Intel Atom P5342 vs Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in raw multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins all multi-core benchmarks, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 11289 against the Atom P5342's 11122, a 1.5% advantage. The gap in R20 multi-core is similarly tight: 4741 versus 4671, again a 1.5% lead.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Atom P5342 has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Atom has double the core count, but neither chip uses simultaneous multithreading on the Atom side.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Xeon E5-1680 v3 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Atom P5342 has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and no boost clock listed in the database.

Q: Which chip has a newer manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Atom P5342 is built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses a 22 nm process. The Atom's process node is significantly more modern, which contributes to its lower power draw.

Q: How do their power requirements differ?

A: The Xeon E5-1680 v3 has a thermal design power (TDP) of 140 watts. The Atom P5342 has a TDP of 71 watts, roughly half the Xeon's power envelope.

Q: Which chip offers better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 consistently wins single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1593 versus the Atom's 1570, a 1.5% difference. The R15 single-core test shows 160 versus 158, a 1.3% lead.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data in the database paints a clear picture: the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins all six recorded benchmarks. There are no benchmark categories where the Intel Atom P5342 comes out ahead. However, the margin of victory is remarkably consistent and small across every test.

The Xeon E5-1680 v3's wins range from 1.3% to 1.5% depending on the workload. The smallest advantage appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon leads by 1.3%. The largest margins, 1.5%, appear in R20 multi-core, R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core.

The Atom P5342's role is not as a performance winner but as a lower-power alternative. Its 16 cores at 2.20 GHz base clock produce nearly identical results to the Xeon's 8 cores at 3.20 GHz base clock. In workloads that scale across many cores, the Atom's extra cores compensate for its lower clock speed, bringing it to within 1.5% of the Xeon in multi-threaded tests.

For single-threaded tasks, the Xeon's higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz gives it a slight edge. The Atom has no boost clock listed, so it relies solely on its 2.20 GHz base frequency. Even so, the Atom's architectural efficiency from the newer 10 nm Tremont design keeps it competitive, trailing by only 1.3% to 1.5% in single-core tests.

Power-sensitive deployments would favor the Atom P5342 despite its benchmark losses. The database shows the Atom using 71 watts versus the Xeon's 140 watts, making it a fit for dense, thermally constrained environments where the small performance gap is acceptable. The Xeon remains the choice for raw performance, though its advantage is marginal.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of Intel's design spectrum. The Xeon E5-1680 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP architecture, a high-performance server design from 2014. The Atom P5342 uses the Tremont architecture under the Snow Ridge codename, a low-power design released in 2022.

Manufacturing processes differ dramatically. The Xeon uses a 22 nm process with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Atom uses a 10 nm process, though the database does not list its transistor count or die size. The newer process allows the Atom to pack 16 cores into a lower power envelope.

The Xeon's cache hierarchy is built around per-core allocations: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Atom's layout is module-based: 64 KB of L1 per core and 4.5 MB of L2 per module. The Atom has no L3 cache listed in the database.

Both chips support DDR4 memory and ECC, but the memory paths differ. The Xeon has a quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The Atom has a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s. This gives the Xeon a substantial memory bandwidth advantage, useful for memory-intensive server workloads.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU. The Atom provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Systems requiring many expansion cards or high-speed storage devices would need the Xeon's lane count.

The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 2011-3, a replaceable LGA design. The Atom uses Intel BGA 2106, a soldered design that is not upgradeable. The Xeon also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Atom's multiplier is locked.

The Xeon has no integrated graphics listed. The Atom lists integrated graphics as "N/A." Neither chip relies on an iGPU for display output in typical server use.

Specification Differences

The database records several specification differences beyond the obvious core and clock variations.

Process Node: The Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses 22 nm. The Atom P5342 uses 10 nm.

Transistors: The Xeon has 2,600 million transistors. The Atom's transistor count is not listed.

Die Size: The Xeon measures 356 mm². The Atom's die size is not listed.

Cache L2: The Xeon has 256 KB per core. The Atom has 4.5 MB per module.

Cache L3: The Xeon has 20 MB shared. The Atom has no L3 cache listed.

Memory Bus: The Xeon is quad-channel. The Atom is dual-channel.

Memory Bandwidth: The Xeon reaches 68.3 GB/s. The Atom reaches 42.7 GB/s.

PCIe Lanes: The Xeon offers 40 lanes. The Atom offers 16 lanes.

Socket: The Xeon uses Socket 2011-3. The Atom uses BGA 2106.

Base Clock: The Xeon runs at 3.20 GHz. The Atom runs at 2.20 GHz.

Boost Clock: The Xeon boosts to 3.80 GHz. The Atom has no boost clock listed.

TDP: The Xeon is rated at 140 watts. The Atom is rated at 71 watts.

Release Date: The Xeon launched in September 2014. The Atom launched in June 2022.

Production Status: The Xeon is end-of-life. The Atom is active.

Multiplier: The Xeon's multiplier is unlocked. The Atom's is locked.

Part Number: The Xeon is listed as QFSSSR20H. The Atom is listed as SRL3T.

Launch MSRP: The Atom P5342 has a launch MSRP of $708. The Xeon has no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database includes six Cinebench comparisons between the two processors. The Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins all six, but the story is about consistency rather than dominance.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1137 against the Atom's 1121. The 1.4% delta is one of the smaller margins in the set. This test favors the Xeon's higher clock speed and mature Haswell architecture, though the Atom's extra cores keep it close.

Cinebench R15 single-core shows the Xeon at 160 and the Atom at 158, a 1.3% gap. This is the narrowest margin recorded between the two chips. The Atom's Tremont cores are efficient enough to nearly match the Xeon's per-core performance despite a 1.00 GHz base clock disadvantage.

Cinebench R20 multi-core gives the Xeon a score of 4741 versus the Atom's 4671, a 1.5% lead. This test scales well with thread count, and the Atom's 16 threads nearly offset the Xeon's clock advantage.

Cinebench R20 single-core records 669 for the Xeon and 659 for the Atom, again a 1.5% difference. The pattern holds: the Xeon leads by a small but consistent amount in every single-core test.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the largest absolute gap in the set. The Xeon scores 11289, while the Atom scores 11122, a 1.5% delta. The 167-point difference is noticeable but not transformative.

Cinebench R23 single-core completes the sweep. The Xeon scores 1593, the Atom scores 1570, a 1.5% margin. The Xeon's 3.80 GHz boost clock provides the edge, but the Atom's efficiency narrows the gap.

Average benchmark scores in the database reflect this parity. The Xeon has an average benchmark score of 3265 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 53rd percentile of all CPUs. The Atom has an average score of 3217, also in the 53rd percentile. The 48-point difference in averages is less than 1.5%.

The nearest rivals for each chip confirm their performance tier. The Xeon sits near the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 with an average score of 3264 and a delta of 0%, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 at 3277 with a -0.4% delta. The Atom sits near the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE at 3218 with a 0% delta and the Intel Core i5-1240P at 3202 with a 0.5% delta.

Benchmark results indicate these two processors are effectively peers in Cinebench workloads. The Xeon's wins are real but slight, never exceeding 1.5%. The Atom's higher core count and modern process node compensate for its lower clocks and reduced memory bandwidth. The choice between them depends on platform requirements, power budgets, and socket preferences rather than raw performance differences.