AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 vs Intel Core 3 N355 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 and Intel Core 3 N355 are both mobile processors aimed at laptops, but the recorded benchmark data separates them into entirely different performance classes. The AMD part wins every single head-to-head test in the database, with a 15-0 sweep. This is not a close contest. The Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 sits at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 N355 lands at the 68th percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD chip is 37093, compared to 13492 for the Intel chip. The data shows a fundamental gap in capability, driven by distinct architectural approaches and design goals.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 wins every category. There is no test in the database where the Intel Core 3 N355 takes the lead. The AMD processor dominates both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, which suggests it is the stronger choice for any compute-intensive task. The Intel part, however, does have a role in the mobile landscape. Its lower thermal design power of 15 watts, compared to 28 watts for the AMD chip, points to a design focused on efficiency and battery life in thin-and-light systems.

The use-case split is therefore not about raw performance, where AMD wins outright, but about power envelopes. The Intel Core 3 N355 is built for fanless or low-power designs where sustained heavy load is rare. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, with its higher TDP and much higher scores, is for laptops that can manage more heat and need real processing muscle. The data implies that a system using the AMD part would be suited for professional workloads like compiling code, rendering, or data analysis, while the Intel part would be better matched to basic productivity, web browsing, and media consumption where its efficiency matters more than peak speed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 uses the Zen 5 architecture, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Its codename is Gorgon Point, and it belongs to the Ryzen AI PRO 400 generation, which mixes Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, which is part of the Alder Lake-N generation, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. This process node difference is significant: the AMD chip uses a denser, more modern manufacturing process.

The core counts are identical at 8 cores, but the thread counts differ. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 supports 16 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel Core 3 N355 has 8 threads, meaning it lacks that feature. This directly explains the massive multi-core score differences. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip’s per-core L2 is a distinct advantage for workloads that fit in that fast layer.

Memory support is another major split. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus, yielding 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, but only over a single-channel bus, which limits it to 38.4 GB/s. That bandwidth deficit is a critical bottleneck for any memory-sensitive task. The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Intel part uses Gen 3 with 9 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon 860M, Intel uses UHD Graphics 770.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results illustrate the performance chasm clearly. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 16054, which is 205.1% ahead of the Intel Core 3 N355’s 5262. That is more than triple the score. The single-core result in R23 shows a 93.5% lead for AMD, with 2010 points versus 1039. The older Cinebench R15 test shows similar trends: multi-core is 198.9% ahead (2457 vs 822), and single-core is 31% ahead (220 vs 168). These numbers confirm that the AMD chip does not just have more cores working in parallel; its individual cores are also substantially faster.

The Passmark suite reinforces this pattern across many distinct workloads. In integer math, the AMD part scores 86227 versus 33894, a 154.4% advantage. Floating point math shows a 133.4% lead, with 52971 versus 22695. Extended instructions, a test that measures SIMD and vector processing, shows the largest gap in the entire set: the AMD chip scores 20778, which is 248.2% ahead of the Intel part’s 5968. Data compression is also heavily in AMD’s favor, with a 150.6% lead (294298 vs 117435). Data encryption shows an 83.8% advantage (14925 vs 8121), and random string sorting shows a 119.9% lead (32344 vs 14706).

Even the more specialized tests show AMD dominance. The physics test, which often reflects gaming or simulation workloads, has the AMD chip scoring 1337 versus 625, a 113.9% lead. The prime number finding test shows a 211.1% advantage, with 84 versus 27. The Passmark multi-thread score is 143.6% higher for AMD (24779 vs 10174), and the single-thread score is 83.7% higher (3955 vs 2153). These results are consistent across every category, which suggests the AMD architecture is simply more capable per clock and per core.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every measurable specification in the database. The base clock of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is 2.00 GHz, slightly higher than the Intel Core 3 N355’s 1.90 GHz. The boost clock shows a much larger gap: the AMD chip reaches 5.10 GHz, while the Intel chip tops out at 3.90 GHz. That 1.2 GHz difference in maximum frequency is a major factor in the single-core results. The thermal design power also differs, with AMD at 28 watts and Intel at 15 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP8, Intel uses BGA 1264. The manufacturing process is 4 nm for AMD and 10 nm for Intel. The die size is listed as 195 mm² for the AMD chip, while the Intel die size is not recorded in the database. The AMD chip has a dual-channel memory bus, while the Intel chip has a single-channel bus. Memory bandwidth is over twice as high on the AMD part: 89.6 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory support is available only on the AMD chip. PCIe generation and lane count also differ: Gen 4 with 16 lanes for AMD, Gen 3 with 9 lanes for Intel. The release dates are different, with the Intel Core 3 N355 released in January 2025, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 released in January 2026. The part numbers are also unique: 100-000001865 for AMD, SRPNT for Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 dominates single-thread performance. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2010 versus 1039 for the Intel Core 3 N355, a 93.5% advantage. The Passmark single-thread test confirms this with a 83.7% lead, scoring 3955 versus 2153.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The AMD chip is dramatically faster in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 16054, which is 205.1% ahead of the Intel part’s 5262. The Passmark multi-thread score shows a 143.6% lead, with 24779 versus 10174.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth support?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core 3 N355 supports single-channel memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. This is a major factor in the performance gap for memory-intensive tasks.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores?

A: Yes, both have 8 cores. However, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 supports 16 threads, while the Intel Core 3 N355 supports 8 threads. The AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading, the Intel chip does not.

Q: Which processor has a lower thermal design power?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 has a lower TDP of 15 watts, compared to 28 watts for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450. This suggests the Intel chip is designed for lower power consumption and potentially fanless operation.

Q: What are the architectural codenames for these processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 uses the Gorgon Point codename with a Zen 5 architecture, while the Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake codename with a Twin Lake architecture. The AMD chip is built on a 4 nm process, and the Intel chip is built on a 10 nm process.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 is the superior processor in every single benchmark recorded in the database. It wins 15 out of 15 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 31% to 248.2%. Its average benchmark score of 37093 places it at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700 and AMD Ryzen 7 7735H, both of which are within 0.2% of its score. This is a high-performance mobile chip.

The Intel Core 3 N355, with an average score of 13492, sits at the 68th percentile, with nearest rivals like the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Core i5-9500. It is a budget-oriented part that trades raw performance for a 15-watt TDP. If the priority is absolute compute capability, the AMD chip is the only choice from this comparison. The data shows it is more than double the performance in many tests. If the priority is minimizing power draw and heat output for a passively cooled laptop, the Intel chip has the lower TDP, but it cannot match the AMD part on any workload the database measures. The choice comes down to whether the system needs sustained high performance or maximum efficiency.