Intel Atom x7425E vs Intel Core i3-8109U Comparison

The Intel Atom x7425E and the Intel Core i3-8109U are two mobile chips from different Intel eras that land remarkably close in overall database standing, yet the recorded data shows a clear and consistent pattern: the Atom wins multi-threaded rendering decisively, while the older Core i3 holds a single strong card in the Cinebench R15 single-core test. The Atom x7425E takes 5 of 6 head-to-head benchmarks, and the analysis below explains exactly where and why.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The multi-core results are strikingly uniform. The Atom x7425E leads the Core i3-8109U by 24.1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (443 versus 357), by 24.3% in R20 multi-core (1849 versus 1488), and by 24.2% in R23 multi-core (4403 versus 3544). That consistency across three Cinebench generations is the signature of a genuine architectural advantage in throughput rather than a scoring quirk, and the cause is visible in the spec sheet: four physical cores on the Atom against two cores plus Hyper-Threading on the i3.

Single-core splits the picture. The Atom also wins R20 single-core (260 versus 210, a 23.8% gap) and R23 single-core (621 versus 500, 24.2%), which suggests the newer Gracemont-based core at a 3.40 boost clock holds up well against the Kaby Lake core once workloads move to the newer engines. The outlier is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core i3-8109U wins by a wide 55.3% margin (138.65 versus 62). That is the i3's sole victory of the six comparisons, but it is a large one, and it indicates the older R15 workload plays to the Kaby Lake core's strengths or exposes a weak spot in the Atom's single-thread behavior on legacy tests.

The database's aggregate view keeps the pair close: the Atom x7425E posts an average benchmark score of 1273 and sits at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core i3-8109U averages 1235 and sits at the 34th percentile. Context from the recorded rivals reinforces how tight the class is: the Atom's nearest competitors include the Intel Core i5-4430S (average score 1274, effectively identical), the Core i5-4670T (1271), the Core i3-1005G1 (1265), and the Xeon W-2102 (1264). The i3-8109U's rivals are similarly clustered: the Pentium Gold G6600 at 1235, the Xeon E3-1235L v5 at 1232, the Core i7-3610QM at 1244, and the Core i5-2500 at 1220.

Architecture Differences

These chips come from different Intel lineages and different process technologies. The Atom x7425E is an Alder Lake-N design built on Intel's 10 nm process, carrying four Gracemont-generation cores without Hyper-Threading, for four cores and four threads. The Core i3-8109U is a Kaby Lake-R design on the older 14 nm process, with two cores and four threads via simultaneous multi-threading.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. The Atom pairs 96 KB of L1 per core with 2 MB of shared L2 and a larger 6 MB shared L3. The i3 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a smaller 4 MB shared L3. The Atom's bigger last-level cache is a plausible contributor to its multi-core consistency under sustained rendering loads.

Memory and platform support also diverge. The Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 on a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and exposes PCIe Gen 3 with 9 CPU lanes. The i3 supports DDR4 only, with memory bus details, bandwidth, and PCIe configuration not recorded in the database. Neither chip supports ECC. Graphics differ too: the Atom integrates UHD Graphics with 24 execution units, while the i3 carries the notably stronger Iris Pro Plus branding.

Power and packaging separate them as well. The Atom is rated at 12 W TDP on the Intel BGA 1264 socket, released in early 2023. The i3 is rated at 28 W TDP on the BGA 1356 socket, released in 2018. The Atom's die size is not recorded; the i3's die measures 123 mm². Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Atom x7425E is the throughput pick. Any workload that scales across cores, and rendering is the clearest example in this dataset, favors it by roughly 24% across every multi-core Cinebench test. It also delivers that performance within a 12 W envelope, less than half the i3's 28 W rating, which matters in thermally constrained mobile and embedded designs. Its broader memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) and documented PCIe Gen 3 connectivity with 9 lanes make it the more modern platform on paper.

The Core i3-8109U wins in one recorded scenario: Cinebench R15 single-core, where it is 55.3% faster. For legacy single-threaded applications that resemble that older workload, the i3's Kaby Lake core at a 3.00 base and 3.60 boost clock is the stronger performer. Its Iris Pro Plus graphics also represent a higher-tier integrated solution than the Atom's 24 EU UHD Graphics, which the database records even though no GPU benchmarks are included here.

Specification Differences

The fields where the two chips differ:

• Cores/threads: 4 cores, 4 threads (Atom) versus 2 cores, 4 threads (i3)
• Base clock: 1500.00 MHz (Atom) versus 3.00 GHz (i3)
• Boost clock: 3.40 GHz (Atom) versus 3.60 GHz (i3)
• TDP: 12 W (Atom) versus 28 W (i3)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1264 (Atom) versus Intel BGA 1356 (i3)
• Architecture: Alder Lake-N (Atom) versus Kaby Lake-R (i3)
• Process node: 10 nm (Atom) versus 14 nm (i3)
• Cache: 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB shared L2, 6 MB shared L3 (Atom) versus 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 4 MB shared L3 (i3)
• Memory: DDR4 and DDR5, single-channel, 38.4 GB/s (Atom) versus DDR4 only (i3)
• PCIe: Gen 3, 9 CPU lanes (Atom) versus not recorded (i3)
• Graphics: UHD Graphics 24EU (Atom) versus Iris Pro Plus (i3)
• Release: 2023 (Atom) versus 2018 (i3)
• Launch MSRP: $58 for the Atom x7425E; no launch MSRP recorded for the i3-8109U
• Die size: 123 mm² recorded for the i3; not recorded for the Atom

Both share Active production status, the Mobile market segment, Intel as manufacturer and foundry, no ECC support, and locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster overall in the recorded benchmarks?

A: The Atom x7425E. It wins 5 of 6 head-to-head tests, including every multi-core Cinebench run by roughly 24%, and posts the higher average benchmark score (1273 versus 1235).

Q: Does the Core i3-8109U win anything?

A: Yes. It wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 55.3%, scoring 138.65 against the Atom's 62.

Q: Why is the Atom faster in multi-core despite being an Atom-branded chip?

A: It has four physical cores versus the i3's two cores and four threads, and it uses the newer Gracemont-generation cores on a 10 nm process rather than the older 14 nm Kaby Lake design.

Q: Which chip uses less power?

A: The Atom x7425E, with a 12 W TDP versus 28 W for the Core i3-8109U.

Q: Do these chips support the same memory?

A: No. The Atom supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth; the i3 supports DDR4 only.

Q: Are these chips comparable in the broader database ranking?

A: Yes, very close. The Atom sits at the 35th percentile of all CPUs and the i3 at the 34th, separated by just one percentile point.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the Atom x7425E for multi-threaded workloads. It is roughly 24% faster in every multi-core Cinebench test, holds single-core wins in the newer R20 and R23 benchmarks, operates at a far lower TDP, and brings the more modern platform: newer process node, newer architecture, dual DDR4/DDR5 support, and documented PCIe Gen 3 lanes. Its average score of 1273 also edges the i3's 1235.

The Core i3-8109U earns consideration in a narrower set of cases. Its 55.3% Cinebench R15 single-core win shows the Kaby Lake core still dominates that legacy workload, and its Iris Pro Plus graphics sit above the Atom's 24 EU UHD Graphics in the recorded specifications. For single-thread-bound legacy applications where that R15-style advantage carries over, it remains the better performer.

For everyone else, the verdict is simple: five wins out of six, lower power, newer platform. The Atom x7425E is the pick.