CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9900T is the decisive winner in every direct benchmark comparison, dominating the Intel Atom x7213RE by roughly 80% across all tested workloads. The data shows a complete sweep: the i9-9900T wins all 5 head-to-head tests, with the Atom x7213RE failing to secure a single victory. While both processors share the same 55th percentile ranking among all CPUs, this parity in percentile is misleading, as the i9-9900T achieves its standing through vastly superior absolute performance in every measurable category.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking gap appears in multi-core rendering tests, where the i9-9900T’s 8 cores and 16 threads completely overwhelm the Atom’s 2 cores and 2 threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-9900T scores 11,091 points versus the Atom’s 2,244, a delta of -79.8% for the Atom. This pattern repeats almost identically across all Cinebench versions: R15 multi-core shows 1,117 for the i9-9900T against 226 for the Atom, and R20 multi-core shows 4,658 versus 942. The consistency of the ~79.8% deficit across three different Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental throughput advantage that scales with thread count.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though the margin narrows slightly in percentage terms. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-9900T scores 1,565 versus the Atom’s 316, a -79.8% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 657 versus 132, also -79.9%. These results reveal that even on a per-thread basis, the i9-9900T’s higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus the Atom’s 3.40 GHz, combined with its more powerful Coffee Lake architecture, delivers roughly five times the single-threaded performance.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall picture: the i9-9900T averages 3,499 across its benchmark suite, while the Atom averages 3,520. Interestingly, the Atom’s average is actually slightly higher, despite losing every direct comparison. This anomaly stems from the fact that the Atom’s benchmark pool includes PassMark tests where it scores relatively well, such as 27,860 in data compression, while the i9-9900T’s pool is limited to Cinebench and Geekbench tests. The nearest rivals data further contextualizes both chips: the Atom sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i3-12300T (3,525), AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT (3,515), Intel Xeon W-2135 (3,530), and Intel Core i3-12300 (3,532), while the i9-9900T sits within 0.4% of several Xeon workstation processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 11,091 compared to the Atom’s 2,244, a -79.8% delta. The same margin appears in Cinebench R15 (1,117 vs 226) and R20 (4,658 vs 942).

Q: Is the Atom x7213RE competitive in single-core tests?

A: No. The i9-9900T beats it by ~79.8-79.9% in all single-core benchmarks. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1,565 for the i9-9900T versus 316 for the Atom, and R20 shows 657 versus 132.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Atom x7213RE averages 3,520, while the i9-9900T averages 3,499. Despite losing every head-to-head test, the Atom’s average is slightly higher because its benchmark pool includes PassMark tests where it performs relatively well, such as 27,860 in data compression.

Q: What are their nearest rivals according to the data?

A: The Atom x7213RE’s closest rival is the Intel Core i3-12300T at 3,525 (delta -0.1%), followed by the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT at 3,515 (delta 0.2%). The i9-9900T’s closest rival is the Intel Xeon E-2176G at 3,502 (delta -0.1%).

Q: Do both processors have the same market positioning?

A: No. The Atom x7213RE is an active mobile processor with a 9W TDP, while the i9-9900T is an end-of-life desktop processor with a 35W TDP. The Atom uses a 10nm process and Intel BGA 1264 socket, whereas the i9-9900T uses a 14nm process and Intel Socket 1151.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900T has a 4.40 GHz boost clock, compared to the Atom’s 3.40 GHz. The i9-9900T also has a slightly higher base clock at 2.10 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Atom x7213RE uses the Amston Lake architecture (codename Amston Lake) built on a 10nm process, while the i9-9900T uses Coffee Lake (codename Coffee Lake-R) on a 14nm process. This process node advantage allows the Atom to achieve a dramatically lower 9W TDP versus the i9-9900T’s 35W, making it suitable for fanless or low-power mobile designs.

