Intel Atom x7809C vs Intel Core i3-12100 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Atom x7809C has 8 cores, while the Intel Core i3-12100 has 4 cores. Both processors support 8 threads, so the Core i3-12100 relies on Hyper-Threading to match the Atom's thread count.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100 scores 1499 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Atom x7809C scores 1129. This gives the Core i3-12100 a 24.7% advantage in that test.

Q: Does the Atom x7809C win any benchmark against the Core i3-12100?

A: Yes, the Atom x7809C wins two head-to-head tests. It leads in PassMark data encryption with a score of 7832 versus 7222, an 8.4% advantage, and in PassMark random string sorting with 15728 versus 14286, a 10.1% advantage.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings of these two processors?

A: The Intel Atom x7809C has a TDP of 25 watts, while the Intel Core i3-12100 has a TDP of 60 watts. The Atom consumes significantly less power by specification.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100 includes UHD Graphics 730. The Intel Atom x7809C has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Atom x7809C has an average benchmark score of 12607, while the Intel Core i3-12100 has an average score of 12054. Despite losing most head-to-head tests, the Atom's average score is higher, and both processors sit at the 67th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Atom x7809C is built on the Amston Lake architecture, part of the Atom generation based on Gracemont cores. It uses a 10 nm process node and targets the mobile market segment. The Intel Core i3-12100 belongs to the Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-S, and is part of the Core 12th Gen family. It also uses a 10 nm process node, but targets the desktop segment.

The core counts diverge sharply. The Atom x7809C provides 8 physical cores and 8 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Core i3-12100 provides 4 physical cores and 8 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count. This structural difference matters for workloads that scale with physical cores versus those that benefit from higher per-core performance.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Atom x7809C has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per module, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i3-12100 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i3-12100 offers twice the total L3 capacity, which can benefit workloads with large working sets.

Memory support is similar in type, as both support DDR4 and DDR5, but the memory bus differs. The Atom x7809C uses a single-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i3-12100 uses a dual-channel memory bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. PCIe support also differs, with the Atom providing Gen 3 with 9 CPU lanes and the Core i3 providing Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The Core i3-12100 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the Atom x7809C has no integrated graphics. The Atom also has a smaller physical footprint specification-wise, with no die size recorded, while the Core i3-12100 has a die size of 163 mm². Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither supports ECC memory. The Atom x7809C uses Intel BGA 1264, while the Core i3-12100 uses Intel Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-12100 dominates the head-to-head record, winning 15 of 17 benchmark comparisons. Its wins span rendering, integer math, floating point math, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics simulation, data compression, and single-thread tests. The data indicates that the Core i3-12100 is the stronger choice for general computing, productivity, and any workload that rewards higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache. Its boost clock of 4.30 GHz, compared to the Atom's 3.60 GHz, aligns with its consistent single-thread and multi-thread victories.

The Intel Atom x7809C wins in two specific areas: data encryption and random string sorting. The encryption result suggests that the Atom's 8 physical cores handle encryption workloads efficiently despite lower clock speeds. The random string sorting result points to a workload where the Atom's cache arrangement or core count provides a measurable edge. These wins are narrow, at 8.4% and 10.1% respectively, but they are consistent within the recorded data.

For users prioritizing power efficiency, the Atom x7809C holds a clear specification advantage with a 25 watt TDP versus 60 watts for the Core i3-12100. The Atom also offers 8 physical cores, which may appeal to workloads that prefer physical cores over logical threads, even if the benchmark data does not broadly favor it.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Atom x7809C | Intel Core i3-12100 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 25 W | 60 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Amston Lake | Alder Lake |

| Generation | Atom (Gracemont) | Core i3 (Alder Lake-S) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 cache | 96 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (per module) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2024-04-07 | 2022-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $117 | $122 |

| Die size | Not recorded | 163 mm² |

| Part number | SRNEN | SRL62 |

Both processors are fabricated on a 10 nm process by Intel, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, lack ECC support, and have locked multipliers. The Core i3-12100 has a higher base and boost clock, a larger L3 cache, a dual-channel memory bus, and PCIe Gen 5 support. The Atom x7809C has more physical cores, a lower TDP, a single-channel memory bus, and PCIe Gen 3 support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to the Intel Core i3-12100 in PassMark single-thread tests, where it scores 3173 against the Atom's 1462, a 53.9% advantage. This result appears twice in the data, once as passmark_single_thread and once as passmark_singlethread, with identical scores. The single-thread gap is the clearest signal of the Core i3's architectural superiority for lightly threaded workloads.

Extended instructions show another major gap. The Core i3-12100 scores 9702 in PassMark extended instructions, while the Atom x7809C scores 5509, a 43.2% difference. Prime number finding follows a similar pattern, with the Core i3 scoring 49 versus 29 for the Atom, a 40.8% difference. Floating point math also favors the Core i3 heavily, with a score of 28015 against 17856, a 36.3% advantage.

Cinebench results are consistent across all three versions tested. In Cinebench R15, the Core i3-12100 leads by 24.8% in multi-core (1070 versus 805) and 24.7% in single-core (150 versus 113). In Cinebench R20, the Core i3 leads by 24.7% in multi-core (4461 versus 3358) and 24.6% in single-core (629 versus 474). In Cinebench R23, the Core i3 leads by 24.7% in both multi-core (10623 versus 7997) and single-core (1499 versus 1129). The uniformity of these margins suggests a stable performance difference across rendering workloads.

PassMark multithread results give the Core i3-12100 a 22.7% lead, with scores of 12170 versus 9409. Data compression shows a 21.5% advantage for the Core i3, with scores of 142060 versus 111525. Integer math favors the Core i3 by 18.9%, with scores of 35678 versus 28946. Physics simulation shows the smallest Core i3 win among PassMark tests, at 11.6%, with scores of 776 versus 686.

The Atom x7809C claims its two wins in encryption and sorting. In PassMark data encryption, the Atom scores 7832 against 7222 for the Core i3, an 8.4% advantage. In PassMark random string sorting, the Atom scores 15728 against 14286, a 10.1% advantage. These are the only tests where the Atom's 8 physical cores and cache configuration overcome the Core i3's higher clocks.

The overall head-to-head tally stands at 15 wins for the Core i3-12100 and 2 wins for the Atom x7809C. The average benchmark scores, however, tell a slightly different story. The Atom has an average score of 12607, while the Core i3 has an average score of 12054. Both processors rank at the 67th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i3-12100 is the stronger processor for almost every measured workload. Its 53.9% single-thread advantage and 24.7% Cinebench R23 multi-core advantage make it the clear pick for rendering, general productivity, and any application where per-core performance matters. The data shows consistent wins across 15 of 17 benchmarks, with margins ranging from 11.6% to 53.9%. Users building a desktop system and expecting broad application compatibility should choose the Core i3-12100.

The Intel Atom x7809C is the better choice only in narrow circumstances. Its 8 physical cores deliver wins in data encryption and random string sorting, with margins of 8.4% and 10.1% respectively. Its 25 watt TDP makes it attractive for power-constrained mobile designs, and its average benchmark score of 12607 is actually higher than the Core i3's 12054, despite losing most direct comparisons. Users prioritizing power efficiency, physical core count, or those specific encryption and sorting workloads should consider the Atom x7809C.

For everyone else, the benchmark record is unambiguous. The Core i3-12100 wins the vast majority of head-to-head tests, often by substantial margins, and provides integrated graphics, a dual-channel memory bus, and PCIe Gen 5 support. The Atom x7809C remains a niche part for specialized embedded or mobile scenarios where its lower TDP and physical core count outweigh its significant performance deficits in mainstream workloads.