Intel Atom P5342 vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusually close contest between two processors from opposite ends of Intel's design philosophy. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins all six recorded head-to-head comparisons, yet the margins are remarkably thin, ranging from 1.3% to 1.5% depending on the workload. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 takes the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 1137 against the Atom P5342's 1121, a 1.4% advantage. In single-core R15, the Xeon scores 160 versus 158, a 1.3% edge. The R20 multicore result shows 4739 against 4671, a 1.5% lead, while single-core R20 sees 669 versus 659, also 1.5%. The R23 multicore test records 11285 for the Xeon and 11122 for the Atom, a 1.5% gap, and R23 single-core closes at 1593 versus 1570, again 1.5%.

The average benchmark scores tell the same story: the Xeon E5-1660 v4 averages 3264 across all recorded tests, while the Atom P5342 averages 3217, a difference of roughly 1.5%. Both processors sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same performance tier despite their architectural disparities. The nearest rivals for the Xeon E5-1660 v4 include the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 with an average score of 3265 and a delta of 0%, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 at 3277 with a delta of -0.4%, the Intel Core i3-12100T at 3277 with -0.4%, and the Intel Xeon E-2374G at 3278 with -0.4%. The Atom P5342's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE at 3218 with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U at 3218 with 0%, the Intel Core i5-1240P at 3202 with 0.5%, and the Intel Core i3-13100T at 3198 with 0.6%. These rival clusters confirm that both chips operate in the same mid-range performance corridor.

Who should pick which? For workloads that stress a single thread, the Xeon E5-1660 v4 consistently leads, but the margin is under 2% in every single-core test. For heavily threaded rendering workloads, the Xeon again wins all three multicore tests, yet the Atom P5342 trails by only 1.4% to 1.5%. The decision may hinge on platform characteristics rather than raw Cinebench numbers. The Atom P5342 is active in production, while the Xeon E5-1660 v4 is end-of-life. The Xeon draws 140 watts TDP, while the Atom draws 71 watts. The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Atom uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Atom offers 16. The Atom carries the "N/A" integrated graphics designation, while the Xeon lists no integrated graphics at all. Users needing maximum single-socket compute density in a low-power, actively produced package should consider the Atom P5342. Users prioritizing legacy Xeon platform features, higher memory bandwidth, and more PCIe lanes should consider the E5-1660 v4, but they should accept that its performance advantage in these benchmarks is minimal.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 belongs to the Broadwell generation, specifically Broadwell-EP, built on Intel's 14 nm process node. It integrates 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The Atom P5342 comes from the Snow Ridge codename family, using the Tremont generation of Atom cores, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. The Atom's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database, but the process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 10 nm. The Xeon is fabricated by Intel, and so is the Atom, so the foundry does not differ.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count. The Atom P5342 has 16 cores and 16 threads, with no hyperthreading, so each core corresponds to exactly one thread. Despite having twice as many physical cores, the Atom cannot match the Xeon's thread count, which is a fundamental architectural distinction. The Xeon's per-core cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus a shared 20 MB L3 cache. The Atom's cache hierarchy is different: 64 KB of L1 per core and 4.5 MB of L2 per module, with no L3 cache recorded. The Xeon's large shared L3 cache is a meaningful advantage for workloads that reuse data across cores, while the Atom relies on its modular L2 design.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 supports DDR4 memory on a quad-channel bus, delivering 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Atom P5342 supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, delivering 42.7 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The PCIe differences are equally pronounced: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the Atom provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 2011-3, a large server-class socket, whereas the Atom uses Intel BGA 2106, a ball-grid array package that is soldered rather than socketed. The Xeon has a multiplier that is not unlocked, and the Atom's multiplier is also not unlocked, so neither supports user overclocking through the multiplier.

The Xeon E5-1660 v4 was released in June 2016 and is marked end-of-life. The Atom P5342 was released in June 2022 and is marked active. The Xeon launched with a launch MSRP of $1113. The Atom launched with a launch MSRP of $708. The part numbers differ as well: SR2PK for the Xeon and SRL3T for the Atom. The Xeon's market segment is listed as Desktop, while the Atom's is Server/Workstation. The Xeon's base clock is 3.20 GHz with a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Atom's base clock is 2.20 GHz with no boost clock recorded.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six recorded head-to-head comparisons all favor the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4, but the margins are consistent and narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1137 against the Atom's 1121, a 1.4% advantage. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 160 against 158, a 1.3% edge. The R20 multicore test shows 4739 versus 4671, a 1.5% lead. R20 single-core shows 669 versus 659, also 1.5%. R23 multicore records 11285 versus 11122, a 1.5% gap, and R23 single-core ends at 1593 versus 1570, again 1.5%.

