CPU Comparison

The AMD EPYC 7351 and Intel Atom x7433RE represent opposite ends of the x86 spectrum, yet both land at the 61st percentile in the benchmark database. This parity in overall standing masks a dramatic divergence in workload characteristics: the EPYC 7351 is a 16-core server processor built for sustained throughput, while the Atom x7433RE is a 4-core embedded part designed for efficiency. The data shows that while their average benchmark scores are close (5710 vs 5601), the distribution of performance could not be more different.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are lopsided in every recorded test. The AMD EPYC 7351 wins all five Cinebench comparisons, with deltas ranging from 458.5% to 459.8%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC scores 19742 against the Atom's 3535, a 458.5% advantage. The single-core gap is nearly identical: the EPYC posts 2787 in R23 single-core versus 499 for the Atom, a 458.5% delta. This consistency across single- and multi-threaded tests is notable, the EPYC does not merely scale better with more cores; it is faster per thread as well.

The pattern repeats in older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the EPYC's 8291 dwarfs the Atom's 1484, a 458.7% lead. The R20 single-core result shows 1170 versus 209, a 459.8% delta, the largest margin in the head-to-head set. Even in R15 multi-core, where the EPYC's 1989 compares to the Atom's 356, the 458.7% gap holds steady. The uniformity of these deltas suggests a fixed performance-per-clock difference compounded by core count, rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

The Atom's absence from the win column (0 wins out of 5 head-to-head tests) is absolute. However, this does not tell the full story. The Atom's benchmark suite includes PassMark tests that the EPYC does not have head-to-head results for, such as data compression (43671) and integer math (13054). These scores, while not directly comparable to the EPYC in this dataset, indicate that the Atom has its own areas of relative strength that the Cinebench-focused head-to-head does not capture.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different design philosophies. The EPYC 7351 uses AMD's Zen architecture (Naples codename) on a 14 nm GlobalFoundries process, packing 4,800 million transistors into a 213 mm² die. The Atom x7433RE uses Intel's Gracemont efficiency cores (Amston Lake codename) on a 10 nm Intel process. The EPYC has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Atom has 4 cores and 4 threads, no simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The EPYC allocates 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, plus a 64 MB shared L3 cache. The Atom also has 96 KB L1 per core, but its L2 is 2 MB shared across all cores, and L3 is 6 MB shared. The EPYC's 64 MB L3 is more than 10 times larger than the Atom's 6 MB, a critical factor for server workloads with large working sets. The Atom's shared L2 design is typical of efficiency-core architectures, favoring lower power over raw cache capacity.

Memory support is another major split. The EPYC supports DDR4 across an eight-channel memory bus with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC. The Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but on a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. This 132.2 GB/s bandwidth gap is one of the largest architectural differences between the two. The EPYC's eight-channel configuration is designed for memory-intensive server tasks, while the Atom's single-channel setup reflects its low-power mobile and embedded positioning.

Other feature differences include integrated graphics (the Atom has UHD Graphics 32EU; the EPYC has none), PCIe generation (both Gen 3, but the Atom has only 9 CPU lanes), and socket type (SP3 for the EPYC, BGA 1264 for the Atom). The EPYC has an unlocked multiplier; the Atom does not. The EPYC is also a server/workstation part, while the Atom is classified as mobile.

Where Each One Wins

The EPYC 7351 wins in every scenario where raw compute throughput matters. Its 16 cores and 32 threads give it a massive advantage in multi-threaded rendering, as shown by the 458.7% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 458.5% in R23 multi-core. The 64 MB L3 cache and eight-channel memory bandwidth make it suited for database workloads, virtualization, and large-scale data processing where memory capacity and bandwidth are limiting factors. The EPYC's ECC memory support is a clear win for reliability-sensitive server deployments.

The Atom x7433RE wins in scenarios where power and physical footprint are paramount. Its 9 W TDP versus the EPYC's 170 W means it can be passively cooled and deployed in fanless industrial systems. The integrated UHD Graphics 32EU eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display or media tasks. The Atom's support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives system designers flexibility in memory selection that the EPYC (DDR4-only) lacks. Its BGA socket reduces board complexity compared to the EPYC's SP3 socket.

The Atom's PassMark results, while not directly compared head-to-head, reveal specific strengths. Its data compression score of 43671 and integer math score of 13054 are respectable for a 4-core part. The 1568 single-thread PassMark score (recorded twice in the dataset) suggests that Gracemont cores can handle lightweight single-threaded tasks adequately. These scores indicate the Atom is well-suited for edge computing, network appliances, and embedded controllers where tasks are short and infrequent, rather than sustained heavy computation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. Core count: 16 versus 4. Threads: 32 versus 4. Base clock: 2.40 GHz versus 1.50 GHz. Boost clock: 2.90 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, the Atom actually boosts higher, though its base is significantly lower. TDP: 170 W versus 9 W, a 161 W difference that defines their respective deployment classes. Process node: 14 nm versus 10 nm. The EPYC's 4,800 million transistors and 213 mm² die have no equivalent data for the Atom.

Cache: the EPYC has 512 KB L2 per core and 64 MB shared L3, while the Atom has 2 MB shared L2 and 6 MB shared L3. Both have 96 KB L1 per core. Memory: the EPYC uses eight-channel DDR4 with 170.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC; the Atom uses single-channel DDR4/DDR5 with 38.4 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe: both Gen 3, but the EPYC does not have lane counts listed, while the Atom has 9 CPU-only lanes. Integrated graphics: none on the EPYC, UHD Graphics 32EU on the Atom. Socket: SP3 versus BGA 1264. Multiplier: unlocked on the EPYC, locked on the Atom. Release date: June 2017 for the EPYC, April 2024 for the Atom. Launch MSRP: the Atom lists at $63; the EPYC has no MSRP data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 7351 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Atom x7433RE has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How much faster is the EPYC 7351 in multi-core rendering?

A: The EPYC leads by 458.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1989 vs 356) and 458.5% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (19742 vs 3535).

Q: Does the Atom x7433RE support ECC memory?

A: No. The Atom does not support ECC memory, while the EPYC 7351 does.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The EPYC 7351 has a 170 W TDP, while the Atom x7433RE has a 9 W TDP, a difference of 161 W.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Atom x7433RE has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 32EU). The AMD EPYC 7351 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each support?

A: The EPYC 7351 supports 170.6 GB/s across an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Atom x7433RE supports 38.4 GB/s across a single-channel DDR4/DDR5 bus.