AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X vs Intel Atom x7433RE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits these two processors into completely different performance classes. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons listed in the database. The Intel Atom x7433RE does not win a single recorded head-to-head test. This is not a close contest by any measure.

The Threadripper 2920X dominates multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2154 against the Atom's 356. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 8979 against 1484. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21380 against 3535. The deltas sit at 505.1%, 505.1%, and 504.8% respectively. These are enormous margins, roughly six times the performance of the Atom in rendering workloads that scale across cores.

Single-threaded results tell the same story, though the margins are slightly different. The Threadripper 2920X scores 1267 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 209 for the Atom, a 506.2% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Threadripper scores 3018 versus 499, a 504.8% delta. Even in workloads that do not use all cores, the Threadripper's higher clock speeds and newer architecture deliver roughly six times the score.

The Atom x7433RE has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head set. Its best recorded results appear in the Passmark suite, where it shows strength in data compression (43671), integer math (13054), and floating point math (8582). However, the database does not include corresponding Threadripper 2920X Passmark results, so these cannot be compared directly. Within its own recorded data, the Atom's Passmark multi-thread score of 4159 and single-thread score of 1568 show it is a capable low-power processor for embedded and mobile tasks, but it does not challenge the Threadripper in any shared test.

The use-case split is therefore stark. The Threadripper 2920X is the processor for compute-heavy rendering, video encoding, and any workload that benefits from 12 cores and 24 threads. The Atom x7433RE is best suited to low-power, fanless, or embedded environments where the 9 W TDP and compact BGA 1264 package matter more than raw throughput. The data confirms these are not competing products; they serve different markets entirely.

The Verdict

The database shows a clear winner for raw performance. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas ranging from 504.8% to 506.2%. Anyone selecting a processor for multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or scientific computing should choose the Threadripper based on these numbers alone. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, and 4.30 GHz boost clock deliver scores that the Atom cannot approach.

The Intel Atom x7433RE has its own justification, but it is not performance-based. Its 9 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Threadripper's 180 W. It uses a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR4 with 93.9 GB/s. The Atom integrates UHD Graphics 32EU, while the Threadripper has no integrated graphics at all. For a system that must run on minimal power, generate minimal heat, or fit in a small BGA footprint, the Atom is the sensible pick despite its low benchmark scores.

The percentile data adds nuance. Both processors sit at the 61st percentile versus all CPUs in the database, despite the massive performance gap between them. This reflects the fact that the Atom's benchmark suite includes many Passmark tests that the Threadripper does not have recorded, and the percentile calculation averages across different test sets. The average benchmark scores are close: 5730 for the Threadripper and 5601 for the Atom. This does not mean they perform similarly; it means the recorded test sets differ.

Nearest rival data reinforces the positioning. The Threadripper 2920X sits within 1% of the AMD EPYC 7351, AMD EPYC 7F32, Intel Xeon W-2175, and Intel Core i9-7920X. The Atom x7433RE sits within 0.7% of the Intel Core i7-12700T, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700, Intel Core i9-11900KB, and Intel Celeron G6900. These are entirely different performance strata. The Threadripper competes with server and high-end desktop parts; the Atom competes with low-power desktop and mobile parts.

The verdict from the data: pick the Threadripper 2920X for performance, pick the Atom x7433RE for power efficiency and integrated graphics. There is no scenario in the recorded benchmarks where the Atom outperforms the Threadripper.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head table in the database contains five entries, all won by the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X. The smallest delta is 504.8%, which appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core (21380 versus 3535) and Cinebench R23 single-core (3018 versus 499). The largest delta is 506.2%, which appears in Cinebench R20 single-core (1267 versus 209).

Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the Threadripper at 2154 and the Atom at 356, a 505.1% delta. This test is older and less demanding than R20 or R23, but the proportional gap remains consistent. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 8979 versus 1484, again a 505.1% delta. The consistency across three generations of the Cinebench test indicates that the performance difference is structural, not workload-specific.

The single-core results are notable because they eliminate the core-count advantage. The Threadripper 2920X has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Atom has 4 cores and 4 threads. In multi-core tests, the Threadripper's advantage could be attributed to core count. But in single-core tests, the Threadripper still leads by roughly six times. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock versus the Atom's 3.40 GHz boost clock, combined with the Zen+ architecture versus Gracemont, explains this gap.