The single-core results are particularly telling. The Xeon's boost clock reaches 3.80 GHz, while the Atom has no recorded boost clock and a base clock of 2.20 GHz. Despite this large clock difference, the Atom's single-core scores land within 1.3% to 1.5% of the Xeon. The Atom's Tremont cores are clearly efficient at single-threaded integer and floating-point work, closing what would historically be a massive gap between a high-end Xeon and an Atom part. The Xeon's 160 R15 single-core score versus the Atom's 158 is a difference of just two points. In R20, the gap is ten points (669 versus 659). In R23, the gap is 23 points (1593 versus 1570). These are small absolute differences that would be imperceptible in most real-world interactive workloads.

The multicore results follow the same pattern. The Xeon has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Atom has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon's higher clock speeds, larger shared L3 cache, and wider memory bus should give it a structural advantage. The data confirms that advantage, but it is only 1.4% to 1.5% in each multicore test. The Atom's extra physical cores do not translate into a win because it lacks simultaneous multithreading and runs at a lower base clock. The Xeon's 20 MB shared L3 cache versus the Atom's lack of any recorded L3 cache likely helps maintain its lead in the multicore tests, as does the quad-channel memory path with 76.8 GB/s versus the Atom's dual-channel 42.7 GB/s.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head picture. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 averages 3264, while the Atom P5342 averages 3217. The Xeon's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3, scores 3265 with a 0% delta, meaning the two are effectively tied. The Atom's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE, scores 3218 with a 0% delta. In both cases, the database places these CPUs in a tightly packed performance cluster. The Xeon's closest rivals are all within -0.4% of its average score, and the Atom's closest rivals are within 0.6%. Neither chip dominates its peer group; both sit in the middle of a dense field.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications differ across nearly every major category. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Atom P5342 has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 3.20 GHz and its boost clock is 3.80 GHz; the Atom's base clock is 2.20 GHz and it has no recorded boost clock. The Xeon's TDP is 140 watts, while the Atom's is 71 watts. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Atom uses Intel BGA 2106. The Xeon is built on the 14 nm process node with a Broadwell-EP codename, while the Atom uses the 10 nm node with the Snow Ridge codename. The Xeon integrates 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die; the Atom's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Atom has 64 KB of L1 per core and 4.5 MB of L2 per module, with no L3 cache recorded. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the Xeon runs quad-channel with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Atom runs dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes, while the Atom provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon lists no integrated graphics, while the Atom lists "N/A" as its integrated graphics designation.

The market segments differ. The Xeon is listed as Desktop, while the Atom is listed as Server/Workstation. Production status diverges: the Xeon is end-of-life, while the Atom is active. Release dates differ by six years: the Xeon released in June 2016, the Atom in June 2022. The launch MSRP values are recorded as $1113 for the Xeon and $708 for the Atom. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SR2PK for the Xeon and SRL3T for the Atom.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins all six recorded head-to-head tests. It takes Cinebench R15 multicore and single-core, R20 multicore and single-core, and R23 multicore and single-core. The Atom P5342 wins zero comparisons.

Q: How large is the Xeon's performance advantage in multicore workloads?

A: The Xeon leads by 1.4% in Cinebench R15 multicore (1137 versus 1121) and by 1.5% in both R20 multicore (4739 versus 4671) and R23 multicore (11285 versus 11122). The advantage is consistent but small.

Q: Does the Atom's higher core count help it in threaded benchmarks?

A: The Atom has 16 cores but only 16 threads, while the Xeon has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having twice as many physical cores, the Atom still loses every multicore test. The Xeon's higher clock speeds and 20 MB shared L3 cache likely contribute to its edge.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Xeon E5-1660 v4 has an average benchmark score of 3264, while the Atom P5342 has an average score of 3217. Both sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Atom supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. The Xeon's bandwidth is nearly double the Atom's.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The Intel Atom P5342 is listed as active in production. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is listed as end-of-life. The Xeon released in June 2016, while the Atom released in June 2022.