Intel Atom x7211RE vs Intel Core i7-9850H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusually clear picture: the Intel Core i7-9850H wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database, with a perfect 5-0 record. The margins are substantial across all five Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 409% to 413.2% in favor of the i7-9850H.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-9850H scores 9182 against the Atom x7211RE's 1804, a 409% advantage. This is the largest absolute gap in the head-to-head set, and it reflects the fundamental difference in workload capability: the i7-9850H's 6 cores and 12 threads can sustain heavy parallel rendering, while the Atom's 2 cores and 2 threads are quickly saturated. The single-core R23 result tells the same story, with the i7-9850H at 1296 and the Atom at 254, a 410.2% delta. Even in a test that should favor the Atom's newer architecture, the older Coffee Lake part dominates.

Cinebench R20 results reinforce the pattern. Multi-core shows 3856 for the i7-9850H versus 757 for the Atom, a 409.4% lead. Single-core shows 544 versus 106, a 413.2% lead, the largest percentage delta in the entire comparison. The R15 multi-core test rounds out the set: 925 versus 181, a 411% advantage.

The Atom x7211RE does have additional Passmark tests in the database that the i7-9850H lacks, such as data compression at 20820, data encryption at 1556, and floating point math at 4303. These scores are not directly comparable to the i7-9850H because the i7-9850H has no Passmark results recorded. But within the shared Cinebench suite, the i7-9850H is categorically faster.

It is importantly the average benchmark scores in the database tell a slightly different story. The i7-9850H averages 2934, placing it at the 51st percentile of all CPUs. The Atom x7211RE averages 2811, also at the 51st percentile. The delta between their average scores is only about 4.4%, which is remarkably small given the Cinebench results. This is because the i7-9850H's average is pulled down by its Geekbench scores (6087 multi-core, 1449 single-core) and its lack of Passmark tests, while the Atom's average includes several Passmark tests where it performs relatively better against the broader CPU population. Still, the head-to-head Cinebench data is unambiguous: the i7-9850H is the faster processor in every direct comparison recorded.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of Intel's design spectrum. The i7-9850H is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR revision, using a 14 nm process node. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its cache layout is per-core: 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 12 MB of shared L3. The die size is 149 mm², and it uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket.

The Atom x7211RE is a completely different design. It uses the Amston Lake architecture with Gracemont cores, built on a 10 nm process node. It has only 2 cores and 2 threads, with a base clock of 1.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Its cache configuration is shared rather than per-core: 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. It uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket. The die size is not recorded in the database.

Memory support differs substantially. The i7-9850H supports DDR4 only, over a dual-channel memory bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but over a single-channel bus, with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The i7-9850H is listed with PCIe Gen 3, while the Atom is listed with PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes available from the CPU only. The i7-9850H's integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630, while the Atom has UHD Graphics 16EU, a much smaller GPU configuration.

Production status and release timing separate them further. The i7-9850H is end-of-life, released on 2019-04-22. The Atom x7211RE is active production, released on 2024-04-07. The i7-9850H is five years older in release date, but its larger core count and higher clock speeds keep it far ahead in raw compute.

The Atom's launch MSRP is $42; the i7-9850H has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850H dominates multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 9182 versus the Atom x7211RE's 1804, a 409% advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows 3856 versus 757, and R15 shows 925 versus 181.

Q: Is the Atom x7211RE competitive in single-core performance?