The Atom's best head-to-head performance is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 3535. This is its highest multi-core score in the Cinebench family. However, the Threadripper scores 21380 in the same test, which is 504.8% higher. The Atom's Cinebench R15 single-core score is not recorded in the head-to-head set, though its R20 and R23 single-core scores are 209 and 499 respectively.

The data shows no close calls. Every head-to-head test has a delta above 500%. For context, the nearest rival comparisons for the Threadripper show deltas under 1.1%, and the nearest rival comparisons for the Atom show deltas under 0.8%. The head-to-head gap between these two processors is over 500 times larger than the gap to their nearest rivals. This confirms that the two products occupy completely different performance tiers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Atom x7433RE has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Threadripper 2920X has a TDP of 180 W. The Atom x7433RE has a TDP of 9 W, which is 20 times lower.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Threadripper 2920X scores 3018 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Atom x7433RE scores 499. The Threadripper leads by 504.8%.

Q: Does the Atom have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Atom x7433RE includes UHD Graphics 32EU. The Threadripper 2920X has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory configurations do they support?

A: The Threadripper 2920X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Atom x7433RE supports single-channel DDR4 and DDR5 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Threadripper 2920X has an average benchmark score of 5730. The Atom x7433RE has an average benchmark score of 5601. Both sit at the 61st percentile versus all CPUs in the database.

Q: What sockets do they use?

A: The Threadripper 2920X uses AMD Socket SP3r2. The Atom x7433RE uses Intel BGA 1264.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X and Intel Atom x7433RE differ in nearly every architectural detail recorded in the database.

The Threadripper 2920X uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Colfax, part of the Ryzen Threadripper 2000 series. It is built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 9,600 million transistors and a die size of 2x 213 mm². The Atom x7433RE uses the Amston Lake architecture, part of the Atom generation built on Gracemont cores. It is built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The database does not list transistor count or die size for the Atom.

Core configuration differs fundamentally. The Threadripper has 12 cores and 24 threads, meaning simultaneous multithreading is enabled. The Atom has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no multithreading. Cache layouts also differ. The Threadripper has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, plus a shared 32 MB L3 cache. The Atom also has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, but its L2 cache is 2 MB shared and its L3 cache is 6 MB shared. The Threadripper's total cache is substantially larger, consistent with its desktop/server positioning.

Clock speeds diverge sharply. The Threadripper has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Atom has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The Threadripper's base clock is more than double the Atom's base clock, and its boost clock is 0.90 GHz higher.

Memory support shows the market split. The Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR4 with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Atom uses single-channel DDR4 and DDR5 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory according to the database. The Threadripper's memory bandwidth is nearly 2.5 times higher, which matters for memory-intensive workloads.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Threadripper provides Gen 3 with 60 lanes from the CPU. The Atom provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes from the CPU. The Threadripper offers more than six times the PCIe lanes, enabling multiple GPUs, NVMe drives, and expansion cards. The Atom's 9 lanes are sufficient for basic embedded I/O but not for high-end expansion.

The process nodes are close, 12 nm for the Threadripper versus 10 nm for the Atom, but the design goals are opposite. The Threadripper prioritizes maximum throughput with a 180 W TDP. The Atom prioritizes minimal power consumption with a 9 W TDP. The Atom's market segment is listed as Mobile, while the Threadripper is listed as Desktop. The Atom uses BGA 1264, a soldered package, while the Threadripper uses SP3r2, a socketed package.

The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Atom has a locked multiplier. The Threadripper launched with an MSRP of $649, while the Atom launched with an MSRP of $63. The release dates are far apart: the Threadripper launched in October 2018, the Atom in April 2024.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The Atom includes UHD Graphics 32EU, making it a complete system-on-chip for basic display output. The Threadripper has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for any video output. This aligns with the Threadripper's target use case of high-performance computing with dedicated graphics, and the Atom's target use case of embedded systems where a separate GPU would be wasteful.

The production status for both is listed as Active. The part numbers are YD292XA8UC9AF for the Threadripper and SRNEQ for the Atom. The architecture generation labels confirm the gap: Ryzen Threadripper (Zen+ Colfax) versus Atom (Gracemont). These are two different processor families from two different design philosophies, and the benchmark data reflects that divide at every level.