Intel Atom x7211RE

The Intel Atom x7211RE is a 2-core, 2-thread mobile processor built on the 10nm Amston Lake architecture, featuring a 1000 MHz base clock and a 3.20 GHz boost clock. It targets the entry-level segment with a 6W TDP and an integrated UHD Graphics 16EU unit, placing it at the 17th percentile of all CPUs in the database. Its benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 2009 and single-core result of 283, characterize it as a low-power part designed for specific, light workloads.

How It Compares

The Intel Atom x7211RE sits in a tight cluster with its nearest rivals, all scoring within a fraction of a point of the database average of 691. The most direct comparison is the Intel Celeron G4900, which holds an identical average score of 691, resulting in a 0% delta. This implies that despite the Atom’s modern architecture and much lower power envelope, its raw compute throughput is indistinguishable from that older dual-core desktop Celeron in aggregate benchmarks.

Against the Intel Core m7-6Y75, the Atom x7211RE is ahead by a marginal 0.1% in average score (691 vs 690). This is notable because the m7-6Y75 is a fanless-oriented mobile chip from a higher-tier family; the data suggests the Atom’s Gracemont cores are competitive with that older Core-branded part, though the single-thread scores reveal a larger gap that the average masks.

The AMD Phenom II X4 840T is another rival, with a delta of 0.1% in the Atom’s favor (691 vs 690). This is significant because the Phenom has four physical cores versus the Atom’s two. The benchmark results indicate that the Atom’s higher IPC and boost clock (3.2 GHz) compensate for its core count disadvantage in the multi-threaded tests, producing nearly identical overall performance.

Finally, the Intel Xeon E5440 trails by 0.1% (692 vs 691), meaning the Atom is essentially tied with a server-class processor from over a decade ago. The data shows that architectural advancements have allowed a 6W part to match a 80W-era Xeon in these specific workloads, though the Xeon’s multi-core score in Cinebench R15 (202 vs the Atom's 202) confirms the parity is real across multiple test versions.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark data indicates this processor is suited for lightweight, single-thread-dominant tasks and embedded-style workloads. With a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 283, it falls far below any modern desktop or high-end mobile chip, so users running spreadsheet-heavy office suites, web browsing, or basic document editing will find it adequate, but not responsive under heavy multitasking.

For creation workloads, the picture is clear: the multi-core scores (Cinebench R23: 2009) are roughly 7x lower than contemporary mainstream desktop processors, meaning video rendering, 3D modeling, or large batch photo editing are impractical. The integrated UHD Graphics 16EU is a basic solution for display output, not for gaming or GPU-accelerated rendering; the data shows no benchmark results for graphics, so any gaming assessment is purely from the CPU’s compute limits.

The primary audience is industrial IoT, thin clients, or fanless point-of-sale systems where the 6W TDP and single-channel memory support are more critical than raw speed. For office use, the 2-core/2-thread configuration will handle a single active application competently, but the lack of hyper-threading means background processes will cause noticeable stutter. The 17th percentile ranking confirms it is a niche part for efficiency over performance.

Platform and Compatibility

The Atom x7211RE uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard and not user-upgradeable. It belongs to the Amston Lake architecture, part of the Atom (Gracemont) generation, which is a departure from the larger Core lineup; this socket is specific to low-power embedded and mobile boards, not standard desktop platforms.

Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5, but only in a single-channel configuration, with a bandwidth limit of 38.4 GB/s. This is a notable constraint: the data shows no dual-channel capability, which halves memory throughput compared to typical desktop parts and will amplify the performance gap in memory-sensitive workloads. ECC memory is not supported, which is a limitation for reliability-critical embedded deployments.

PCIe connectivity is limited to Gen 3 with 9 lanes from the CPU, sufficient for a single NVMe SSD and a couple of expansion cards, but far below the lane counts of desktop chips. The production status is Active, and the release date is April 2024, indicating a current product. The upgrade path is non-existent at the socket level; buyers must replace the entire board to move to a different processor, but within the same platform, the 6W TDP allows for passive cooling solutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Atom x7211RE?

A: The launch MSRP is $42.

Q: Does this processor support ECC memory?

A: No, the fact pack indicates ECC memory is false, so it does not support error-correcting memory.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does the CPU provide?

