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 x7835RE

2024

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 12W instead of 65W, a 53W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1264 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics (32EU), while Core i3-9100F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-9100F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 53.5 vs 69.1 PassMark/$ ($127 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).

Core i3-9100F

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $127 MSRP).
✅Delivers 29.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 69.1 vs 53.5 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $127 MSRP).
✅77.8% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 9) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,704 vs 6,795).
❌441.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 12W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Atom x7835RE moves to FCBGA1264 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom x7835RE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Atom x7835RE

2024

Core i3-9100F

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 12W instead of 65W, a 53W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1264 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics (32EU), while Core i3-9100F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $127 MSRP).
✅Delivers 29.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 69.1 vs 53.5 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $127 MSRP).
✅77.8% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 9) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-9100F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 53.5 vs 69.1 PassMark/$ ($127 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,704 vs 6,795).
❌441.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 12W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Atom x7835RE moves to FCBGA1264 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom x7835RE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Atom x7835RE better than Core i3-9100F?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i3-9100F is ahead with a 14.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Atom x7835RE pulls ahead with 1.4% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Atom x7835RE is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Atom x7835RE is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Atom x7835RE is 30.9% more expensive on MSRP at $127 MSRP versus $97 MSRP, and it gives you 1.4% better PassMark. Core i3-9100F only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the smarter recommendation now. At roughly 6,704 PassMark with 4 cores and 4 threads, it only makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.

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

Atom x7835RE is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019), a healthier platform with FCBGA1264 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/4. 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 x7835RE Benchmark Check

Core i3-9100F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Atom x7835RE	Core i3-9100F
1080p
low	170 FPS	168 FPS
medium	138 FPS	159 FPS
high	113 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	142 FPS	168 FPS
medium	112 FPS	136 FPS
high	90 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	74 FPS
medium	55 FPS	62 FPS
high	44 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	38 FPS

Open Atom x7835RE Open Core i3-9100F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Atom x7835RE	Core i3-9100F
1080p
low	134 FPS	168 FPS
medium	119 FPS	168 FPS
high	109 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	168 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	168 FPS
medium	106 FPS	168 FPS
high	98 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	161 FPS
4K
low	93 FPS	168 FPS
medium	88 FPS	168 FPS
high	77 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	61 FPS	119 FPS

Open Atom x7835RE Open Core i3-9100F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Atom x7835RE	Core i3-9100F
1080p
low	170 FPS	168 FPS
medium	170 FPS	168 FPS
high	170 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	168 FPS
1440p
low	170 FPS	168 FPS
medium	170 FPS	168 FPS
high	170 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	168 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	168 FPS
medium	170 FPS	168 FPS
high	170 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	151 FPS

Open Atom x7835RE Open Core i3-9100F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Atom x7835RE	Core i3-9100F
1080p
low	170 FPS	168 FPS
medium	170 FPS	168 FPS
high	170 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	168 FPS
1440p
low	170 FPS	168 FPS
medium	170 FPS	168 FPS
high	170 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	168 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	168 FPS
medium	170 FPS	168 FPS
high	170 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	168 FPS

Open Atom x7835RE Open Core i3-9100F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Atom x7835RE and Core i3-9100F

Atom x7835RE

The Atom x7835RE 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 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 12 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 6,795 points. Launch price was $127.

Core i3-9100F

The Core i3-9100F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,704 points. Launch price was $122.

⚡

Processing Power

The Atom x7835RE packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i3-9100F offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom x7835RE has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Atom x7835RE versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-9100F — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-9100F (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Atom x7835RE uses the Amston Lake (2024−2025) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i3-9100F uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x7835RE scores 6,795 against the Core i3-9100F's 6,704 — a 1.3% lead for the Atom x7835RE. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Atom x7835RE	Core i3-9100F
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+100%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4.2 GHz+17%
Base Clock	1.3 GHz	3.6 GHz+177%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per module)+700%	256K (per core)
Process	10 nm-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Amston Lake (2024−2025)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
PassMark	6,795+1%	6,704

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Atom x7835RE uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i3-9100F uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Atom x7835RE versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-9100F — the Atom x7835RE supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-9100F supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom x7835RE) vs 2 (Core i3-9100F). PCIe lanes: 9 (Atom x7835RE) vs 16 (Core i3-9100F) — the Core i3-9100F offers 7 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel BGA1264 (Atom x7835RE) and Intel 300 series (Core i3-9100F).

Feature	Atom x7835RE	Core i3-9100F
Socket	FCBGA1264	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	64 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	9	16+78%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom x7835RE) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-9100F). The Atom x7835RE includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)), while the Core i3-9100F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-9100F targets Desktop.

Feature	Atom x7835RE	Core i3-9100F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)	—
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Atom x7835RE launched at $127 MSRP, while the Core i3-9100F debuted at $97. On MSRP ($127 vs $97), the Core i3-9100F is $30 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Atom x7835RE delivers 53.5 pts/$ vs 69.1 pts/$ for the Core i3-9100F — making the Core i3-9100F the 25.5% better value option.