CPU Comparison

The Intel Atom x7405C and Intel Core i7-12800HE occupy opposite ends of the mobile processor spectrum, yet both sit at the 62nd percentile in the global CPU benchmark distribution. The data shows a complete rout in performance: the Core i7-12800HE wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, posting a consistent deltaPct of -80.2% against the Atom across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests. The Atom’s average benchmark score of 6568 is marginally higher than the Core i7’s 6467, but this is a statistical artifact of the Atom having additional PassMark tests in its suite while the Core i7 only has Cinebench results. The verdict is straightforward: the Core i7-12800HE is the performance choice by an overwhelming margin, while the Atom x7405C is a low-power, low-output option whose primary virtue is its 12W TDP versus the Core i7’s 45W.

The Verdict

The data leaves no ambiguity for workload selection. The Intel Core i7-12800HE is the only rational choice for any task that requires meaningful computational throughput, as it outperforms the Atom x7405C by roughly 80% in every measured Cinebench scenario. This is not a close contest; the Core i7’s 14 cores and 20 threads dwarf the Atom’s 4 cores and 4 threads, and its 4.60 GHz boost clock versus 3.40 GHz gives it a massive single-thread advantage. The Atom x7405C should be selected exclusively for environments where the 12W TDP is a hard constraint and performance is secondary, such as fanless embedded systems or battery-critical industrial applications. The Core i7-12800HE, with its 45W TDP and integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics, is the choice for anything resembling general-purpose mobile computing, content creation, or development work. The launch MSRP of the Atom is $57; the Core i7 has no listed launch MSRP, but its performance profile clearly targets a different market segment entirely.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-12800HE wins in every single benchmark category present in the data. The largest delta comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core i7 scores 22360 against the Atom’s 4435, a staggering 5x difference. The smallest relative gap is still enormous, with the Core i7 leading by 80.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The Atom x7405C’s only statistical “win” is its average benchmark score of 6568, which exceeds the Core i7’s 6467 due to the Atom’s inclusion of PassMark tests like data compression (56317) and integer math (14669) that are absent from the Core i7’s benchmark list. This does not indicate any real-world advantage; it merely reflects the different benchmark suites each processor was subjected to. In practical terms, the Atom wins only on power efficiency, with its 12W TDP representing a 73% reduction in power draw compared to the Core i7’s 45W, though the data does not provide direct performance-per-watt metrics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different Intel architectures. The Atom x7405C uses the Amston Lake architecture with Gracemont efficiency cores, fabricated on a 10 nm process node, while the Core i7-12800HE uses Alder Lake-H with a hybrid design that includes both performance and efficiency cores, also on 10 nm. The Core i7’s die size is listed at 217 mm², whereas the Atom’s die size is not provided. Core counts differ drastically: the Atom has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Core i7 has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration with more efficiency cores than performance cores. Cache hierarchies are also divergent: the Atom has 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3, while the Core i7 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core i7’s larger L3 cache (24 MB vs 6 MB) is four times the Atom’s, which partially explains its multi-core dominance. The Atom uses a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i7 uses dual-channel memory with no bandwidth figure listed. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, and neither supports ECC memory. The Core i7 includes integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics, while the Atom has no integrated graphics (N/A). PCIe support differs: the Atom has Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the Core i7 has Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-12800HE is dramatically faster, scoring 22360 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus the Atom x7405C’s 4435, a delta of -80.2% for the Atom. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Core i7 scores 9391 versus 1862.

Q: Is the Atom x7405C competitive in single-core performance?

A: No. The Core i7-12800HE leads by 80.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core (318 vs 62) and by 80.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (3156 vs 626). The Atom’s 3.40 GHz boost clock cannot compensate for the Core i7’s 4.60 GHz boost and superior architecture.

Q: What explains the similar average benchmark scores despite the Core i7’s dominance?

A: The Atom x7405C has an average benchmark score of 6568, while the Core i7-12800HE has 6467. This is because the Atom’s benchmark suite includes PassMark tests like data compression (56317), integer math (14669), and floating point math (9063), which are not present in the Core i7’s Cinebench-only results. The averages are not directly comparable.

Q: Does the Atom x7405C have any advantages in power consumption?

A: Yes, the Atom has a 12W TDP compared to the Core i7-12800HE’s 45W TDP. This makes the Atom suitable for low-power applications, though the data does not provide performance-per-watt comparisons.

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth?

A: The Atom x7405C has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Core i7-12800HE’s memory bandwidth is not provided. However, the Core i7 uses dual-channel memory, while the Atom uses single-channel, suggesting the Core i7 likely has higher practical bandwidth, though this is not confirmed by the data.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 62nd percentile versus all CPUs. This is surprising given the Core i7’s massive benchmark lead, but it reflects the fact that the Atom’s average score is inflated by its broader benchmark suite.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-12800HE, with six wins and zero for the Atom x7405C. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i7 scores 2253 against the Atom’s 446, a delta of -80.2%. The single-core R15 test shows 318 versus 62, a delta of -80.5%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 9391 versus 1862 (-80.2%), and single-core is 1325 versus 262 (-80.2%). In Cinebench R23, the most modern test, the multi-core score is 22360 versus 4435 (-80.2%), and single-core is 3156 versus 626 (-80.2%). The consistency of the -80.2% delta across all tests except R15 single-core (-80.5%) indicates that the performance gap is roughly proportional regardless of workload type. The Core i7’s advantage is slightly larger in R15 single-core, suggesting its single-thread efficiency is particularly strong relative to the Atom’s Gracemont cores. The absolute difference in multi-core R23 (17925 points) is more than four times the Atom’s entire score, illustrating the scale of the performance chasm.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification field. The Atom x7405C has 4 cores and 4 threads, base clock of 1.70 GHz, boost clock of 3.40 GHz, and a 12W TDP. The Core i7-12800HE has 14 cores and 20 threads, base clock of 2.40 GHz, boost clock of 4.60 GHz, and a 45W TDP. The Atom uses socket Intel BGA 1264, while the Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1744. The Atom’s architecture is Amston Lake with a codename of Amston Lake and generation “Atom (Gracemont),” while the Core i7 is Alder Lake with codename Alder Lake-H and generation “Core i7 (Alder Lake-H).” The Core i7 has a listed die size of 217 mm²; the Atom’s die size is not provided. Cache configurations differ: the Atom has 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB shared L2, and 6 MB shared L3, while the Core i7 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. The Atom has a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth; the Core i7 has a dual-channel memory bus with no bandwidth listed. The Atom’s PCIe is Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the Core i7 is Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The Atom has no integrated graphics; the Core i7 has Iris Xe 96EU. The Atom’s part number is SRNEM; the Core i7’s is SRLE6. The Atom has a launch MSRP of $57; the Core i7 has none. Both are active production, mobile segment, non-unlocked, with no ECC support, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory.