 2740, and the Atom sits at the 51st percentile versus the EPYC's 50th. This means that across the full spectrum of benchmark tests in the database, the Atom performs comparably to the EPYC on average, despite losing every head-to-head Cinebench test. The database's nearest rivals for the Atom include the Intel Core i5-8600K, which scores 2807 with a 0.2% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5450U at 2829 with a -0.6% delta. For the EPYC, the nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2176M at 2751 with a -0.4% delta and the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U at 2722 with a 0.7% delta.

The data indicates that the EPYC 7261 is the correct choice for multi-threaded server workloads, Cinebench-style rendering, and any task that leverages its 16 threads. The Atom x7211RE, with its 6 W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 16EU, is suited for low-power, mobile, or embedded scenarios where energy efficiency and compact design matter more than raw throughput. The EPYC's 170 W TDP is a significant constraint, and its eight-channel memory bus and 170.6 GB/s bandwidth are overkill for typical client tasks but essential for server applications.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7261 wins in every recorded head-to-head benchmark, so its strengths are clear: multi-core rendering, single-thread performance in the Cinebench suite, and any workload that can utilize its 8 cores and 16 threads. The EPYC's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 512 KB per-core L2 cache provide ample storage for working sets, and its eight-channel DDR4 memory support with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth is a massive advantage for memory-bound server tasks. The EPYC also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for data integrity in server environments, and it has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, which the Atom lacks.

The Intel Atom x7211RE, despite losing all head-to-head tests, has its own domain of advantage. Its 6 W TDP is the standout feature, allowing deployment in fanless or passively cooled systems where the EPYC's 170 W TDP would be impossible to manage. The Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the EPYC is limited to DDR4. The Atom's integrated UHD Graphics 16EU provides a display output capability that the EPYC does not have, as the EPYC has no integrated graphics. The Atom's single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth are modest, but sufficient for its intended mobile and embedded roles.

In the PassMark suite, the Atom shows specific strengths. Its data compression score of 20820 is high, and its integer math score of 6517 indicates solid integer performance. These scores, while not directly compared to the EPYC in the database, suggest that the Atom is not universally slow. It handles compression and integer tasks reasonably well, which could make it suitable for edge computing or IoT workloads that prioritize low power over peak performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 scores 9476 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Atom x7211RE scores 1804, a difference of -81%.

Q: Does the Intel Atom x7211RE win any benchmark against the AMD EPYC 7261?

A: No. The database records 0 wins for the Atom and 5 wins for the EPYC across all head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two processors?

A: The Intel Atom x7211RE has a TDP of 6 W, while the AMD EPYC 7261 has a TDP of 170 W.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD EPYC 7261 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Atom x7211RE does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core Cinebench R20 score?

A: The AMD EPYC 7261 scores 561 in Cinebench R20 single-core, while the Intel Atom x7211RE scores 106, a delta of -81.1%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Atom x7211RE has an average benchmark score of 2811, and the AMD EPYC 7261 has an average benchmark score of 2740.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Atom x7211RE is built on the Amston Lake architecture with Gracemont cores, fabricated on a 10 nm process by Intel. It has 2 cores and 2 threads, with a base clock of 1.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Atom's cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a single-channel bus, providing 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Atom has integrated UHD Graphics 16EU, which the EPYC lacks entirely. It uses Intel BGA 1264 socket and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only). The Atom is not multiplier unlocked, and its market segment is mobile.

The AMD EPYC 7261 is part of the EPYC 7001 series, based on the Zen architecture with the Naples codename, fabricated on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The EPYC's cache includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR4 memory through an eight-channel bus, delivering 170.6 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than four times the Atom's bandwidth. The EPYC supports ECC memory and has an unlocked multiplier. It uses AMD Socket SP3 and provides PCIe Gen 3 without a specified lane count in the database. The EPYC has 4,800 million transistors and a die size of 213 mm², while the Atom's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

The process node difference is notable: 10 nm for Intel versus 14 nm for AMD, yet the EPYC achieves far higher performance. This is because the EPYC is a server-class chip with 4 times the cores and 8 times the threads. The Atom's Gracemont cores are efficiency-focused, optimized for low power consumption, while the EPYC's Zen cores are performance-focused, designed for sustained server workloads. The EPYC's 32 MB L3 cache is over 5 times larger than the Atom's 6 MB, and its per-core L2 is 512 KB versus the Atom's shared 2 MB.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The Intel Atom x7211RE has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the AMD EPYC 7261 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Atom's base clock is 1.00 GHz and boost clock is 3.20 GHz, while the EPYC's base clock is 2.50 GHz and boost clock is 2.90 GHz. The Atom has a TDP of 6 W, the EPYC has a TDP of 170 W. The Atom uses Intel BGA 1264 socket, the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. The Atom's architecture is Amston Lake with Gracemont cores, the EPYC's is Zen with Naples codename.

The process node differs: 10 nm for Intel, 14 nm for GlobalFoundries. The Atom's L2 cache is 2 MB shared, the EPYC's is 512 KB per core. The Atom's L3 cache is 6 MB shared, the EPYC's is 32 MB shared. The Atom supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, the EPYC supports only DDR4. The Atom has a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, the EPYC has an eight-channel bus with 170.6 GB/s. The Atom does not support ECC memory, the EPYC does. The Atom has integrated UHD Graphics 16EU, the EPYC has no integrated graphics. The Atom's market segment is mobile, the EPYC's is server and workstation. The Atom's release date is recorded as April 2024, the EPYC's is June 2018. The Atom has a launch MSRP of $42, while the EPYC has no recorded launch MSRP. The Atom's multiplier is locked, the EPYC's is unlocked. The Atom's part number is SRNET, the EPYC's is PS7261BEV8RAF. The EPYC has recorded transistor count of 4,800 million and die size of 213 mm², while the Atom has no recorded values for either.