Intel Atom x7433RE vs Intel Xeon W-1290P Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-1290P is in a completely different performance class than the Intel Atom x7433RE, dominating every shared benchmark by a consistent 81.4% margin. The data shows a straightforward hierarchy: the Xeon is a high-throughput workstation processor, while the Atom is a low-power embedded part, and no benchmark in the head-to-head set gives the Atom a single victory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon W-1290P wins all five head-to-head comparisons, and the margins are not close. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1915 against the Atom’s 356, a delta of -81.4% for the Atom. The same exact delta appears across Cinebench R20 multi-core (7983 vs 1484), R20 single-core (1126 vs 209), R23 multi-core (19008 vs 3535), and R23 single-core (2683 vs 499). The uniformity of the 81.4% gap across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests is telling: it is not merely a core-count advantage, but a fundamental per-thread throughput difference.

The single-core results are particularly revealing. The Xeon’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2683 is over five times the Atom’s 499. This is not a scaling artifact; it indicates that the Xeon’s higher clock speeds and larger microarchitecture deliver a massive instruction-per-cycle advantage. The Atom’s boost clock of 3.40 GHz is respectable for its class, but the Xeon’s 5.30 GHz boost, combined with its older but larger Comet Lake cores, produces a gap that no frequency difference alone can explain.

Multi-threaded performance follows the same pattern. The Xeon’s Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19008 dwarfs the Atom’s 3535. The Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads versus the Atom’s 4 cores and 4 threads, but again the per-core output is far higher on the Xeon. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon’s 1915 is 5.4 times the Atom’s 356, while the core count is only 2.5 times higher. The architecture gap compounds with the core-count gap.

The Atom does have a single benchmark result where it is not completely overwhelmed: PassMark data compression, where it scores 43671. However, this test is not in the head-to-head set, and the Xeon has no corresponding score in the pack for direct comparison. The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Xeon wins every shared test by the identical 81.4% margin, which strongly suggests the benchmark set was normalized to a common scale.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of Intel’s design spectrum. The Atom x7433RE uses the Amston Lake architecture with Gracemont efficiency cores, built on a 10 nm process. The Xeon W-1290P uses the older Comet Lake architecture, also on 10 nm, but with larger, higher-performance cores. The process node is the same, but the core designs are dramatically different.

The Atom has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost of 3.40 GHz. The Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost of 5.30 GHz. The Xeon’s base clock is higher than the Atom’s boost clock, which explains a large portion of the single-threaded gap. The Xeon also supports Hyper-Threading, doubling its thread count from 10 to 20, while the Atom has no such feature.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Atom has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. While the Atom has more L1 per core, the Xeon’s L2 is 4 times larger per core, and its L3 is over 3 times larger overall. For workloads that fit in cache, the Xeon’s larger L3 is a significant advantage.

Memory support also diverges. The Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but only in a single-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon supports only DDR4, but in a dual-channel configuration, yielding 46.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Atom does not. The Xeon’s higher bandwidth is critical for multi-threaded workloads that saturate memory.

The socket and platform are entirely different. The Atom uses Intel BGA 1264, a soldered embedded socket, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1200, a standard LGA socket. The Atom has only 9 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Xeon has 16. The Atom’s integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 32EU, while the Xeon has UHD Graphics P630. The Atom’s TDP is 9 watts, while the Xeon’s is 125 watts — a 14-fold difference that reflects the Xeon’s much higher power envelope.

The Xeon also has a larger die size at 206 mm², while the Atom’s die size is not listed. The Xeon launched on 2020-05-12 with a launch MSRP of $539, while the Atom launched on 2024-04-07 with a launch MSRP of $63. Both are listed as Active production status. The Xeon’s part number is SRKT7, and the Atom’s is SRNEQ. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: the Xeon W-1290P is the superior processor in every measurable benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests by 81.4%, and its absolute scores are 5 to 7 times higher than the Atom’s across Cinebench tests. For any workload that requires raw compute throughput — rendering, compilation, scientific simulation, or heavy multi-threaded processing — the Xeon is the only choice between these two.

The Atom x7433RE is not competitive in performance, but it is not designed to be. Its 9-watt TDP, single-channel memory, and 4-core design point to a different use case entirely. The Atom is for embedded systems, fanless industrial PCs, or low-power appliances where the Xeon’s 125-watt TDP would be impossible to cool or power. The data shows the Atom’s average benchmark score is 5601, which is actually higher than the Xeon’s 5443 average, but this is due to the PassMark tests where the Atom has multiple scores and the Xeon has none. The head-to-head Cinebench results are the reliable comparison, and they are decisively in the Xeon’s favor.

The Xeon’s percentile rank of 60 versus the Atom’s 61 is misleading; the percentile is based on the full benchmark suite, not the shared head-to-head tests. The nearest rivals data confirms the Xeon is competitive with AMD Threadripper 1920 and EPYC 7351P, while the Atom sits near Intel Core i7-12700T and Celeron G6900. The Xeon is a workstation-class part, and the Atom is a low-power Atom part. There is no scenario in the data where the Atom outperforms the Xeon.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290P scores 19008, while the Intel Atom x7433RE scores 3535. The Xeon leads by 81.4%.

Q: Does the Atom have any benchmark win over the Xeon?

A: No. In the head-to-head set of five Cinebench tests, the Xeon wins all five. The Atom has zero wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Atom has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290P supports ECC memory. The Intel Atom x7433RE does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Xeon W-1290P has 46.9 GB/s of dual-channel bandwidth, while the Atom x7433RE has 38.4 GB/s of single-channel bandwidth.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon W-1290P has a 5.30 GHz boost clock, compared to the Atom’s 3.40 GHz boost clock.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon W-1290P wins every benchmark category where both have data. This includes single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. The Xeon’s single-core R23 score of 2683 is the standout, indicating it can handle lightly-threaded workloads with exceptional speed. Its multi-core R23 score of 19008 shows it can also scale across its 20 threads. The Xeon is the clear winner for any CPU-bound task.

The Atom x7433RE does not win any head-to-head benchmark, but it has a different set of strengths. Its 9-watt TDP is the defining feature; it can run passively cooled in embedded systems where the Xeon’s 125-watt TDP is infeasible. The Atom’s support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory gives it more memory flexibility, even if the bandwidth is lower. Its PassMark data compression score of 43671 is the only benchmark where it shows a notable specialty, though there is no Xeon comparison in that test.

For use-case selection, the Xeon is for a workstation or server that runs compute-intensive applications. The Atom is for an always-on appliance, a network device, or an industrial controller where power draw is the primary constraint. The Xeon’s 16 PCIe lanes and dual-channel memory support a more capable platform, while the Atom’s 9 lanes and single-channel memory limit it to basic I/O. The Xeon’s larger L3 cache of 20 MB benefits workloads with large working sets, while the Atom’s 6 MB L3 is sufficient for light tasks.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Atom x7433RE | Intel Xeon W-1290P |

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

| Cores | 4 | 10 |

| Threads | 4 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Amston Lake | Comet Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 206 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) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 32EU | UHD Graphics P630 |

| Launch MSRP | $63 | $539 |

| Release Date | 2024-04-07 | 2020-05-12 |

| Part Number | SRNEQ | SRKT7 |