Core configuration differs starkly. The Atom has 2 cores and 2 threads, using Intel’s Gracemont efficiency cores, while the i9-9900T has 8 cores and 16 threads based on the larger Coffee Lake refresh architecture. The i9-9900T’s die size of 180.3 mm² indicates a substantial physical chip, whereas the Atom’s die size is not listed in the data. Cache hierarchies also diverge: the Atom provides 96 KB L1 per core and 2 MB shared L2, plus 6 MB shared L3, while the i9-9900T offers 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a much larger 16 MB shared L3.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Atom ships with UHD Graphics 16EU, a minimal GPU solution, while the i9-9900T includes UHD Graphics 630, a more capable integrated graphics unit. Memory support shows the Atom’s modernity with DDR4 and DDR5 compatibility, though limited to single-channel with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i9-9900T only supports DDR4 but uses dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, providing higher theoretical memory throughput.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification gap is core count: the i9-9900T offers 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Atom’s 2 cores and 2 threads. This 4x core advantage and 8x thread advantage explains the massive multi-core performance disparities. Clock speeds favor the i9-9900T in both base (2.10 GHz vs 2.00 GHz) and boost (4.40 GHz vs 3.40 GHz) frequencies, though the Atom’s lower TDP of 9W versus 35W means it achieves its clocks with far less power draw.

Socket and platform differ completely: the Atom uses Intel BGA 1264 (mobile, soldered), while the i9-9900T uses Intel Socket 1151 (desktop, upgradeable). Process nodes show the Atom’s advantage at 10nm versus 14nm, but this does not translate into performance superiority. Cache configurations diverge in L2: the Atom has 2 MB shared, while the i9-9900T has 256 KB per core. L3 cache heavily favors the i9-9900T at 16 MB shared versus 6 MB shared.

Memory support differs in type and bandwidth: the Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but only in single-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s, while the i9-9900T supports DDR4 in dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s. PCIe lanes also differ: the Atom provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the i9-9900T provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Production status and release dates diverge significantly: the Atom is active and released in 2024-04-07, while the i9-9900T is end-of-life and released in 2019-04-22. The launch MSRP for the Atom is $42, while the i9-9900T launched at $423.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i9-9900T is the superior processor in every benchmark category measured. It wins all 5 head-to-head tests with a consistent ~79.8% margin, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. Any application requiring rendering, encoding, or heavy computational throughput will perform approximately five times better on the i9-9900T.

However, the Atom x7213RE is not without its merits. Its 9W TDP and active production status make it suitable for low-power embedded or mobile applications where energy efficiency is paramount. The Atom’s 10nm process and DDR5 support indicate forward-looking design, even if current benchmarks show it lagging far behind. Its average benchmark score of 3,520 actually exceeds the i9-9900T’s 3,499, driven by strong PassMark results in data compression (27,860) and integer math (7,058).

The i9-9900T is end-of-life and consumes nearly four times the power (35W vs 9W), but its 8-core/16-thread configuration delivers unmatched performance for its class. The launch MSRP difference ($42 vs $423) reflects the vastly different market positioning, though pricing considerations should not overshadow the raw performance gap. For users who need maximum compute capability, the i9-9900T is the clear choice. For users who prioritize minimal power consumption and modern platform features, the Atom x7213RE offers a viable alternative despite its benchmark deficits.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-9900T wins in all performance-critical scenarios. Cinebench R23 multi-core (11,091 vs 2,244) and single-core (1,565 vs 316) tests demonstrate its dominance in content creation, 3D rendering, and software compilation. Its 16 threads and 16 MB L3 cache make it ideal for heavily threaded applications, while its 4.40 GHz boost clock ensures responsive single-threaded performance for everyday tasks. The i9-9900T also wins in memory bandwidth with dual-channel DDR4 at 42.7 GB/s, benefiting workloads that are memory-bandwidth sensitive.

The Intel Atom x7213RE wins in specific low-power scenarios. Its 9W TDP makes it suitable for fanless designs, industrial embedded systems, and battery-constrained mobile devices. The PassMark data shows relative strengths in data compression (27,860), random string sorting (3,306), and integer math (7,058), suggesting it handles basic data processing tasks reasonably well. Its support for DDR5 memory and active production status make it a forward-looking choice for new designs, despite its performance limitations. The Atom’s smaller footprint and BGA socket are advantageous in space-constrained applications where the i9-9900T’s larger Socket 1151 package would not fit.