Atom x5-E8000 vs Pentium Gold 4417U

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Atom x5-E8000 vs Pentium Gold 4417U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Atom x5-E8000 vs Pentium Gold 4417U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Atom x5-E8000

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $143 less on MSRP ($18 MSRP vs $161 MSRP).
✅Delivers 788.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 178.8 vs 20.1 PassMark/$ ($18 MSRP vs $161 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), while Pentium Gold 4417U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,219 vs 3,240).
❌400% higher power demand at 5W vs 1W.

Pentium Gold 4417U

2019

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 1W instead of 5W, a 4W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Atom x5-E8000 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.1 vs 178.8 PassMark/$ ($161 MSRP vs $18 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom x5-E8000 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold 4417U better than Atom x5-E8000?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Atom x5-E8000 is ahead with a 4.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold 4417U pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold 4417U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium Gold 4417U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Gold 4417U comes in 794.4% more expensive on MSRP at $161 MSRP versus $18 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. Atom x5-E8000 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2016 platform. Even with 788.6% better value on paper (178.8 vs 20.1 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on that older platform.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium Gold 4417U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Atom x5-E8000 vs Pentium Gold 4417U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Atom x5-E8000

The Atom x5-E8000 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 February 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.04 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,219 points. Launch price was $39.

Pentium Gold 4417U

The Pentium Gold 4417U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 February 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,240 points. Launch price was $161.

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Processing Power

The Atom x5-E8000 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium Gold 4417U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x5-E8000 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.04 GHz on the Atom x5-E8000 versus 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Gold 4417U — a 75.4% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold 4417U. The Atom x5-E8000 uses the Cherry Trail (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium Gold 4417U uses Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x5-E8000 scores 3,219 against the Pentium Gold 4417U's 3,240 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium Gold 4417U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Atom x5-E8000 vs 2 MB on the Pentium Gold 4417U.

Feature	Atom x5-E8000	Pentium Gold 4417U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1.04 GHz	2.3 GHz+121%
Base Clock	—	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Cherry Trail (2015−2016)	Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019)
PassMark	3,219	3,240

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Advanced Features

The Atom x5-E8000 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Braswell)), while the Pentium Gold 4417U requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Atom x5-E8000	Pentium Gold 4417U
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics (Braswell)	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Atom x5-E8000 was priced at $18, while the Pentium Gold 4417U came in at $161. On launch pricing ($18 vs $161), Atom x5-E8000 was $143 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Atom x5-E8000 delivers 178.8 pts/$ vs 20.1 pts/$ for the Pentium Gold 4417U — making the Atom x5-E8000 the 159.5% better value option.

Feature	Atom x5-E8000	Pentium Gold 4417U
MSRP	$18-89%	$161
Performance per Dollar	178.8+790%	20.1
Release Date	2016	2019

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