Intel Atom x7835RE vs Intel Core i5-8350U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database shows a surprisingly decisive overall picture, but not in the direction one might expect from the product names. The Intel Atom x7835RE wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-8350U takes only 5. Yet the nature of those wins reveals a fascinating split between raw compute throughput and specific workload efficiency.

In the Cinebench suite, the Atom x7835RE is consistently ahead by nearly the same margin across every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 609 against the Core i5-8350U's 521, a 16.9% advantage. The single-core result tells a similar story: 85 versus 73, a 16.4% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Atom extends its edge to exactly 17% in both multicore (2541 vs 2172) and single-core (358 vs 306). The R23 results mirror this pattern: 6051 versus 5173 in multicore and 854 versus 730 in single-core, again a 17% gap. This consistency across all three Cinebench versions suggests the Atom's architecture scales its advantage uniformly regardless of workload size or rendering complexity.

The PassMark tests paint a more nuanced picture. The Atom x7835RE dominates in data encryption with a staggering 168.9% lead, scoring 5579 against the Core i5-8350U's 2075. That is not an incremental improvement; it is a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle cryptographic workloads. The Atom also wins in find prime numbers (23 vs 19, up 21.1%), floating point math (16236 vs 13422, up 21%), and integer math (26623 vs 22244, up 19.7%). The multithread score favors the Atom at 7119 versus 6129, a 16.2% margin, and physics testing shows 500 versus 428, a 16.8% lead.

However, the Core i5-8350U fights back in specific areas. Its single-thread PassMark score of 1996 crushes the Atom's 1599, a 19.9% advantage. It also wins in extended instructions (5243 vs 3617, a 31% lead), data compression (79781 vs 76736, up 3.8%), and random string sorting (10651 vs 10180, up 4.4%). These wins are not trivial, but they are concentrated in narrower domains. The encryption result is particularly striking: the Atom's 168.9% advantage there dwarfs any single win the Core i5 manages.

Where Each One Wins

The data suggests the Intel Atom x7835RE is built for parallel, compute-heavy workloads that can exploit its 8 cores and 8 threads. Its wins in Cinebench multicore, floating point math, integer math, physics, and prime number finding all point to a processor that scales well across cores. The encryption result is the standout: a near-tripling of the Core i5-8350U's score indicates either superior hardware acceleration or a much more efficient implementation of cryptographic algorithms. For anyone running rendering tasks, scientific calculations, or encryption-heavy server workloads, the Atom is clearly the stronger choice.

The Core i5-8350U, despite having half the physical cores (4 vs 8), retains a significant edge in single-threaded performance. Its PassMark single-thread score of 1996 versus 1599 shows that individual cores are substantially more powerful. The 31% lead in extended instructions suggests better support for advanced SIMD or specialized instruction sets, which matters for media encoding, certain scientific simulations, or any code that leverages those instructions. The wins in data compression and random string sorting are smaller but real, indicating that the Core i5 handles memory-heavy, pattern-based workloads more efficiently.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The Atom x7835RE posts an average benchmark score of 9430, placing it at the 65th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180 (average score 9406, a 0.3% difference) and the Intel Core i7-7700HQ (9493, a 0.7% difference). The Core i5-8350U averages 8998, also at the 65th percentile, with nearest rivals like the Intel Core i5-1135G7 (9053, down 0.6%) and the Intel Core i7-8650U (8932, up 0.7%). Both processors sit in the same percentile tier, but the Atom holds a 4.8% higher average score.

The Verdict

For multi-threaded, compute-intensive applications, the Intel Atom x7835RE is the clear choice. Its 17% lead across all Cinebench versions, 21% in floating point math, and 168.9% in encryption make it the superior processor for rendering, scientific computing, cryptography, and any workload that can utilize 8 cores. The data shows it consistently outperforms the Core i5-8350U in every multicore test, often by margins that would translate to noticeably shorter completion times in real-world tasks.

The Intel Core i5-8350U is the pick for single-threaded performance and instruction-set-specific workloads. Its 19.9% lead in PassMark single-thread, 31% lead in extended instructions, and wins in compression and string sorting make it better suited for legacy software, lightly threaded applications, or code that relies heavily on specialized instructions. It also draws more power (15W TDP vs 12W), so for battery-sensitive mobile use with mostly single-threaded tasks, the Core i5 may still hold an edge.

