Intel Atom E3845

The Intel Atom E3845 is a 4-core, 4-thread Silvermont-based mobile processor from the Bay Trail-I generation, built on Intel's 22 nm process. Launched in October 2013, this part is engineered for low-power embedded and mobile scenarios, with benchmark data placing it at the very bottom of the performance spectrum, at the 1st percentile of all CPUs tested. Its average benchmark score of 312 points sits in a tightly contested cluster of older desktop and mobile parts, where a few points separate it from its nearest rivals.

Benchmark Performance

The E3845's benchmark results reveal a processor that delivers consistent but modest output across rendering workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the chip scores 91 points, while its R20 multi-core result reaches 381 points. The R23 multi-core test, which is more demanding, yields 908 points. These figures indicate that the processor can complete basic rendering tasks, but its performance class is firmly entry-level.

The average benchmark score of 312 places the E3845 in a virtual tie with the Intel Celeron G550T (313 points, delta -0.4%). The 1-point gap between these two parts is statistically negligible, meaning the E3845 and the Celeron G550T offer nearly identical aggregate performance. Similarly, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ scores 314 points, a 0.6% margin over the Atom, which again falls within run-to-run variance for such low absolute scores. On the other side, the AMD A4-3300M trails at 310 points (0.8% slower), and the Intel Pentium E5500 posts 309 points (1.1% slower). These deltas, all under 2%, demonstrate that the E3845 sits in an extremely narrow performance band where no rival holds a meaningful advantage.

In Cinebench R20 single-core, the E3845 scores 53 points, which is roughly 14% of its multi-core R20 score of 381. This ratio suggests that scaling from one core to four cores is nearly perfect in this workload, as expected for a processor with no turbo boost and four identical physical cores. The R23 single-core score of 128 points versus a multi-core score of 908 yields a similar scaling factor of about 7.1x, indicating that the multi-threaded workload efficiently utilizes all available cores.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The E3845 has no boost clock, with a fixed base frequency of 1910 MHz across all four cores. This design choice means single-threaded performance is entirely dependent on the Silvermont architecture's IPC at that clock speed. The R20 single-core score of 53 and R23 single-core score of 128 reflect a processor that handles basic office tasks, web browsing, and light productivity, but will struggle with any modern application that demands high per-core throughput.

The multi-threaded results tell a more favorable story for the E3845's intended workload. The R23 multi-core score of 908 is 7.1 times the single-core score, which is close to the theoretical maximum of 8x for a 4-core/4-thread part. This near-linear scaling indicates that the processor's memory subsystem and cache hierarchy (64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core) do not bottleneck parallel workloads. For embedded applications that run multiple lightweight threads simultaneously, such as point-of-sale systems, industrial controllers, or network appliances, the E3845 can leverage all four cores effectively.

However, the absolute scores remain low. In R20, the multi-core score of 381 is only slightly above the single-core scores of its rivals from a decade earlier. The single-thread deficit is the E3845's primary weakness; its 1910 MHz base clock, without any boost headroom, places it at a significant disadvantage against any processor with higher clocks or newer architecture. Real-world workloads that are single-threaded, such as legacy software or single-threaded scripting, will see performance closer to the 53-point R20 single-core score, which is near the floor of usability for modern desktop operating systems.

Power and Thermals

The E3845 carries a 10 W TDP, which classifies it as an ultra-low-power part. This thermal envelope is a defining characteristic of the Bay Trail-I platform, enabling fanless designs in compact embedded systems. The 22 nm process node from Intel helps achieve this low power draw while maintaining a 1910 MHz base clock across four cores.

The thermal implications are straightforward: the 10 W TDP allows for passive cooling in most chassis, or at most a small, low-profile fan. No dedicated high-performance cooling solution is required. Benchmark data does not include thermal throttling indicators, but the absence of a boost clock means the processor operates at a constant frequency, which simplifies thermal management, there is no transient power spike to account for. System integrators can design around a steady 10 W load, which is a distinct advantage for battery-powered devices or those in sealed enclosures.

The trade-off is performance density. At 10 W, the E3845 delivers an average benchmark score of 312, whereas a higher-TDP part like the Celeron G550T (which likely draws significantly more power) only achieves 313 points. This suggests that the E3845 provides competitive performance per watt against its nearest rivals, though those rivals are also older, less efficient designs. For applications where power consumption and heat dissipation are primary constraints, rather than raw speed, the 10 W TDP is a strong selling point.

Platform and Compatibility

The E3845 uses the Intel BGA 1170 socket, which means it is soldered directly to the motherboard and is not upgradeable. This is typical for embedded and mobile processors, where the CPU is part of a system-on-chip design that includes integrated HD Graphics. The platform supports DDR3 memory, though the fact pack does not specify memory channels, bus width, or maximum capacity. ECC memory is not supported, which limits the processor's appeal in mission-critical server or workstation roles that require error-correcting memory.

The integrated HD Graphics provides basic display output capabilities, sufficient for simple interfaces and video playback, but not for gaming or GPU-accelerated compute. The PCIe configuration is not specified in the available data, so expansion capabilities remain undefined. The production status is listed as "Active," meaning the part is still available for new designs despite its 2013 launch date. The part number SR1RE identifies the specific stepping.

From a platform perspective, the BGA 1170 socket and soldered design mean that system builders must select the E3845 at the motherboard level. There is no upgrade path to a faster CPU later; the entire board must be replaced. The memory support for DDR3, while older, is still common in embedded systems. The lack of ECC support is a notable omission for industrial applications that often require data integrity, but the low TDP and active production status suggest Intel continues to serve this niche market.

How It Compares

Intel Celeron G550T: The E3845 trails the Celeron G550T by a razor-thin 0.4% in average benchmark score (312 vs. 313). This is effectively a dead heat. The G550T, presumably a desktop part with a different architecture, offers no practical performance advantage. The E3845 counters with a far lower 10 W TDP, making it the better choice for power-constrained designs where the G550T's thermal requirements would necessitate active cooling.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+: The Athlon 64 X2 6000+ posts a 314 average score, just 0.6% ahead of the E3845. This rival is a dual-core desktop processor from a much older AMD generation. The E3845's quad-core configuration provides better multi-threaded scaling, but the Athlon's higher per-core clock speeds likely give it an edge in single-threaded tasks. The 10 W TDP of the E3845 versus the Athlon's significantly higher power draw makes the Atom a superior embedded option.

AMD A4-3300M: The A4-3300M scores 310, which is 0.8% slower than the E3845. This AMD mobile part is a Fusion APU with integrated graphics. The E3845's marginal lead in aggregate benchmarks is offset by the A4's likely better integrated GPU performance, though the fact pack provides no graphics scores. For CPU-bound workloads, the E3845 holds a slight edge, and its 10 W TDP is competitive for mobile/embedded use.

Intel Pentium E5500: The Pentium E5500 scores 309, placing it 1.1% behind the E3845. This is a dual-core desktop processor without hyper-threading. The E3845's four physical cores give it a clear advantage in multi-threaded applications, as evidenced by its near-linear scaling in Cinebench R23. The Pentium may win in single-threaded tasks due to higher clock speeds, but the E3845's superior core count and power efficiency make it the more balanced part for parallel embedded workloads.