A: The CPU provides 9 lanes of PCIe Gen 3, which is a limited allocation for expansion.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth for the Atom x7211RE?

A: The memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s, achieved through single-channel DDR4 or DDR5 support.

Q: When was this processor released?

A: The release date is April 7, 2024, and it is currently marked as Active in production.

Q: What is the L3 cache size?

A: The shared L3 cache is 6 MB, with 2 MB of shared L2 and 96 KB of L1 per core.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is stark and revealing. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 283 versus the multi-core score of 2009 yields a ratio of approximately 7.1x, which is remarkably high for a 2-core part; this indicates that the multi-threaded score scales nearly linearly with core count, with minimal overhead from the single-thread result. In contrast, the Cinebench R20 scores (118 single, 843 multi) show a ratio of 7.1x as well, confirming consistent scaling behavior.

This linearity is expected for a 2-core/2-thread processor with no hyper-threading, but it also means that any workload that cannot be parallelized will be severely limited. The single-core score of 283 places it below most smartphones in 2024, so interactive tasks like code compilation or complex spreadsheet recalculation will feel sluggish. The multi-core score, while higher, is still low in absolute terms; the data suggests that the chip is balanced for its core count, but that balance is at a very low performance ceiling.

For real workloads, this means the Atom x7211RE is a single-task processor. Running a web browser with multiple tabs will push the single-core thread to its limit, and background antivirus scans will consume the second core, causing UI delays. The 3.2 GHz boost clock helps burst performance, but the 1000 MHz base clock indicates sustained loads will drop significantly, likely under thermal or power constraints given the 6W TDP.

Benchmark Performance

The Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 202, which matches the Intel Xeon E5440 exactly and ties with the Celeron G4900’s aggregate. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score of 843 and single-core of 118 show a 7.1x ratio, consistent with the R23 results. The R23 multi-core score of 2009 is 27% higher than the R20 result when normalized for the test’s scaling, but the absolute numbers still place the chip in the bottom quartile.

Comparing to rivals, the 0% delta against the Celeron G4900 is the headline: a 2024 Atom matches a 2018 Celeron in average score. The 0.1% lead over the Core m7-6Y75 and Phenom II X4 840T is within noise, but the fact that a 2-core Atom outpaces a 4-core Phenom in aggregate is due to the Phenom’s older architecture and lower single-thread performance. The -0.1% deficit against the Xeon E5440 is negligible, but it shows that the Atom’s boost clock cannot fully overcome the Xeon’s older but wider execution resources.

The avgBenchmarkScore of 691 is the central datum, and the percentile of 17 means it outperforms only 17% of all CPUs in the database. This is not a processor for competitive benchmarking; it is for power-constrained environments. The data shows that in Cinebench R23, the Atom’s multi-core score is 2009, while the single-core is 283; this 7.1x ratio is higher than typical 4-core parts (which often show 4-5x), highlighting the lack of hyper-threading inefficiency.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is 6 watts, which is among the lowest in the database, and this single figure dominates the thermal analysis. A 6W processor can be cooled passively with a small heatsink or a tiny fanless chassis, making it ideal for fanless industrial PCs or embedded systems where noise and dust are concerns. The boost clock of 3.2 GHz is achievable only in short bursts, as the 1000 MHz base clock suggests sustained loads will throttle to that level to stay within the 6W envelope.

The integrated UHD Graphics 16EU shares the same thermal budget, so any GPU activity will directly reduce CPU boost headroom. The data does not provide separate power draw for the iGPU, but the 6W total implies that gaming or video playback will cause the CPU cores to drop to base clock. Cooling tier required is minimal: a passive aluminum heatsink is sufficient, and the socket BGA 1264 reinforces that this is a soldered, low-profile solution.

The 10nm process node from Intel helps achieve this efficiency, but the real-world implication is that the Atom x7211RE is not a performance part. It is a thermal design point first, and the benchmark scores are secondary. For users, this means no dedicated GPU is needed for basic tasks, but any expectation of sustained multi-threaded performance is unrealistic; the chip will deliver its 2009 Cinebench R23 score only in short bursts before settling to base clock. The 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is also constrained by the single-channel bus, which further limits power draw but also caps throughput.