CPU Comparison
Intel Atom x7425E
Core i5-3570K
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Atom x7425E vs Intel Core i5-3570K
The Intel Core i5-3570K and Intel Atom x7425E occupy opposite ends of Intel’s design philosophy, yet benchmark data reveals a surprisingly consistent outcome. Both processors feature 4 cores and 4 threads, but the Atom x7425E wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the provided data, despite the Core i5’s desktop pedigree and higher launch MSRP. The data shows a complete sweep: 6 wins for the Atom, 0 for the Core i5.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark results are unambiguous, with the Atom x7425E leading in every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Atom scores 443 against the Core i5’s 425, a delta of -4.1% when viewed from the Core i5’s perspective. The single-core gap is narrower: 62 versus 60, a -3.2% delta. This pattern of the Atom leading by roughly 4% persists across newer Cinebench versions.
In Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 1849 for the Atom and 1772 for the Core i5, again a -4.2% delta. The single-core test shows 260 versus 250, a -3.8% difference. The most demanding test, Cinebench R23, shows the same story: the Atom scores 4403 multicore and 621 single-core, while the Core i5 manages 4221 and 596 respectively, yielding deltas of -4.1% and -4%.
The consistency is striking. Across six tests, the delta never exceeds 4.2% and never drops below 3.2%. This suggests a systematic advantage for the Atom rather than a workload-specific fluke. The Core i5’s average benchmark score is 1293, placing it in the 35th percentile of all CPUs, while the Atom’s average is 1273, also in the 35th percentile. Despite the Atom winning every direct comparison, the average scores are close, indicating that the head-to-head tests may not capture the full picture of each chip’s broader performance profile. The Core i5’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3630QM with an average score of 1289 (0.3% delta) and the AMD Opteron 6272 at 1288 (0.4% delta), showing it sits in a dense field. The Atom’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4430S at 1274 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-4670T at 1271 (0.2% delta), placing it in similar company.
Architecture Differences
The architectural divide between these two chips is vast, spanning over a decade of Intel design evolution. The Core i5-3570K is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node, with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The Atom x7425E uses the Alder Lake-N architecture, specifically the Gracemont core microarchitecture, on a 10 nm process node; its transistor count and die size are not provided in the data.
Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core i5 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, while the Atom has 96 KB of L1 per core and a shared 2 MB L2 cache. Both share a 6 MB L3 cache. The memory controllers diverge sharply: the Core i5 supports dual-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, whereas the Atom supports DDR4 and DDR5 but only in single-channel mode, achieving a higher bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.
The Core i5 uses the Intel Socket 1155 and is a desktop part, while the Atom uses Intel BGA 1264 and is categorized as mobile. The Core i5 features an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the Atom’s multiplier is locked. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core i5 has Intel HD 4000, while the Atom has UHD Graphics 24EU. The Core i5 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, whereas the Atom provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes. Production statuses reflect their different lives: the Core i5 is end-of-life, released in 2012, while the Atom is active, released in 2023.
Where Each One Wins
Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Atom x7425E wins every workload tested. The Cinebench suite, which includes both multicore and single-core render tests, consistently favors the Atom across R15, R20, and R23 versions. This suggests the Atom’s Gracemont cores, despite their lower base clock of 1500 MHz, are more efficient at executing these workloads than the Ivy Bridge cores of the Core i5, which have a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost to 3.80 GHz.
The Core i5’s wins are not visible in the head-to-head data, but its average benchmark score of 1293 is slightly higher than the Atom’s 1273. This discrepancy implies that outside the specific Cinebench tests, there may be scenarios where the Core i5 performs better, perhaps in applications that benefit from its dual-channel memory bandwidth or its larger PCIe lane count. However, the provided data does not include such tests, so any such advantage remains speculative. The Core i5’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus the Atom’s 3.40 GHz could theoretically help in bursty single-threaded tasks, but the Cinebench single-core results show the Atom ahead, indicating clock speed alone does not determine the outcome.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The process node is 22 nm for the Core i5 versus 10 nm for the Atom. The Core i5 has a TDP of 77 watts, while the Atom consumes just 12 watts, a dramatic efficiency gap. Base clocks are 3.40 GHz for the Core i5 and 1500 MHz for the Atom, though the Atom’s boost clock of 3.40 GHz matches the Core i5’s base. The Core i5’s boost is 3.80 GHz.
Memory support is a major differentiator: the Core i5 uses DDR3 in dual-channel mode, while the Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but only in single-channel mode. Despite this, the Atom’s memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s exceeds the Core i5’s 25.6 GB/s. Cache layouts differ as described above, with the Atom having larger L1 per core and a shared L2, versus the Core i5’s per-core L2. PCIe capabilities also differ: 16 lanes versus 9 lanes, both Gen 3. The Core i5 has an unlocked multiplier, the Atom does not. The Core i5’s launch MSRP is $212, while the Atom’s is $58. The Core i5 is end-of-life; the Atom is active. The Core i5 is desktop; the Atom is mobile. The Core i5’s part number is SR0PM, the Atom’s is SRMLN.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?
A: The Intel Core i5-3570K has a TDP of 77 watts, while the Intel Atom x7425E has a TDP of 12 watts.
Q: Does the Atom x7425E support faster memory bandwidth than the Core i5-3570K?
A: Yes, the Atom x7425E has a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, compared to the Core i5-3570K’s 25.6 GB/s.
Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?
A: No, only the Intel Core i5-3570K has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel Atom x7425E has a locked multiplier.
Q: What is the process node difference between the two chips?
A: The Core i5-3570K is built on a 22 nm process node, while the Atom x7425E uses a 10 nm process node.
Q: Which processor has a higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?
A: The Intel Atom x7425E scores 621 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core i5-3570K scores 596.
Q: What is the market segment for each processor?
A: The Intel Core i5-3570K is a desktop processor, while the Intel Atom x7425E is a mobile processor.
The Verdict
The benchmark data is clear: the Intel Atom x7425E outperforms the Intel Core i5-3570K in every Cinebench test provided, with deltas ranging from -3.2% to -4.2%. For anyone choosing between these two strictly on raw Cinebench performance, the Atom is the winner. Its higher memory bandwidth and more modern architecture likely contribute to this result. However, the Core i5 is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 1293 is higher than the Atom’s 1273, and it offers a dual-channel memory bus, more PCIe lanes, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The Core i5 is a desktop part with a 77-watt TDP, while the Atom is a mobile part with a 12-watt TDP.
The choice depends on the use case. For a low-power mobile or embedded application where efficiency is paramount, the Atom x7425E is the obvious pick, offering superior Cinebench scores at a fraction of the TDP. For a desktop user who values overclocking, dual-channel memory, or the flexibility of a socketed processor, the Core i5-3570K, despite being end-of-life, may still be relevant. The data does not show the Core i5 winning any of the six head-to-head tests, so any argument for it must rest on the specifications it uniquely offers: the unlocked multiplier, the 16 PCIe lanes, and its dual-channel memory controller. The Atom wins on benchmarks; the Core i5 wins on features. The numbers favor the Atom, but the context of the system matters.