CPU Comparison

The Intel Atom x7809C and Intel Core i3-1215U are remarkably close competitors in aggregate, with average benchmark scores of 12607 and 12604 respectively. The Atom edges ahead by a negligible 0.02%, and both sit at the 67th percentile of all CPUs. However, this near-identical overall standing masks a starkly divergent performance profile, with each processor dominating entirely different workload categories.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head results is the Atom x7809C’s complete sweep of the Cinebench suite. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Atom wins by a consistent margin of roughly 20%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Atom scores 7997 against the Core i3-1215U’s 6644, a 20.4% advantage. The single-core R23 result shows the same story: 1129 versus 938, also a 20.4% lead. This consistency extends to R15 and R20, where the Atom leads by 20.3% and 20.6% in single-core tests, and 20.3% and 20.4% in multi-core tests. The data is unambiguous: in rendering and CPU-encoding workloads, the Atom x7809C is the clear winner.

The Atom also takes the PassMark physics test, scoring 686 versus 583, a 17.7% margin. It wins passmark_data_encryption with 7832 against 7041, an 11.2% lead, and passmark_random_string_sorting with 15728 versus 13046, a 20.6% advantage. In total, the Atom wins 9 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks.

The Core i3-1215U’s wins are fewer but often larger in magnitude. Its most decisive victory is in PassMark single-threaded tests, where it scores 3218 against the Atom’s 1462. That is a 54.6% lead, by far the largest delta in either direction. The i3 also dominates floating-point math, scoring 25379 versus 17856, a 29.6% advantage. Integer math goes to the i3 by 18.5% (35534 versus 28946), extended instructions by 19.8% (6868 versus 5509), and data compression by 4.4% (116705 versus 111525). The i3 also wins the multithread PassMark test with 10472 versus 9409 (10.2% lead) and find prime numbers with 32 versus 29 (9.4% lead). This gives the i3 8 wins, all in PassMark workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split is not merely a matter of one chip being faster overall; it reflects distinct architectural strengths. The Atom x7809C wins every Cinebench test, which are heavily dependent on sustained multi-core throughput and memory bandwidth. Its 8 cores and 8 threads, combined with 6 MB of shared L3 cache, appear well-suited to these rendering tasks. The Atom also wins encryption and random string sorting, suggesting strong performance in data transformation and hashing workloads.

The Core i3-1215U, with 6 cores and 8 threads, wins the PassMark single-thread test by a massive 54.6%. This indicates a substantial per-core performance advantage, likely stemming from its higher 4.40 GHz boost clock compared to the Atom’s 3.60 GHz. The i3’s wins in floating-point and integer math point to stronger arithmetic execution units. Its victory in extended instructions suggests better support for SIMD-style operations. Data compression favors the i3, though by a modest 4.4%.

For users running Cinebench-class workloads, 3D rendering, video encoding, or any task that scales across cores, the Atom x7809C is the better choice. For single-threaded applications, mathematical computation, and general desktop responsiveness, the Core i3-1215U holds the advantage. The PassMark multithread result, which the i3 wins by 10.2%, indicates that the i3’s higher per-core efficiency can sometimes overcome the Atom’s two-core lead in mixed workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design families. The Atom x7809C is based on the Amston Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process, and belongs to the Atom (Gracemont) generation. The Core i3-1215U uses the Alder Lake architecture, also on a 10 nm process, from the Core i3 (Alder Lake-U) generation. Despite the same node, their microarchitectures are fundamentally different: Gracemont cores in the Atom versus the Alder Lake core design in the i3.

Core counts differ: the Atom has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i3 has 6 cores and 8 threads, meaning the i3 relies on hyper-threading to match thread count. Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Atom provides 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per module, with 6 MB of shared L3. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a larger 10 MB of shared L3. The i3’s larger L3 cache likely contributes to its single-thread and math workload wins.

