AMD Ryzen 5 3501U vs Intel Core 3 N350 Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U and Intel Core 3 N350 are two very different mobile processors with distinct strengths. Benchmark results indicate the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is the stronger single-threaded performer, while the Intel Core 3 N350 takes the lead in most multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. The AMD part wins 6 of the 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel part wins 5. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U records a higher average benchmark score of 14320 compared to the Intel Core 3 N350's 9903, and it sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs versus the Intel chip's 66th percentile. However, the Intel Core 3 N350 delivers its results at a much lower 7 W TDP versus the AMD part's 15 W TDP, making it the more energy-efficient choice for fanless or ultra-thin designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U is the pick for users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness and data compression speed. The Intel Core 3 N350 is the pick for floating-point math, extended instruction workloads, and multi-threaded throughput in a low-power envelope.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U belongs to the 3000 series and uses the Picasso codename, built on the Zen+ architecture. It is manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 12 nm process. The chip packs 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 N350 uses the Twin Lake architecture, also known by the codename Twin Lake, and is part of the Core 3 generation built on the Alder Lake-N platform. Intel manufactures this chip on a 10 nm process. The process node difference is significant: AMD uses the older, larger 12 nm node while Intel uses the smaller 10 nm node.

Core counts differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core 3 N350 has 8 cores and 8 threads, doubling the physical core count. Cache hierarchies also differ. Both chips have 96 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD part has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel part has 2 MB of shared L2 cache. For L3 cache, the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 MB shared, while the Intel Core 3 N350 has 6 MB shared. The Intel chip therefore has a larger total cache pool.

Memory support and PCIe differ as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, with 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 N350 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory, but over a single-channel bus, also with 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3; the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes available to the CPU only. The integrated graphics differ: the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel Core 3 N350 uses UHD Graphics 770. Neither chip supports ECC memory, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are active mobile parts.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins the head-to-head in six categories. Its largest margin is in data compression, scoring 87380 against the Intel chip's 80444, a lead of 8.6%. It also wins in single-thread performance, scoring 2136 against 1974, an 8.2% advantage. The AMD part wins in physics, scoring 483 against 446, an 8.3% lead. It wins in random string sorting, scoring 10414 against 10102, a 3.1% advantage. It wins in find prime numbers, scoring 21 against 20, a 5% lead. The single-thread result is recorded twice in the database and both entries show the same 2136 score and 8.2% delta.

The Intel Core 3 N350 wins five categories. Its largest margin is in floating-point math, scoring 17781 against the AMD part's 12707, a 28.5% advantage. It also wins in extended instructions, scoring 3981 against 3274, a 17.8% lead. The Intel chip wins in integer math, scoring 27669 against 26321, a 4.9% advantage. It wins in multithread, scoring 7382 against 7071, a 4.2% lead. It wins in data encryption, scoring 5693 against 5580, a 2% advantage.

The split is clear: the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U favors single-thread, compression, physics, and sorting workloads. The Intel Core 3 N350 favors floating-point math, extended instruction sets, integer math, encryption, and overall multi-threaded throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U scores 2136 in single-thread tests, which is 8.2% higher than the Intel Core 3 N350's 1974.

Q: Which processor is better for floating-point math?

A: The Intel Core 3 N350 scores 17781 in floating-point math, a 28.5% advantage over the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's 12707.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core 3 N350 has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a 15 W TDP, while the Intel Core 3 N350 has a 7 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has an average benchmark score of 14320, compared to the Intel Core 3 N350's 9903.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U wins 6 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 3 N350 wins 5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Intel Core 3 N350 comes in floating-point math. The Intel chip scores 17781, which is 28.5% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's 12707. This is the largest delta in either direction across all 11 tests. The Intel part also shows a strong 17.8% lead in extended instructions, scoring 3981 versus the AMD chip's 3274. In integer math, the Intel part scores 27669 against 26321, a 4.9% advantage. In multithread, the Intel chip scores 7382 against 7071, a 4.2% lead. In data encryption, the Intel part scores 5693 against 5580, a 2% edge. These five wins give the Intel Core 3 N350 a clear advantage in compute-heavy and encryption workloads.

The biggest win for the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U comes in data compression. The AMD chip scores 87380 against the Intel part's 80444, an 8.6% lead. This is the highest absolute score recorded in the head-to-head set. The AMD part also wins single-thread by 8.2%, scoring 2136 against 1974. In physics, the AMD chip scores 483 against 446, an 8.3% advantage. In random string sorting, the AMD part scores 10414 against 10102, a 3.1% lead. In find prime numbers, the AMD chip scores 21 against 20, a 5% edge. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U therefore dominates in compression and single-thread responsiveness.

The data shows a complementary profile. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's 8.6% compression win and 8.2% single-thread win are its strongest statements. The Intel Core 3 N350's 28.5% floating-point win and 17.8% extended-instruction win are its strongest statements. The average benchmark score favors the AMD part by a wide margin: 14320 versus 9903, a difference of roughly 44.6%. The percentile ranking also favors the AMD chip, which sits at the 69th percentile of all CPUs versus the Intel chip's 66th percentile.

The nearest rival data provides context. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546, which scores 14336, a 0.1% difference. The Intel Core 3 N350's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-3770, which scores 9706, a 2% difference. The AMD chip's nearest rivals are all within 1% of its score, indicating a tightly clustered performance tier. The Intel chip's nearest rivals range from 2.5% above to 3.2% below, a slightly wider spread.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has 4 cores and 4 threads; the Intel Core 3 N350 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ dramatically: the AMD part runs at 2.10 GHz, while the Intel part has a base clock of 0.10 GHz. Boost clocks are closer: the AMD chip boosts to 3.70 GHz, while the Intel chip boosts to 3.90 GHz. The TDP difference is notable: the AMD part is rated at 15 W, the Intel part at 7 W.

The socket and packaging differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel Core 3 N350 uses Intel BGA 1264. The process nodes differ: AMD uses 12 nm from GlobalFoundries, Intel uses 10 nm from its own foundry. The AMD part has a transistor count of 4,940 million and a die size of 210 mm²; the Intel part has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database.

Cache configurations differ. Both parts have 96 KB of L1 cache per core. The AMD part has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Intel part has 2 MB of shared L2. The AMD part has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel part has 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip is listed as part of the 3000 series with the Picasso codename and Zen+ architecture. The Intel chip is listed with the Twin Lake architecture and the Alder Lake-N generation.

Memory support differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 3501U supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core 3 N350 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 on a single-channel bus. Both parts have 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Neither supports ECC. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 3; the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes available to the CPU only. Integrated graphics differ: Radeon Vega 8 on the AMD side, UHD Graphics 770 on the Intel side. Both are mobile parts, both are active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates differ: the Intel Core 3 N350 was released in January 2025, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3501U has a later release date in May 2026.