Intel Atom x7835RE vs Intel Core i7-7700HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7700HQ and Intel Atom x7835RE are a study in contrasts, separated by seven years of silicon evolution yet landing within 0.7% of each other in average benchmark score. The i7-7700HQ, a 2017 Kaby Lake-H part, edges out the 2024 Amston Lake Atom by a razor-thin margin: an average score of 9493 versus 9430. The verdict from the data is clear: the Atom x7835RE wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench iteration, while the i7-7700HQ counters with decisive wins in single-threaded PassMark (2045 vs 1599, a 27.9% lead), data compression (97136 vs 76736, 26.6% ahead), and extended instructions (6218 vs 3617, a 71.9% advantage). For workloads dominated by raw integer math, floating-point throughput, and multi-threaded rendering, the Atom is the pick. For single-thread speed and specific data-handling tasks, the older i7 remains relevant. Both sit at the 65th percentile of all CPUs, meaning either will slot into the same performance tier.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. The Intel Atom x7835RE is the better all-around performer for modern multi-threaded workloads, winning every Cinebench benchmark: R15 multicore (609 vs 589, 3.3% ahead), R20 multicore (2541 vs 2457, 3.3% ahead), and R23 multicore (6051 vs 5852, 3.3% ahead). It also dominates in PassMark integer math (26623 vs 22143, 16.8% ahead) and floating-point math (16236 vs 13678, 15.8% ahead). If your application leans on parallel processing or math-heavy algorithms, the Atom x7835RE is the data-backed choice.

The Intel Core i7-7700HQ, however, is not obsolete. It wins the PassMark single-thread test decisively (2045 vs 1599, 27.9% ahead), a gap that matters for lightly threaded software. It also crushes the Atom in data compression (97136 vs 76736, 26.6% ahead) and extended instructions (6218 vs 3617, 71.9% ahead), suggesting better SIMD or specialized instruction handling. The i7 also wins random string sorting (12512 vs 10180, 22.9% ahead). For users prioritizing single-core responsiveness or those specific data tasks, the i7-7700HQ remains viable. Otherwise, the Atom x7835RE’s 12-win count in head-to-head tests makes it the default recommendation.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of Intel’s design spectrum. The i7-7700HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H architecture on a 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². It is a traditional high-performance mobile part with 4 cores and 8 threads, designed for laptops that need sustained speed. Its cache layout is per-core: 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2, with a shared 6 MB L3. It supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, and its integrated graphics are Intel HD Graphics 630.

The Atom x7835RE is built on Amston Lake, using the Gracemont core architecture on a 10 nm process. It has 8 cores but only 8 threads, meaning no hyper-threading; each Gracemont core is single-threaded. Its cache differs: 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per module, and the same 6 MB shared L3. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory but over a single-channel bus, with a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 32EU. The i7-7700HQ has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Atom has 9. The i7 uses Intel BGA 1440 socket; the Atom uses BGA 1264. The i7 is end-of-life, released in January 2017, while the Atom is active, released in April 2024.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in PassMark data encryption. The Atom x7835RE scores 5579 versus the i7-7700HQ’s 2366, a massive 57.6% advantage. This is the largest margin of any test in either direction. The Atom also wins PassMark find prime numbers (23 vs 22, 4.3% ahead), physics (500 vs 489, 2.2% ahead), and multithread (7119 vs 6881, 3.3% ahead). Across all Cinebench tests, the Atom leads by a consistent 2.4% to 3.4%, whether single-core or multi-core.

The i7-7700HQ’s biggest win is PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 6218 against the Atom’s 3617, a 71.9% gap. It also leads in PassMark single-thread (2045 vs 1599, 27.9% ahead) and the duplicate singlethread result (same 27.9% lead). Data compression favors the i7 at 97136 vs 76736, a 26.6% edge, and random string sorting goes to the i7 at 12512 vs 10180, a 22.9% advantage. Notably, the i7’s single-thread PassMark score of 2045 is higher than the Atom’s 1599, yet the Atom still wins Cinebench R15 single-core (85 vs 83). This suggests the Atom’s Gracemont cores handle Cinebench’s specific load better, while the i7 excels in PassMark’s single-thread test.

