CPU Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Atom x7425E defeats the Intel Core i5-3570 in every single head-to-head test, despite the i5-3570 being a desktop part with a higher base clock and the Atom being a low-power mobile chip. The Atom x7425E wins all six Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 4.6% to 5%. This is a complete sweep. The Core i5-3570's only statistical claim is its average benchmark score of 1286, which edges out the Atom's 1273, but that aggregate figure masks the fact that the Atom wins every modern rendering workload. The data suggests a generational efficiency shift: the Atom, built on a newer architecture, delivers more performance per clock in threaded and single-threaded tasks alike.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Atom x7425E takes the multi-core Cinebench R15 test with a score of 443 against the i5-3570's 421, a 5% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Atom scores 1849 versus 1758, a 4.9% lead. In the most demanding workload, Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Atom posts 4403 against the i5's 4187, again a 4.9% margin. The single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Atom's 62 beats the i5's 59 by 4.8%. The R20 single-core test shows the Atom at 260 versus 248, a 4.6% edge. Finally, in R23 single-core, the Atom scores 621 against 591, another 4.8% win. The consistency is notable: no test shows the i5-3570 ahead, and the deltas are tightly clustered between 4.6% and 5%, indicating a uniform performance advantage rather than workload-specific strengths.

The i5-3570's higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz does not translate into a win, as the Atom's 3.40 GHz boost on a newer microarchitecture proves more efficient. The average benchmark scores reflect this closeness: the i5-3570 averages 1286, while the Atom averages 1273, a 1% difference in favor of the older chip. However, that aggregate includes Geekbench results for the i5 (multicore 2251, singlecore 770) which have no equivalent for the Atom in this data, skewing the average. When comparing only the Cinebench suite, the Atom is the clear winner across the board. The percentile rankings are identical at 35 for both, placing them in the same overall performance tier, but the head-to-head deltas show the Atom is the stronger chip in every rendering test.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-3570 wins no benchmark in this comparison. Its only advantage is the aggregate average benchmark score of 1286, which is higher than the Atom's 1273, but this is driven by Geekbench scores not present for the Atom. In practical terms, the i5-3570 offers a dual-channel memory bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Atom is single-channel at 38.4 GB/s, the Atom actually has higher theoretical bandwidth despite fewer channels. The i5-3570 does have a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus the Atom's 1.50 GHz, but this does not yield any benchmark victory.

The Atom x7425E wins every Cinebench test, making it the superior choice for rendering and multi-threaded productivity. Its single-core wins (4.8% in R15, 4.6% in R20, 4.8% in R23) suggest better per-thread performance for lightly threaded applications like web browsing or office work. The multi-core wins (5% in R15, 4.9% in R20, 4.9% in R23) indicate it handles parallel workloads better despite a much lower base clock. The Atom also has a significant power efficiency advantage, with a 12W TDP versus the i5-3570's 77W, making it the practical choice for fanless or battery-powered systems. The i5-3570's only domain is legacy software that might rely on its older Ivy Bridge architecture, but no benchmark data supports this.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Atom x7425E outperform the Core i5-3570 in all benchmarks?

A: Yes. The Atom wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23 in both single-core and multi-core), with deltas ranging from 4.6% to 5%.

Q: What is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Atom x7425E scores 4403, while the Core i5-3570 scores 4187. This gives the Atom a 4.9% advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core i5-3570 has an average score of 1286, slightly above the Atom's 1273, but this includes Geekbench results that are not available for the Atom.

Q: How do the TDP ratings compare?

A: The Atom x7425E has a TDP of 12W, while the Core i5-3570 has a TDP of 77W. The Atom is substantially more power-efficient.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both feature 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The Core i5-3570 was released on 2012-05-31, while the Atom x7425E was released on 2023-01-02. The Atom is over a decade newer.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification. The Core i5-3570 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Atom x7425E has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. TDP is a major divergence: the i5-3570 draws 77W, the Atom draws 12W. The socket differs: the i5-3570 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the Atom uses Intel BGA 1264. Memory support is different: the i5-3570 supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Atom supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe lanes also differ: the i5-3570 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes, the Atom has Gen 3 with 9 lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both but different: Intel HD 2500 for the i5-3570, UHD Graphics 24EU for the Atom. The production statuses are opposite: the i5-3570 is end-of-life, the Atom is active. The launch MSRP is $194 for the i5-3570 and $58 for the Atom. The part numbers are SR0T7 and SRMLN, respectively.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is stark. The Core i5-3570 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, with 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 160 mm². The Atom x7425E uses the Alder Lake-N architecture on a 10 nm process node, with no transistor or die size data provided. The cache layouts are entirely different: the i5-3570 has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, while the Atom has 96 KB L1 per core and 2 MB shared L2. Both share 6 MB L3 cache, but the i5-3570's is described as shared while the Atom's is also shared. The i5-3570's generation is "Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)" while the Atom's is "Atom (Gracemont)". The codenames are Ivy Bridge versus Alder Lake-N. The market segments differ: the i5-3570 is a desktop part, the Atom is a mobile part. Neither has unlocked multipliers, and neither supports ECC memory. The foundry is Intel for both. The release dates are a decade apart, with the i5-3570 launching in 2012 and the Atom in 2023. The Atom's newer node and Gracemont cores explain its superior performance per watt, while the i5-3570's larger die and older process limit its efficiency.

The Verdict

The data is conclusive: the Intel Atom x7425E is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all six Cinebench tests, offers a drastically lower TDP of 12W versus 77W, and supports newer DDR4/DDR5 memory with higher bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s. The Core i5-3570's only numerical advantage is its average score of 1286 versus 1273, which is an artifact of missing Geekbench data for the Atom. For anyone building a new system, the Atom x7425E is the rational choice: it matches or beats the i5-3570 in rendering, uses a fraction of the power, and comes from a modern architecture. The i5-3570 is end-of-life, has a higher launch MSRP of $194, and offers no performance benefit. Choose the Atom for new builds, especially in compact or power-constrained systems. Choose the i5-3570 only if you are constrained to an LGA 1155 motherboard and existing DDR3 memory, as its benchmark data shows no other reason for preference. The Atom's consistent 4.6-5% lead across all Cinebench versions indicates a fundamental performance advantage that will persist in future workloads.