Memory support differs as well. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, but the Atom uses a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3 uses a dual-channel bus (bandwidth not specified in the data). PCIe capabilities also diverge: the Atom offers Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the i3 has Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The i3 also includes integrated UHD Graphics 64EU, whereas the Atom has no integrated graphics (N/A). Both have ECC memory disabled and locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Atom x7809C has an average benchmark score of 12607, while the Intel Core i3-1215U has 12604. The difference is 0.02%, making them statistically equivalent.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the Core i3-1215U scores 3218 versus the Atom’s 1462, a 54.6% lead for the i3. This is the largest performance gap in any benchmark between the two.

Q: Does the Atom x7809C win any math-related benchmarks?

A: No. The Core i3-1215U wins all math-related PassMark tests: floating-point (25379 vs 17856), integer (35534 vs 28946), find prime numbers (32 vs 29), and extended instructions (6868 vs 5509).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the Atom x7809C?

A: The Atom x7809C has a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i3-1215U uses a dual-channel bus, though its bandwidth is not listed.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Core i3-1215U has 10 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Atom x7809C has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: How do their Cinebench R23 multi-core scores compare?

A: The Atom x7809C scores 7997, and the Core i3-1215U scores 6644. The Atom leads by 20.4% in this test.

Specification Differences

• Cores: Intel Atom x7809C has 8; Intel Core i3-1215U has 6.
• Base Clock: Atom x7809C runs at 2.00 GHz; Core i3-1215U runs at 1200.00 MHz (1.20 GHz).
• Boost Clock: Atom x7809C boosts to 3.60 GHz; Core i3-1215U boosts to 4.40 GHz.
• TDP: Atom x7809C is rated at 25 W; Core i3-1215U at 15 W.
• Socket: Atom x7809C uses Intel BGA 1264; Core i3-1215U uses Intel BGA 1744.
• Architecture / Codename: Atom x7809C is Amston Lake; Core i3-1215U is Alder Lake (Alder Lake-U).
• L1 Cache: Atom x7809C has 96 KB per core; Core i3-1215U has 80 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: Atom x7809C has 2 MB per module; Core i3-1215U has 1.25 MB per core.
• L3 Cache: Atom x7809C has 6 MB shared; Core i3-1215U has 10 MB shared.
• Memory Bus: Atom x7809C is single-channel; Core i3-1215U is dual-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: Atom x7809C has 38.4 GB/s; Core i3-1215U has no listed value.
• PCIe: Atom x7809C is Gen 3 with 9 lanes; Core i3-1215U is Gen 4 with 20 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: Atom x7809C has N/A; Core i3-1215U has UHD Graphics 64EU.
• Launch MSRP: Atom x7809C is listed at $117; Core i3-1215U has no listed MSRP.
• Release Date: Atom x7809C released 2024-04-07; Core i3-1215U released 2022-02-22.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear dichotomy. The Intel Atom x7809C is the superior processor for Cinebench-style workloads, winning all six Cinebench tests by roughly 20%. It also leads in encryption, physics, and random string sorting. Users running rendering, encoding, or other multi-threaded CPU-bound tasks should choose the Atom, despite its lower boost clock and single-channel memory.

The Intel Core i3-1215U is the better chip for single-threaded performance, winning that PassMark test by 54.6%. It also decisively wins all math-related benchmarks and data compression. For general-purpose computing, spreadsheets, code compilation, or any workload that relies on per-core speed, the i3 is the data-supported choice.

The overall average scores are essentially tied, but this is a case where the average hides the story. The Atom’s 9 wins and the i3’s 8 wins suggest a balanced split, yet the magnitudes differ. The i3’s single-thread win is massive, while the Atom’s Cinebench wins are consistent but moderate. The i3’s PassMark multithread win (10472 vs 9409) is notable, indicating that in real-world mixed workloads, the i3 may often feel faster. The Atom’s higher TDP of 25 W versus 15 W also suggests it draws more power to achieve its multi-core results. The choice ultimately hinges on workload: rendering favors the Atom, responsiveness and math favor the i3.