Intel Atom E3845 vs Intel Processor N97

The Intel Atom E3845, based on the Bay Trail architecture, was developed for energy-efficient applications and embedded systems where low power consumption is paramount.

It is manufactured using the 22 nm process and features four cores and a 2 MB L3 cache. The integrated graphics unit is the Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail GT1). In terms of performance, it lags significantly behind the Intel Processor N97 in single-core tasks, and also shows considerably lower performance in multi-core applications.

For gaming scenarios, it is only suitable for very simple titles due to its older graphics unit and low computing power. Its power consumption is extremely low, making it ideal for fanless systems. As an older model, its price-performance ratio is acceptable for basic tasks, but the absolute performance per euro is significantly lower than that of its newer counterpart.

The Intel Processor N97, based on the more modern Alder Lake N architecture, targets the entry-level segment for compact desktops and mini-PCs, offering improved performance for everyday tasks. It is manufactured using the more efficient 10 nm process and also has four cores, with 4 MB L2 and 6 MB L3 cache.

The integrated graphics unit is the Intel UHD Graphics 24 EUs (Alder Lake) and it supports PCIe 3.0 with a maximum memory bandwidth of 38 GB/s. In single- and multi-core tasks, it surpasses the Intel Atom E3845 many times over. For light games and multimedia, it offers noticeably better performance thanks to the newer graphics unit.

Despite the significantly higher computing power, its power consumption remains efficient. Its price-performance ratio is very good for modern entry-level systems.