Intel Atom x7213RE vs Intel Core i7-9700F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive picture: the Intel Core i7-9700F wins all five recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Atom x7213RE trailing by roughly 80% in every test. The most dramatic gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7-9700F scores 11,176 against the Atom's 2,244, a delta of -79.9%. This is not a marginal difference; it is a fundamental performance chasm.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-9700F records 662 points versus the Atom's 132, a delta of -80.1%. The Cinebench R23 single-core run shows 1,577 for the i7-9700F and 316 for the Atom, a delta of -80%. Even the closest relative gap, Cinebench R15 multi-core, still shows the i7-9700F at 1,126 versus 226, a -79.9% difference. Across all five tests, the Atom never wins a single comparison.

The Atom's aggregate benchmark score of 3,520 places it in the 55th percentile of all CPUs, just barely above the i7-9700F's 54th percentile and average score of 3,464. This is a curious inversion: the Atom's average is slightly higher despite losing every head-to-head test. The explanation lies in the broader benchmark suite. The Atom has 16 recorded benchmarks, including Passmark tests for data compression (27,860), integer math (7,058), and floating-point math (4,885), which lift its average. The i7-9700F has only 8 recorded benchmarks, all Cinebench and Geekbench, which pull its average down. The database's nearest-rival data confirms this: the Atom's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-12300T with an average score of 3,525 (delta -0.1%), while the i7-9700F's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E-2186G at 3,462 (delta 0.1%). Both processors sit squarely in the same mid-range percentile band, but their workload profiles diverge sharply.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-9700F is the superior processor for any compute-intensive task. Its 8 cores and 8 threads, combined with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost of 4.70 GHz, deliver roughly five times the multi-core performance of the Atom in Cinebench R23. The Atom's 2 cores and 2 threads, with a 2.00 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, are suited for low-power embedded or mobile workloads, but they cannot approach the i7-9700F's throughput.

The i7-9700F wins all five head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from -79.9% to -80.1%. The Atom's only consolation is its percentile ranking, which is 1 point higher (55 versus 54), driven by its broader benchmark portfolio. But that ranking reflects the Passmark suite's weighting, not real-world compute parity. For rendering, encoding, or any multi-threaded workload, the i7-9700F is the clear choice. The Atom's advantages are limited to power consumption and physical footprint, not performance. The i7-9700F is also end-of-life, while the Atom remains active, but that status does not change the recorded scores. Pick the i7-9700F for performance; pick the Atom only if the workload is trivial and the platform constraints are absolute.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Atom x7213RE is built on the Amston Lake architecture, codenamed Amston Lake, using a 10 nm process node. Its generation is listed as "Atom (Gracemont)", indicating it uses Intel's efficient Gracemont cores, which prioritize power efficiency over raw speed. The i7-9700F, by contrast, uses the Coffee Lake architecture, codenamed Coffee Lake, on a 14 nm process node, with a generation of "Core i7 (Coffee Lake Refresh)". This is a mature, performance-oriented design with larger, more powerful cores.

The cache hierarchy differs substantially. The Atom has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-9700F has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7's larger L3 and per-core L2 reflect its desktop ambitions, while the Atom's smaller caches align with its low-power mandate. The i7 also has a die size of 180.3 mm², a figure not recorded for the Atom, which suggests the i7 is a substantially larger chip.

Memory support also diverges. The Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i7-9700F supports only DDR4, but with a dual-channel bus and a higher bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7's dual-channel configuration gives it a memory throughput advantage that matters in multi-threaded workloads. Both processors lack ECC memory support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Atom includes integrated UHD Graphics 16EU, while the i7-9700F has no integrated graphics, a notable difference for systems without a discrete GPU.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals a stark contrast in nearly every field. The Atom x7213RE has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the i7-9700F has 8 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds favor the i7: base clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. Thermal design power tells the efficiency story: the Atom draws 9 watts, the i7 draws 65 watts. The Atom uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket, the i7 uses Intel Socket 1151. The Atom is a mobile-market part, the i7 is desktop. The Atom is active in production, the i7 is end-of-life. Release dates are far apart: the Atom launched on 2024-04-07, the i7 on 2019-04-22.

PCIe lanes favor the i7 with 16 lanes (Gen 3), versus the Atom's 9 lanes (Gen 3). The i7's part number is SRG14, the Atom's is SRNEP. The launch MSRP for the Atom is $42, stated once here; the i7's launch MSRP is $333. The i7's memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s exceeds the Atom's 38.4 GB/s, and the i7's dual-channel bus outperforms the Atom's single-channel design. The i7 has no integrated graphics; the Atom includes UHD Graphics 16EU. All these differences point to two products designed for different segments: the Atom for embedded efficiency, the i7 for desktop performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700F wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Atom x7213RE wins zero. The deltas range from -79.9% to -80.1% in favor of the i7.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-9700F scores 11,176 versus the Atom's 2,244, a delta of -79.9%. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7 scores 4,693 versus 942, also -79.9%.

Q: Does the Atom have any performance advantage at all?

A: The Atom's average benchmark score of 3,520 is 56 points higher than the i7's 3,464, and its percentile rank is 55 versus 54. However, this comes from a broader benchmark suite (16 tests versus 8), not from winning any head-to-head test.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Atom x7213RE has 2 cores and 2 threads. The i7-9700F has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i7's additional cores directly explain its dominance in multi-threaded tests.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-9700F boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the Atom x7213RE boosts to 3.40 GHz. The i7 also has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Atom has a TDP of 9 watts, while the i7-9700F has a TDP of 65 watts. This makes the Atom far more efficient for low-power or mobile applications, but the i7's higher power budget enables its superior performance.