Specification Differences

• Cores: 4 (i7-7700HQ) vs 8 (Atom x7835RE)
• Threads: 8 (i7-7700HQ) vs 8 (Atom x7835RE)
• Base clock: 2.80 GHz (i7-7700HQ) vs 1.30 GHz (Atom x7835RE)
• Boost clock: 3.80 GHz (i7-7700HQ) vs 3.60 GHz (Atom x7835RE)
• TDP: 45 W (i7-7700HQ) vs 12 W (Atom x7835RE)
• Process node: 14 nm (i7-7700HQ) vs 10 nm (Atom x7835RE)
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core (i7-7700HQ) vs 96 KB per core (Atom x7835RE)
• L2 cache: 256 KB per core (i7-7700HQ) vs 2 MB per module (Atom x7835RE)
• Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 (i7-7700HQ) vs DDR4, DDR5 (Atom x7835RE)
• Memory bus: Dual-channel (i7-7700HQ) vs Single-channel (Atom x7835RE)
• Memory bandwidth: Not listed (i7-7700HQ) vs 38.4 GB/s (Atom x7835RE)
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (i7-7700HQ) vs Gen 3, 9 Lanes (Atom x7835RE)
• Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630 (i7-7700HQ) vs UHD Graphics 32EU (Atom x7835RE)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1440 (i7-7700HQ) vs Intel BGA 1264 (Atom x7835RE)
• Production status: End-of-life (i7-7700HQ) vs Active (Atom x7835RE)
• Release date: 2017-01-02 (i7-7700HQ) vs 2024-04-07 (Atom x7835RE)

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-7700HQ has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 9493, compared to the Intel Atom x7835RE’s 9430, a 0.7% difference.

Q: Does the Atom x7835RE win every benchmark?

A: No. The Atom wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the i7-7700HQ wins 5, including PassMark single-thread (2045 vs 1599), data compression (97136 vs 76736), extended instructions (6218 vs 3617), and random string sorting (12512 vs 10180).

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The Atom x7835RE leads in both R23 multicore (6051 vs 5852, 3.3% ahead) and R23 single-core (854 vs 826, 3.3% ahead).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in either direction?

A: The largest win for the Atom is PassMark data encryption (5579 vs 2366, 57.6% ahead). The largest win for the i7-7700HQ is PassMark extended instructions (6218 vs 3617, 71.9% ahead).

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Atom x7835RE has 8 cores, while the i7-7700HQ has 4 cores. Both have 8 threads, so the Atom has no hyper-threading.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The i7-7700HQ has a TDP of 45 W, while the Atom x7835RE has a TDP of 12 W. The Atom is designed for much lower power draw.

Where Each One Wins

The Atom x7835RE wins in every Cinebench test, from R15 single-core (85 vs 83) to R23 multicore (6051 vs 5852). It also wins PassMark integer math (26623 vs 22143), floating-point math (16236 vs 13678), multithread (7119 vs 6881), physics (500 vs 489), find prime numbers (23 vs 22), and data encryption (5579 vs 2366). This pattern points to a processor that excels in modern, multi-threaded, and math-intensive workloads. The 8 Gracemont cores, despite a lower 1.30 GHz base clock, deliver competitive or better throughput than the i7’s 4 Kaby Lake cores at 2.80 GHz. For rendering, scientific computing, or any workload that scales across cores, the Atom is the pick.

The i7-7700HQ wins PassMark single-thread (2045 vs 1599) and the identical singlethread test, a 27.9% margin that will be felt in older or single-threaded applications. It also wins data compression (97136 vs 76736), extended instructions (6218 vs 3617), and random string sorting (12512 vs 10180). These wins suggest a stronger implementation for certain data-handling tasks, particularly those that benefit from the i7’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz and possibly its dual-channel memory. For users working with compression algorithms, sorting, or legacy single-threaded software, the i7-7700HQ remains the better choice despite its age.