A: No. The i7-9850H leads in single-core by 413.2% in Cinebench R20 (544 versus 106) and by 410.2% in R23 (1296 versus 254). The Atom's highest boost clock of 3.20 GHz cannot compensate for the i7-9850H's 4.60 GHz boost clock and older but higher-power architecture.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The i7-9850H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Atom x7211RE has a TDP of 6 watts. The Atom uses 39 watts less, which makes it suitable for fanless or low-power designs, but that efficiency comes with a massive compute penalty.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i7-9850H supports DDR4 only over a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Atom x7211RE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but over a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Atom x7211RE was released on 2024-04-07 and is still in active production. The i7-9850H was released on 2019-04-22 and is end-of-life. Despite being newer, the Atom is slower in every head-to-head benchmark recorded.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The i7-9850H's average benchmark score of 2934 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-9600KF at 2935 (0% delta) and slightly above the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14 at 2921 (0.5% delta). The Atom x7211RE's average score of 2811 is close to the Intel Core i5-8600K at 2807 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Core i5-11300H at 2792 (0.7% delta).

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9850H | Intel Atom x7211RE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 2 |

| Threads | 12 | 2 |

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 1.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 6 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Amston Lake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-HR | Amston Lake |

| Process node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 96 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 256 KB per core | 2 MB shared |

| L3 cache | 12 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 9 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics 16EU |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release date | 2019-04-22 | 2024-04-07 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $42 |

| Part number | SRFCN | SRNET |

The Verdict

The data does not leave much room for debate. The Intel Core i7-9850H is the faster processor in every head-to-head benchmark recorded, with leads between 409% and 413.2% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. If the task is compute performance, the i7-9850H is the clear choice.

But the verdict depends on what the workload demands. The i7-9850H is a 45 W mobile processor from 2019, now end-of-life, with a 14 nm process node and a 149 mm² die. It is built for laptops that need real CPU muscle: content creation, compilation, rendering, heavy multitasking. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, boosted to 4.60 GHz, deliver scores that remain competitive even against much newer parts, as its average benchmark score of 2934 sits within 0.7% of the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL and 0.5% above the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14.

The Atom x7211RE is a 6 W processor from 2024, still in active production, built on a 10 nm node with Gracemont cores. It supports DDR5, which the i7-9850H cannot, and its single-channel memory bus still delivers 38.4 GB/s, only about 10% less bandwidth than the i7-9850H's dual-channel DDR4 setup. Its average benchmark score of 2811 places it within 0.7% of the Intel Core i5-11300H, a much more powerful-looking part on paper. That is surprising, and it suggests the Atom's efficiency cores are more capable relative to their clock speed than the raw numbers imply. But in absolute terms, the Atom is far slower in every Cinebench test.

For a builder choosing between these two, the question is not which is faster. It is whether the workload can tolerate the i7-9850H's 45 W power draw and its end-of-life status. If the answer is yes, and the application is compute-heavy, the i7-9850H wins decisively. If the answer is no, and the design needs a 6 W processor with active production support and DDR5 compatibility, the Atom x7211RE is the only viable pick, with the understanding that its Cinebench performance will be roughly one-fifth of the i7-9850H's.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-9850H wins in:

• Multi-core rendering: Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 9182 versus 1804, a 409% lead.
• Single-core responsiveness: Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1296 versus 254, a 410.2% lead.
• Heavy productivity: 6 cores and 12 threads with a 4.60 GHz boost clock, versus 2 cores and 2 threads with a 3.20 GHz boost clock.
• Memory bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s dual-channel versus 38.4 GB/s single-channel.
• Any workload where the 45 W TDP is acceptable and the end-of-life status is not a concern.

Intel Atom x7211RE wins in:

• Power efficiency: 6 W TDP versus 45 W, a 39 W difference that enables fanless designs and long battery life.
• Production longevity: active production status versus end-of-life, with a 2024 release date versus 2019.
• Memory flexibility: supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-9850H supports DDR4 only.
• Platform simplicity: its average benchmark score of 2811 sits within 0.7% of the Intel Core i5-11300H, indicating competitive efficiency per watt for light tasks.
• Low-power embedded or mobile workloads where the 45 W i7-9850H would be impractical.

The database records 5 wins for the i7-9850H and 0 for the Atom in head-to-head benchmarks. The choice is a trade-off between raw performance and power efficiency, not a contest of overall superiority.