Intel Atom x7405C

Platform and Compatibility

The Intel Atom x7405C is a mobile-segment processor built on the Amston Lake architecture, specifically the Gracemont core generation, and is manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node. It uses the soldered Intel BGA 1264 socket, meaning it is not a socketed desktop part but rather designed for embedded or compact mobile systems where the processor is permanently attached to the motherboard.

Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5, though the memory bus is single-channel. This is a notable limitation for bandwidth-sensitive workloads, as the single-channel configuration caps theoretical memory bandwidth at 38.4 GB/s. The platform does not support ECC memory, which is worth noting for reliability-focused industrial use cases. For expansion, the CPU provides PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes available from the processor itself, which is sufficient for basic NVMe storage and lower-bandwidth add-in cards, but not for multi-GPU or high-throughput storage arrays.

Regarding upgrade path, the BGA 1264 socket is a fixed, non-upgradeable platform. The processor is soldered, so end users cannot swap the CPU for a higher-tier part. The system's longevity depends entirely on the motherboard design and whether the manufacturer planned for future firmware updates. The processor's production status is listed as Active, and it was released in April 2024. The part number is SRNEM, and the multiplier is locked, so no overclocking or performance tuning via clock multipliers is available.

Power and Thermals

The Atom x7405C has a TDP rating of 12 watts. This places it firmly in the ultra-low-power category, comparable to fanless or passively cooled designs found in thin-and-light notebooks, industrial PCs, or fanless embedded boxes. The 12 W TDP implies that a modest cooling solution—such as a small heatsink or a low-profile fan—is more than adequate. In practice, this processor can be cooled effectively in tightly constrained chassis where active cooling is noisy or undesirable.

Because the TDP is so low, the thermal envelope is forgiving. Systems using this chip do not require robust VRM designs, large heat pipes, or liquid cooling. The power draw is low enough that thermal throttling is unlikely under typical sustained loads, assuming the chassis has any minimal airflow. For battery-powered devices, the 12 W TDP also implies long runtimes when paired with appropriately sized batteries, though the single-channel memory and modest core count will limit overall performance.

The architecture is based on Gracemont efficiency cores, which are designed for power efficiency rather than raw throughput. The base clock is 1700 MHz, and the boost clock reaches 3.40 GHz. The boost behavior will depend on thermal headroom and power limits set by the system integrator, but with a 12 W envelope, sustained all-core boost is likely limited. Single-core bursts to 3.40 GHz should be achievable, but multi-threaded workloads may settle closer to the base clock.

Who Should Consider It

The Intel Atom x7405C is not a high-performance part, and the benchmark data confirms it sits at the 50th percentile among all CPUs. That means it is exactly average in the global distribution of processor performance, which for a 4-core, 4-thread chip is expected. It will handle basic office productivity—word processing, spreadsheets, web browsing, and email—without significant difficulty, provided the software is not overly demanding.

For gaming, this processor is not suitable for modern AAA titles or esports titles at high frame rates. The 4 threads and single-channel memory bandwidth will bottleneck even mid-range discrete GPUs. Integrated graphics are not listed in the fact pack, so any display output would require a discrete GPU or a motherboard with its own graphics solution. Casual or legacy 2D games may run, but the data does not support recommending this chip for gaming workloads.

Creation workloads, such as video editing, 3D rendering, or large-scale photo manipulation, are also outside this processor's comfort zone. The lack of multi-threading (4 cores, 4 threads) and the low memory bandwidth will result in long render times and sluggish timeline scrubbing. However, for fanless digital signage, lightweight web servers, network appliances, or IoT gateways, the 12 W TDP and active production status make it a viable choice. The support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives system integrators flexibility in memory sourcing, which is valuable in supply-constrained environments.

Office users who prioritize silence and low power consumption over speed will find the x7405C adequate for daily tasks. The single-channel memory may cause noticeable lag when multitasking with many browser tabs or large spreadsheets, but for sequential, single-app usage, the boost clock of 3.40 GHz provides responsive single-threaded performance.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Atom x7405C support ECC memory?

A: No, the fact pack explicitly lists ECC memory support as false.

Q: What is the maximum boost clock speed?

A: The boost clock is 3.40 GHz, while the base clock is 1700 MHz.

Q: Is this processor socketed or soldered?

A: It uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket, which is a ball-grid array, meaning the CPU is soldered to the motherboard and not user-replaceable.

Q: What memory types are supported?

A: The processor supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but only in a single-channel configuration.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does the CPU provide?

A: The CPU provides 9 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Q: What is the release date and launch MSRP?

A: The release date is April 7, 2024, and the launch MSRP is $57.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark section for the Intel Atom x7405C is notably sparse: there are no individual benchmark scores listed, and the nearestRivals array is empty. The only performance-related data points are the average benchmark score of 0 and the percentile versus all CPUs, which is 50. The percentile of 50 indicates that this processor performs better than exactly half of all CPUs in the database and worse than the other half. This is a median position, not a stand-out figure.

Without specific rival comparisons or deltas, the analysis must rely on the architectural characteristics. The 4-core, 4-thread configuration with Gracemont cores is designed for efficiency, not high throughput. The single-channel memory bus at 38.4 GB/s is a clear bottleneck for any memory-intensive task. In multi-threaded workloads, the lack of Hyper-Threading (4 threads for 4 cores) means each core handles one thread, which limits parallel efficiency compared to processors with simultaneous multi-threading.

The boost clock of 3.40 GHz is respectable for a 12 W part, and single-threaded performance should be adequate for legacy applications or lightly threaded tasks. However, the base clock of 1700 MHz indicates that sustained all-core loads will run at a much lower frequency, likely around 1.7 GHz or slightly above, depending on power limits. This creates a large gap between peak single-core performance and sustained multi-core performance.

In the absence of rival data, the only meaningful comparison is the global percentile. At 50, the x7405C is not a performance leader, nor is it a laggard. It sits in the middle of the distribution, which is consistent with its positioning as a low-power embedded or entry-level mobile chip. Systems using this processor should be configured with realistic expectations: it will boot quickly, handle light productivity, and run indefinitely on low power, but it will not compete with mainstream desktop or high-end mobile processors in compute-heavy scenarios.

The fact that the average benchmark score is 0 suggests that either no benchmark results have been submitted for this processor, or the database has not yet aggregated any runs. This makes it impossible to provide exact percentage deltas versus rivals, as the nearestRivals list is empty. The data indicates that the x7405C is a niche product, likely found in specialized industrial or embedded systems where power consumption is prioritized over raw performance. For those use cases, the 50th percentile ranking is acceptable, as the alternatives in the same power class would show similar trade-offs.