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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Atom x7211RE

2024

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Draws 6W instead of 512W, a 506W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1264 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1023 and older memory support.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i5-3437U

2013

Why buy it

✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,166 vs 2,188).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).
❌8433.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 6W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1023, while Atom x7211RE moves to FCBGA1264 and DDR5.

Atom x7211RE

2024

Core i5-3437U

2013

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Draws 6W instead of 512W, a 506W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1264 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1023 and older memory support.

Why buy it

✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,166 vs 2,188).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 6 MB).
❌8433.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 6W.
❌Older platform position on BGA1023, while Atom x7211RE moves to FCBGA1264 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom x7211RE better than Core i5-3437U?

Yes. Atom x7211RE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 1% better PassMark and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Atom x7211RE is the better fit because it leads the single-thread side of the matchup with 10.3% higher max boost clock.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Atom x7211RE is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB).

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

Atom x7211RE still looks like the safer overall buy. Atom x7211RE is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 1.0% higher PassMark.

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

Atom x7211RE is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2013), a healthier platform with FCBGA1264 and DDR5 instead of BGA1023, 100% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 3 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Atom x7211RE Benchmark Check

Core i5-3437U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Atom x7211RE	Core i5-3437U
1080p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS
1440p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	51 FPS	54 FPS
high	39 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	31 FPS	34 FPS

Open Atom x7211RE Open Core i5-3437U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Atom x7211RE	Core i5-3437U
1080p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	44 FPS
1440p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	52 FPS
high	53 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	39 FPS
4K
low	48 FPS	43 FPS
medium	43 FPS	38 FPS
high	32 FPS	28 FPS
ultra	22 FPS	20 FPS

Open Atom x7211RE Open Core i5-3437U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Atom x7211RE	Core i5-3437U
1080p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS
1440p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS

Open Atom x7211RE Open Core i5-3437U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Atom x7211RE	Core i5-3437U
1080p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS
1440p
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	54 FPS
medium	55 FPS	54 FPS
high	55 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	54 FPS

Open Atom x7211RE Open Core i5-3437U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Atom x7211RE and Core i5-3437U

Atom x7211RE

The Atom x7211RE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Amston Lake (2024−2025) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 2,188 points. Launch price was $42.

Core i5-3437U

The Core i5-3437U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,166 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Atom x7211RE packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-3437U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Atom x7211RE versus 2.9 GHz on the Core i5-3437U — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Atom x7211RE (base: 1 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Atom x7211RE uses the Amston Lake (2024−2025) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i5-3437U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x7211RE scores 2,188 against the Core i5-3437U's 2,166 — a 1% lead for the Atom x7211RE. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Atom x7211RE vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3437U.

Feature	Atom x7211RE	Core i5-3437U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+10%	2.9 GHz
Base Clock	1 GHz	1.9 GHz+90%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)+100%	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (total)+700%	256K (per core)
Process	10 nm-55%	22 nm
Architecture	Amston Lake (2024−2025)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,188+1%	2,166
Geekbench 6 Single	—	440
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,080

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Atom x7211RE uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-3437U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-4800 on the Atom x7211RE versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-3437U — the Atom x7211RE supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (Atom x7211RE) vs 2 (Core i5-3437U). PCIe lanes: 8 (Atom x7211RE) vs 16 (Core i5-3437U) — the Core i5-3437U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel BGA1264 (Atom x7211RE) and QM77,QS77 (Core i5-3437U).

Feature	Atom x7211RE	Core i5-3437U
Socket	FCBGA1264	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-4800+67%	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	32 GB
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics (16 EU) (Atom x7211RE) and Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3437U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Atom x7211RE targets Embedded, Core i5-3437U targets Business Ultrabook. Direct competitor: Core i5-3437U rivals AMD A8-4555M.

Feature	Atom x7211RE	Core i5-3437U
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics (16 EU)	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Embedded	Business Ultrabook