Intel Atom x7809C vs Intel Core i7-1250U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i7-1250U wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Atom x7809C takes three victories. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The Core i7-1250U dominates in single-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 226 against the Atom's 113, a 100% advantage. This exact doubling of performance carries over to PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the i7-1250U again posts 58 versus 29, another 100% delta. The PassMark single-thread test shows an 84.9% lead (2703 to 1462), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 39.4% edge (1574 to 1129). These results indicate a fundamental per-core performance gap that favors the Alder Lake part in any latency-sensitive task.

Multi-threaded results are less one-sided. The Core i7-1250U leads in Cinebench R15 multicore by 45.7% (1172.94 to 805) and in Cinebench R20 multicore by 18.6% (3983 to 3358). PassMark multithread shows a 20.4% advantage (11329 to 9409), PassMark integer math shows 39.3% (40328 to 28946), and floating-point math shows a 49.1% gap (26625 to 17856). The Atom x7809C, however, flips the script in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 7997 against 7069, an 11.6% win for the Atom. This is the largest multicore reversal in the dataset and suggests that the Atom's sustained throughput can exceed the Core i7 in certain long-running render-style workloads.

The Atom also wins PassMark random string sorting by 13.6% (15728 to 13593) and PassMark data encryption by 2.4% (7832 to 7642). The data compression test goes to the Core i7 by a slim 7% margin (119280 to 111525). The extended instructions test favors the Core i7 by 17.9% (6497 to 5509), and PassMark physics shows a 28.4% edge (881 to 686).

Looking at the overall averages, the Core i7-1250U sits at an average benchmark score of 13351 against the Atom's 12607, a roughly 5.9% gap. Both processors land in similar percentile territory overall: the i7-1250U at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, the Atom at the 67th. The nearest rivals for the Core i7-1250U include the Intel Core i7-7700K at 13291 (0.5% behind), the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452 (0.7% ahead), and the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13494 (1.1% ahead). The Atom x7809C's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-1215U at 12604 (a 0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-1230U at 12559 (0.4% behind). This places both chips in similar competitive strata despite their very different architectures.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different Intel design families. The Core i7-1250U uses the Alder Lake architecture on the Alder Lake-U codename, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It packs 10 cores and 12 threads, a configuration that implies a hybrid layout of performance and efficiency cores. The Atom x7809C uses the Amston Lake architecture, also on a 10 nm process, with 8 cores and 8 threads built around Gracemont efficiency cores.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. The Core i7-1250U carries 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Atom x7809C has larger per-core L1 at 96 KB, but its L2 is organized differently at 2 MB per module, and its shared L3 is half the size at 6 MB. The Core i7's larger L3 pool gives it a structural advantage in workloads with repeated data access across cores.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The Atom has a higher base clock at 2.00 GHz compared to the Core i7's 1100.00 MHz, but the Core i7 boosts much higher at 4.70 GHz versus the Atom's 3.60 GHz. The power envelopes are reversed in magnitude: the Core i7-1250U carries a 9 W TDP, while the Atom x7809C draws 25 W. The Core i7 achieves its superior single-thread results while consuming significantly less power, a notable efficiency characteristic.

Memory interfaces differ. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, but the Core i7 uses a dual-channel memory bus while the Atom uses single-channel. The Atom does list a specific memory bandwidth figure of 38.4 GB/s, a number the Core i7 entry does not provide. PCIe support also splits: the Core i7 runs Gen 4, while the Atom runs Gen 3 with 9 lanes on the CPU only. Integrated graphics separate the two completely, with the Core i7 featuring Iris Xe 96EU and the Atom having no integrated graphics at all.

The release timeline shows a two-year gap. The Core i7-1250U launched on 2022-02-22, while the Atom x7809C arrived on 2024-04-07. Both remain in active production. The Atom carries the part number SRNEN, and its launch MSRP is $117.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U wins every recorded single-thread test. It leads by 100% in Cinebench R15 single-core (226 to 113), 84.9% in PassMark single-thread (2703 to 1462), and 39.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1574 to 1129).

Q: Does the Atom x7809C win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Atom wins three tests: Cinebench R23 multicore by 11.6% (7997 to 7069), PassMark random string sorting by 13.6% (15728 to 13593), and PassMark data encryption by 2.4% (7832 to 7642).

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded performance overall?

A: The Core i7-1250U leads in most multicore tests, including Cinebench R15 multicore by 45.7%, Cinebench R20 multicore by 18.6%, and PassMark multithread by 20.4%. The Atom wins Cinebench R23 multicore, which is the most demanding render test in the dataset.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Core i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Atom x7809C has 8 cores and 8 threads. Despite fewer threads, the Atom still manages to win Cinebench R23 multicore.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Core i7-1250U has a 9 W TDP, while the Atom x7809C has a 25 W TDP. The Core i7 delivers higher single-thread performance and wins most benchmarks while drawing substantially less power.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5, but the Core i7-1250U uses a dual-channel memory bus while the Atom x7809C uses single-channel. The Atom lists a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1250U | Intel Atom x7809C |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base clock | 1100.00 MHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 9 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1781 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Amston Lake |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Amston Lake |

| Generation | Core i7 (Alder Lake-U) | Atom (Gracemont) |

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

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

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

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

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

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | N/A |

| Release date | 2022-02-22 | 2024-04-07 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $117 |

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-1250U is the choice for single-thread performance and general responsiveness. Its 100% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 84.9% lead in PassMark single-thread translate directly to snappier application launches, faster spreadsheet recalculations, and better performance in software that relies on one or two heavily loaded threads. The 39.4% edge in Cinebench R23 single-core reinforces this. The Core i7 also excels in math-heavy integer and floating-point workloads, posting 39.3% and 49.1% advantages respectively, which matters for scientific computing, financial modeling, and image processing. Its 28.4% win in PassMark physics suggests a meaningful advantage in simulation tasks. The 17.9% lead in extended instructions points to better handling of AVX-style workloads. For anyone running a mix of everyday tasks, the Core i7-1250U is the more versatile part, and it accomplishes this while drawing only 9 W.

The Atom x7809C wins where sustained multicore throughput matters most. Its 11.6% victory in Cinebench R23 multicore, the most modern render test in the dataset, shows that it can out-sustain the Core i7 in long render passes. The 13.6% win in random string sorting suggests an advantage in data processing pipelines that shuffle large volumes of text or tokens. The 2.4% edge in data encryption indicates slightly better performance in cryptographic workloads. The Atom's higher base clock of 2.00 GHz likely contributes to these wins, as does its newer 2024 release date. For embedded-style applications, rack deployments, or dedicated encryption and sorting tasks, the Atom x7809C holds a specific niche. The lack of integrated graphics means it pairs with a discrete GPU or runs headless, which suits server-like roles. Its 25 W TDP is higher, but that power budget buys sustained throughput in the workloads where it wins.

The overall percentile rankings place both chips within one point of each other, 68th for the Core i7 against 67th for the Atom, so the database positions them as near-peers in the broader CPU landscape. The Core i7-1250U is the better general-purpose processor with a dominant single-thread showing and wins across most multicore tests. The Atom x7809C is a specialized multicore performer that beats the Core i7 in render-style sustained load, string sorting, and encryption. Users prioritizing interactive performance and efficiency should favor the Core i7. Users running dedicated throughput tasks, particularly rendering or data shuffling, should consider the Atom.