AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D vs Intel Core 3 N355 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D across all 15 shared benchmark tests. The AMD part wins every single head-to-head comparison, with margins ranging from roughly 104% to over 1500%. The Intel Core 3 N355 does not register a single win in the database.

The largest gap appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 435 against 27 for the Core 3 N355, a delta of 1511.1%. This is an extreme outlier even within this matchup, reflecting the massive difference in raw compute capability between the two processors. The physics test shows a similar pattern, with the AMD chip scoring 4171 versus 625, a 567.4% advantage. Extended instructions follow at 39272 against 5968, a 558% lead.

Cinebench results tell the same story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D scores 22807 while the Core 3 N355 manages 5262, a 333.4% difference. The R15 multi-core test shows 3551 versus 822, a 332% gap. Single-core performance is closer in percentage terms but still decisive. Cinebench R23 single-core gives 2228 against 1039, a 114.4% lead, and R15 single-core gives 343 versus 168, a 104.2% advantage. The PassMark single-thread test shows 4704 against 2153, a 118.5% margin, matching the singlethread entry exactly.

The multi-threaded PassMark score reinforces the pattern. The AMD processor records 41318 versus 10174 for the Intel part, a 306.1% delta. Integer math shows 123140 against 33894, a 263.3% lead, and floating point math shows 81998 versus 22695, a 261.3% margin. Data compression favors the Ryzen 7 9850X3D at 474501 against 117435, a 304.1% difference. Random string sorting gives 49764 versus 14706, a 238.4% gap. Data encryption is the narrowest of the PassMark workloads at 22856 versus 8121, still a 181.4% advantage for AMD.

The average benchmark score places the Ryzen 7 9850X3D at 58386, while the Core 3 N355 sits at 13492. The AMD processor ranks in the 92nd percentile against all CPUs in the database, while the Intel part ranks in the 68th percentile. Nearest rivals for the Ryzen 7 9850X3D include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M at 58323 (0.1% behind), the Intel Xeon w5-2545 at 58504 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i9-14900 at 58115 (0.5% behind), and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 at 58826 (0.7% ahead). The Core 3 N355 sits close to the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13494 (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452 (0.3% behind), the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13594 (0.8% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-1250U at 13351 (1.1% behind).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins every multi-core test. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 22807 versus 5262, a 333.4% lead, and PassMark multi-thread shows 41318 versus 10174, a 306.1% advantage.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Ryzen 7 9850X3D leads by 114.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2228 versus 1039) and by 118.5% in PassMark single-thread (4704 versus 2153). The R15 single-core gap is 104.2% (343 versus 168).

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: The smallest percentage margin is Cinebench R15 single-core at 104.2%. All other tests show larger gaps, with most exceeding 180%.

Q: How do the two processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 9850X3D trades places with the Intel Xeon w5-2545, which leads by 0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, which leads by 0.7%. The Core 3 N355 matches the Intel Core i3-12100F exactly at 0% delta and trails the Intel Core i5-9500 by 0.3%.

Q: Which processor has the higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 3 N355 uses single-channel memory with 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 3 N355 does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, which the database lists under the Alder Lake-N generation, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD part belongs to the 9000 series and is a desktop processor, while the Intel part targets mobile devices.

The transistor counts reflect the process and design gap. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D packs 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The database records no transistor count or die size for the Core 3 N355.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 3 N355 provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip's 96 MB of L3 is a defining feature, giving it a 16x advantage in shared L3 capacity.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, but only over a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is available on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D provides Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes. The Core 3 N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D ships with Radeon Graphics, while the Core 3 N355 ships with UHD Graphics 770.

Specification Differences

The core counts are identical at 8 cores, but the thread counts diverge. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D supports 16 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while the Core 3 N355 manages 8 threads, one per core. Clock speeds favor the AMD part heavily. The base clock sits at 4.70 GHz for the Ryzen 7 9850X3D versus 1.90 GHz for the Core 3 N355. Boost clocks reach 5.60 GHz on the AMD chip versus 3.90 GHz on the Intel chip.

Power targets are in different classes. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D has a 120 W TDP, while the Core 3 N355 has a 15 W TDP. This reflects the desktop versus mobile positioning.

The sockets are incompatible. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Core 3 N355 uses Intel BGA 1264. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not.

Release dates and pricing also differ. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D launched on 2026-01-28 with a launch MSRP of $499. The Core 3 N355 launched earlier on 2025-01-06 with no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors are listed as active in production.

Part numbers are recorded as 100-000001973 for the AMD chip and SRPNT for the Intel chip.

The Verdict

The data presents a one-sided comparison. The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins all 15 shared benchmarks, with every margin exceeding 100%. The smallest advantage is 104.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and the largest is 1511.1% in PassMark find prime numbers. The average benchmark score of 58386 for the AMD part is more than four times the 13492 recorded for the Intel part.

These are not competing products in the same market segment. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier, 16 threads, dual-channel DDR5, and 96 MB of L3 cache. The Core 3 N355 is a mobile processor with 8 threads, single-channel memory, and 6 MB of L3. The TDP figures alone, 120 W versus 15 W, place them in entirely different power and performance classes.

The percentile ranks confirm the hierarchy. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D sits in the 92nd percentile against all CPUs in the database, surrounded by high-end Xeon and Core i9 parts. The Core 3 N355 sits in the 68th percentile, alongside the Core i3-12100F and Core i5-9500. The Intel part competes with older mainstream desktop chips, not with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 9850X3D wins in every measured category. Multi-core rendering leads by 332% in Cinebench R15 and 333.4% in Cinebench R23. Single-core performance leads by 104.2% to 118.5% depending on the test. PassMark workloads show advantages from 181.4% in data encryption to 1511.1% in prime number finding.

The Core 3 N355 has no benchmark wins in the database. Its strengths are contextual rather than absolute. The 15 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained mobile designs, and its support for DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory gives platform flexibility. The single-channel memory bus at 38.4 GB/s is a limitation, but the processor's position in the 68th percentile places it near the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Core i5-9500, which are capable everyday desktop processors.

For workloads that fit the Ryzen 7 9850X3D's profile, the choice is clear. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration with 96 MB of L3 cache and 5.60 GHz boost clock delivers results that the Core 3 N355 cannot approach. The nearest rivals in the database, such as the Intel Xeon w5-2545 at 0.2% ahead and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 at 0.7% ahead, show that the Ryzen 7 9850X3D sits at the top of its performance tier. The Core 3 N355, by contrast, trades results with the Intel Core i3-12100F and Core i5-9500, parts from older generations with different market positions.