Intel Atom x7425E vs Intel Core i7-3610QM Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unusually close pairing. The Intel Atom x7425E wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, yet the margins are razor thin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Atom scores 443 against 440 for the Core i7-3610QM, a 0.7% lead. The R20 multicore result shows 1849 versus 1836, again a 0.7% gap. Even in single-core tests, where the Atom’s higher boost clock might suggest a larger advantage, the difference is just 0.4% to 0.6%. This is not a generational stomping; it is a statistical tie in most workloads.

The real story is in the platform context. The Atom x7425E is an active, modern part with a 12W TDP, while the Core i7-3610QM is end-of-life with a 45W TDP. The database places the Atom at the 35th percentile of all CPUs, the Core i7 at the 34th. Their average benchmark scores are 1273 and 1244 respectively, a 2.3% gap in favor of the Atom. For a system builder choosing between an active low-power part and a legacy high-power chip, the data suggests the Atom delivers essentially the same compute with far lower power draw. The Core i7-3610QM’s only advantage lies in its dual-channel memory bus and higher thread count, but those do not translate into any benchmark win in the recorded data.

Who should pick which? Strictly from the numbers, the Atom x7425E is the rational choice for new designs: it wins every test, consumes less power, and remains in production. The Core i7-3610QM only makes sense if you already own a Socket G2 motherboard or need its dual-channel memory bandwidth for non-CPU-bound tasks. For pure CPU performance, the data says the Atom is the winner, albeit by a hair.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of Intel’s design philosophy. The Atom x7425E uses the Alder Lake-N architecture, built on a 10 nm process, with four Gracemont efficiency cores. It has no hyperthreading: 4 cores, 4 threads. The Core i7-3610QM is an Ivy Bridge part on a 22 nm process, with four cores and eight threads via hyperthreading. The process node advantage is significant: 10 nm versus 22 nm, which explains how the Atom achieves a 12W TDP versus 45W.

Cache layouts differ markedly. The Atom has 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of shared L2, plus 6 MB of shared L3. The Core i7 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Atom’s L2 is shared across all cores, while the Core i7’s L2 is per-core. The total L3 is identical at 6 MB, but the Atom’s cache hierarchy is designed for efficiency rather than raw throughput.

Memory support is a clear split. The Atom supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus, delivering 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core i7 only supports DDR3, but with a dual-channel bus, delivering 25.6 GB/s. The Atom has higher theoretical bandwidth, but the Core i7’s dual-channel setup may reduce latency in some workloads. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Atom offers Gen 3 with 9 lanes, the Core i7 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ too: the Atom has UHD Graphics 24EU, the Core i7 has Intel HD 4000.

The transistor count and die size are only recorded for the Core i7: 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The Atom’s figures are not in the database. The launch MSRP is $58 for the Atom and $378 for the Core i7, though pricing discussions are limited to that single statement per the database rules.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks?

A: The Intel Atom x7425E wins all six recorded head-to-head tests. The Core i7-3610QM wins zero. The largest margin is 0.7% in Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore.

Q: Is the Atom x7425E significantly faster in single-core tests?

A: No. The Atom leads by only 0.4% in R20 single-core (260 versus 259) and 0.6% in R23 single-core (621 versus 617). In R15 single-core, both score exactly 62, a 0% delta.

Q: How does the power consumption compare?

A: The Atom x7425E has a 12W TDP, while the Core i7-3610QM has a 45W TDP. That is a 33W difference, making the Atom far more efficient for the same benchmark scores.

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Core i7-3610QM has 8 threads (4 cores with hyperthreading), while the Atom x7425E has 4 threads (4 cores without). Despite this, the Core i7 does not win any multicore benchmark in the recorded data.

Q: Can the Core i7-3610QM use the same memory as the Atom?

A: No. The Atom supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core i7 only supports DDR3. The Atom also has a single-channel bus, while the Core i7 has dual-channel.

Q: Which CPU is still in production?

A: The Atom x7425E is listed as Active. The Core i7-3610QM is listed as End-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Atom x7425E | Intel Core i7-3610QM |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1500.00 MHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 12 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket G2 (988B) |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Ivy Bridge |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 160 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR3 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 24EU | Intel HD 4000 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2023-01-02 | 2012-04-22 |

| Launch MSRP | $58 | $378 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six recorded Cinebench results tell a consistent story of near parity. In R15 multicore, the Atom scores 443, the Core i7 scores 440, a 0.7% difference. The R15 single-core test is a dead heat: both score 62, a 0% delta. Moving to R20, the Atom leads 1849 to 1836 in multicore (0.7%) and 260 to 259 in single-core (0.4%). The R23 results follow the same pattern: 4403 versus 4373 in multicore (0.7%) and 621 versus 617 in single-core (0.6%).

The Core i7-3610QM has two additional Geekbench results in the database, but they are not part of the head-to-head comparison. Its Geekbench multicore score is 1831 and single-core is 537. The Atom has no recorded Geekbench scores, so a direct comparison on that test is impossible. What the head-to-head data shows is that the Atom’s advantage is consistent but minuscule. The largest delta is 0.7%, which is within typical run-to-run variance. The only test where the Atom truly wins outright is R15 single-core, where the 0% delta means a tie, yet the database still awards the win to the Atom based on the recorded values.

The bigger implication is architectural: the Atom achieves these scores with a 12W TDP and no hyperthreading, while the Core i7 uses 45W and eight threads. The per-watt performance is dramatically better for the Atom, even if the raw scores are nearly identical. The Core i7’s higher base clock (2.30 GHz versus 1.50 GHz) and slightly lower boost clock (3.30 GHz versus 3.40 GHz) do not translate into a benchmark advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The Atom x7425E wins every recorded benchmark, but the margins are so small that the practical difference is negligible. Its real win is in efficiency: 12W versus 45W TDP means the Atom can be used in fanless or low-power designs, while the Core i7 requires active cooling and a larger battery. The Atom also supports modern DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core i7 is limited to DDR3. For new builds in 2023 or later, the Atom is the only sensible choice from a platform longevity perspective.

The Core i7-3610QM does not win any benchmark, but it retains some structural advantages. Its dual-channel memory bus, while lower bandwidth (25.6 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s), may offer lower latency for memory-sensitive workloads. It also has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 9 for the Atom, which could matter for discrete GPUs or multiple NVMe drives. The Core i7’s 8 threads, twice the Atom’s 4, could help in heavily threaded workloads that are not captured by the Cinebench suite, though the recorded data shows no such benefit.

The production status is decisive. The Atom is Active, the Core i7 is End-of-life. For anyone sourcing new parts, the Core i7 is unavailable except on the used market. The Atom’s release date of January 2023 versus April 2012 also means a decade of architectural improvements, including the 10 nm process and Gracemont cores. The data suggests that the Core i7’s only remaining role is in legacy systems where the motherboard, memory, and cooler are already in place. For everything else, the Atom x7425E is the winner on every recorded metric, even if the score differences are too small to feel in practice.