Intel Atom x7213RE vs Intel Xeon W-1290TE Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-1290TE and Intel Atom x7213RE occupy opposite ends of Intel’s performance spectrum, yet both sit at the 55th percentile of all CPUs in the database. This parity in overall percentile is misleading, as the Xeon W-1290TE dominates every shared benchmark while the Atom delivers its value through extreme efficiency and a drastically different feature set. The data shows a clear divide: the Xeon is a multi-threaded workhorse for server workloads, while the Atom is a low-power embedded or mobile part with minimal compute resources.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are lopsided in favor of the Intel Xeon W-1290TE across every single test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1230 against the Atom’s 226, a delta of 444.2%. This pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Xeon’s 5129 eclipses the Atom’s 942 by 444.5%. The R23 multicore test follows suit, with the Xeon at 12213 and the Atom at 2244, a 444.3% advantage.

Single-core performance shows the same magnitude of separation. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 724 versus the Atom’s 132, a 448.5% lead. The R23 single-core test confirms the trend: 1724 for the Xeon against 316 for the Atom, a 445.6% delta. These percentages are remarkably consistent, hovering around the 444-449% range across all five comparisons.

The Xeon’s victory is total — it wins all five head-to-head benchmarks with zero losses. The Atom’s best showing is still a four-fold deficit, and in no test does it come within striking distance. The data indicates that the Xeon offers roughly 5.4 times the multicore throughput of the Atom, and about 5.5 times the single-core performance, based on the R20 and R23 results.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon W-1290TE wins unequivocally in any compute-heavy scenario. Its 10 cores and 20 threads provide substantial parallel processing capability, evidenced by the Cinebench multicore scores. For tasks like video rendering, software compilation, or scientific simulation, the Xeon’s 12213 R23 multicore score indicates it can handle workloads that would take the Atom over five times as long to complete.

The Atom x7213RE, while losing all benchmark comparisons, wins in contexts that the benchmarks do not capture. Its 9W TDP is dramatically lower than the Xeon’s 35W, making it suitable for fanless designs, battery-powered devices, or thermally constrained environments. The Atom’s 2.00 GHz base clock and 3.40 GHz boost clock are higher than the Xeon’s 1.80 GHz base, though the Xeon’s 4.50 GHz boost is substantially higher. The Atom’s single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while lower than the Xeon’s dual-channel 46.9 GB/s, are sufficient for lightweight tasks like industrial controllers, network appliances, or simple edge gateways.

The Xeon is the clear choice for compute density, while the Atom is the pick for power efficiency. The Xeon’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache versus the Atom’s 6 MB further reinforces the Xeon’s advantage in data-intensive workloads. However, the Atom’s 2 MB shared L2 cache per core (versus the Xeon’s 256 KB per core) suggests that the Atom’s smaller core architecture is optimized for low latency on simple tasks rather than sustained throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Xeon W-1290TE uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, while the Atom x7213RE uses the Amston Lake architecture with Gracemont cores on a 10 nm node. This process difference is notable: the Atom’s 10 nm node is denser and more power-efficient, explaining its 9W TDP despite higher base and boost clocks on a per-core basis.

The Xeon features 10 cores and 20 threads with Hyper-Threading, while the Atom is a dual-core, dual-thread part with no multi-threading. Cache hierarchies differ significantly: the Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The Atom has 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Atom’s larger per-core L1 cache suggests a design optimized for low-power efficiency cores, while the Xeon’s larger L3 is designed for high-core-count scalability.

Memory support diverges sharply. The Xeon supports only DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon includes ECC memory support; the Atom does not. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon provides 16 lanes of Gen 3, while the Atom provides 9 lanes of Gen 3. The Xeon’s socket is Intel Socket 1200, whereas the Atom uses Intel BGA 1264, indicating the Atom is soldered to the board.

The Xeon’s integrated graphics is Intel UHD Graphics P630, while the Atom uses UHD Graphics 16EU. The die size for the Xeon is 206 mm²; the Atom’s die size is not listed. The Xeon was released in May 2020 with a launch MSRP of $552, while the Atom was released in April 2024 with a launch MSRP of $42. Both processors are currently active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Xeon W-1290TE in multicore performance?

A: The Xeon leads by approximately 444-445% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. Specifically, it scores 1230 vs 226 in R15, 5129 vs 942 in R20, and 12213 vs 2244 in R23.

Q: Does the Intel Atom x7213RE win any benchmark comparisons?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Atom winning zero of five benchmarks. The Xeon W-1290TE wins all five tests, with the Atom’s smallest deficit at 444.2% in Cinebench R15 multicore.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Xeon W-1290TE has 10 cores and 20 threads. The Atom x7213RE has 2 cores and 2 threads, with no multi-threading support.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290TE supports ECC memory. The Intel Atom x7213RE does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The Xeon W-1290TE has a TDP of 35W, while the Atom x7213RE has a TDP of 9W. This makes the Atom significantly more power-efficient, suitable for fanless or battery-powered applications.

Q: How do their single-core performances compare?

A: The Xeon leads by 448.5% in Cinebench R20 single-core (724 vs 132) and by 445.6% in R23 single-core (1724 vs 316). Despite the Atom’s higher base clock (2.00 GHz vs 1.80 GHz), the Xeon’s 4.50 GHz boost clock and larger core architecture deliver far superior single-threaded results.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon W-1290TE | Intel Atom x7213RE |

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

| Cores | 10 | 2 |

| Threads | 20 | 2 |

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 35W | 9W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Amston Lake |

| Codename | Comet Lake | Amston Lake |

| Generation | Xeon (Comet Lake) | Atom (Gracemont) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 206 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 2 MB (shared) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics P630 | UHD Graphics 16EU |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2020-05-12 | 2024-04-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $552 | $42 |

| Part Number | SRJFH | SRNEP |