The overall average benchmark scores, however, favor the Atom: 9430 versus 8998. The database places both at the 65th percentile, but the Atom's higher absolute scores and broader win count (12 vs 5) suggest it is the more capable all-around processor. The Core i5-8350U is not obsolete, but its advantages are narrower and more specialized. For most users looking at these two, the Atom x7835RE delivers more performance per test, per watt, and per benchmark dollar.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Atom x7835RE scores 6051, while the Intel Core i5-8350U scores 5173. That is a 17% advantage for the Atom.

Q: How much faster is the Core i5-8350U in single-threaded PassMark tests?

A: The Core i5-8350U scores 1996 versus the Atom's 1599, a 19.9% lead. This is the largest single-thread win for either processor.

Q: What is the most lopsided benchmark result in the comparison?

A: PassMark data encryption: the Atom x7835RE scores 5579 against the Core i5-8350U's 2075, a 168.9% difference. No other test comes close to this margin.

Q: Do both processors share the same L3 cache size?

A: Yes, both have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the L1 and L2 caches differ: the Atom has 96 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per module, while the Core i5 has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i5-8350U has a 15W TDP, while the Intel Atom x7835RE has a 12W TDP. The Atom consumes less power despite having more cores.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Atom x7835RE averages 9430, while the Core i5-8350U averages 8998. Both sit at the 65th percentile of all CPUs, but the Atom leads by roughly 4.8%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families and manufacturing nodes. The Intel Atom x7835RE uses the Amston Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-8350U uses the Kaby Lake architecture (specifically Kaby Lake-R) on a 14 nm process. This generational gap explains much of the performance divergence: the Atom's newer node allows for 8 cores at a lower 12W TDP, whereas the Core i5 manages only 4 cores at 15W.

The core counts differ significantly: 8 cores and 8 threads for the Atom versus 4 cores and 8 threads for the Core i5. Both support 8 threads total, but the Atom achieves this with physical cores while the Core i5 relies on Hyper-Threading. The cache hierarchy also differs. The Atom has 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per module, while the Core i5 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is identical at 6 MB shared.

Memory support diverges as well. The Atom supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i5 supports only DDR4, with no recorded memory bus or bandwidth data in the database. The Atom also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i5 has no recorded PCIe data. Integrated graphics differ: the Atom features UHD Graphics 32EU, while the Core i5 has UHD 620. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The sockets are different: the Atom uses Intel BGA 1264, and the Core i5 uses Intel BGA 1356. The Atom's part number is SRNER, and the Core i5's is SR3L9. The Atom was released on April 7, 2024, with a launch MSRP of $127, while the Core i5 was released on August 20, 2017, with no recorded launch MSRP. The Atom is built on the Amston Lake generation classified as "Atom (Gracemont)", while the Core i5 belongs to "Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh)". Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the database records.

| Specification | Intel Atom x7835RE | Intel Core i5-8350U |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.30 GHz | 1700.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 12W | 15W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel BGA 1356 |

| Architecture | Amston Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Amston Lake | Kaby Lake-R |

| Generation | Atom (Gracemont) | Core i5 (Kaby Lake-U Refresh) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 123 mm² |

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Not recorded |

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

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 32EU | UHD 620 |

| Release Date | 2024-04-07 | 2017-08-20 |

| Launch MSRP | $127 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SRNER | SR3L9 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 9430 | 8998 |

| Benchmark Wins (Head-to-Head) | 12 | 5 |

The base clock figures require careful reading: the Atom lists 1.30 GHz, while the Core i5 lists 1700.00 GHz, which appears to be a data-entry representation of 1.70 GHz. Both processors boost to 3.60 GHz, so the effective single-core ceiling is identical, yet the Atom still wins every Cinebench single-core test. The Core i5's die size of 123 mm² is recorded, while the Atom's is not. The Atom's dual memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) and higher memory bandwidth give it a clear platform advantage for modern memory-intensive workloads.