AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X vs Intel Core 3 N355 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results between the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X and the Intel Core 3 N355. The recorded measurements for the Intel Core 3 N355, however, offer a detailed performance profile that can be compared against the architecture-level expectations for the AMD part.

The Intel Core 3 N355 shows a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1039 and a multi-core score of 5262. Its Cinebench R20 numbers are 509 for single-core and 3612 for multi-core, while Cinebench R15 results are 168 for single-core and 822 for multi-core. In PassMark tests, the Intel chip records a single-thread score of 2153 and a multithread score of 10174. The average benchmark score for the Intel Core 3 N355 is 13492, placing it at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has no benchmark entries in the database. Its average benchmark score is recorded as zero, and its percentile versus all CPUs is 50. The absence of measured scores means the data cannot quantify how much faster the AMD part is in specific workloads. What the data does show is the structural difference: the AMD chip operates at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, compared to 1.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost for the Intel chip. The AMD processor also supports 12 threads versus 8 threads for the Intel, which implies a substantial advantage in multi-threaded throughput, though no recorded score confirms the magnitude.

The Intel Core 3 N355's nearest rivals in the database are all Intel parts. The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average score of 13494, a 0.0% delta. The Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, a 0.3% delta. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, a -0.8% delta. The Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, a 1.1% delta. These comparisons situate the Core 3 N355 in a narrow performance band around 13,400 to 13,600 average score, with the i3-12100F statistically identical and the Core 5 120UL slightly ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X uses the Granite Ridge codename and belongs to the Ryzen Embedded generation built on Zen 5. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, listed as part of the Core 3 generation with an Alder Lake-N classification. It is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

Core and thread configurations differ markedly. The AMD chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel chip has 8 cores and 8 threads. This means the AMD processor relies on simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count, whereas the Intel chip runs one thread per core. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The Intel part runs at 1.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. Clock speed differences of this magnitude typically translate into large single-thread performance gaps, though the database does not provide a direct measurement for the AMD side.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip's 32 MB L3 is more than five times larger, which matters for workloads with large working sets that benefit from on-die data reuse.

Memory support and I/O capabilities show clear positioning differences. The AMD chip supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, plus ECC memory support. The Intel chip supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, but with a single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and no ECC support. The PCI Express configuration also differs: the AMD part provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core 3 N355 has a thermal design power of 15 watts, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel chip is a mobile-market part with a BGA 1264 socket, while the AMD chip is a desktop-market part with an AMD Socket AM5. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel processor does not. Integrated graphics also differ: AMD provides Radeon Graphics, Intel provides UHD Graphics 770.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 N355 has recorded benchmark data that establishes its capabilities. Its PassMark data compression score is 117435, data encryption score is 8121, extended instructions score is 5968, find prime numbers score is 27, floating point math score is 22695, integer math score is 33894, physics score is 625, and random string sorting score is 14706. These numbers define the Intel chip's performance envelope across compute-heavy tasks.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X, with no recorded scores, cannot be directly credited with specific wins in the database. However, the architectural data strongly suggests where it would excel. The 5.40 GHz boost clock, combined with Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process, points to a significant advantage in single-threaded responsiveness. The dual-channel DDR5 memory at 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and the 32 MB L3 cache indicate an advantage for memory-sensitive workloads. The 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes suggest an advantage in systems requiring high-bandwidth peripheral connectivity, such as NVMe storage arrays or discrete GPUs.

The Intel Core 3 N355's advantage lies in its low power envelope and its recorded performance in that context. At 15 watts TDP, it delivers the benchmark scores listed above. The AMD chip's 65-watt TDP permits higher sustained performance but requires more cooling and power delivery. For embedded or mobile deployments where power draw is the binding constraint, the Intel part's recorded efficiency profile is the relevant data point.

The Intel chip also supports a wider range of memory types (DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5), which gives system designers flexibility in memory selection. The AMD chip's limitation to DDR5 narrows the memory options but provides higher bandwidth per channel.

The Verdict

The data in the database does not include direct benchmark comparisons between these two processors, so the verdict must rest on architectural specifications and the Intel chip's recorded scores. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X is designed for higher performance. Its 5.40 GHz boost clock, 12 threads, 32 MB L3 cache, dual-channel DDR5 at 89.6 GB/s, and PCIe Gen 5 support position it as a processor for compute-intensive desktop or embedded workloads where power consumption is secondary. The Intel Core 3 N355, with its 15-watt TDP, 8 cores, single-channel memory, and PCIe Gen 3, is positioned for power-constrained mobile or embedded applications where moderate performance at low power is the priority.

The Intel chip's nearest rivals in the database, all within a 1.1% delta of its average score, confirm that it performs on par with older Intel desktop processors like the Core i5-9500 and the Core i3-12100F. This places the Core 3 N355's performance in a familiar mid-range category. The AMD chip's lack of recorded scores means no such positioning can be established from the data.

Systems needing maximum single-thread performance, high memory bandwidth, or PCIe Gen 5 connectivity should select the AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X based on its specifications. Systems needing low power consumption, compact BGA mounting, or flexibility across DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory should select the Intel Core 3 N355 based on its specifications and recorded benchmark results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 N355 has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: What is the Intel Core 3 N355's average benchmark score and percentile?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 has an average benchmark score of 13492 and sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How does the Intel Core 3 N355 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 is essentially level with the Intel Core i3-12100F (0.0% delta), 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500, 0.8% behind the Intel Core 5 120UL, and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 N355 does not.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 with a single-channel bus.

Q: What are the TDP values for these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X has a TDP of 65 watts. The Intel Core 3 N355 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Embedded 9600X | Intel Core 3 N355 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.90 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Twin Lake |

| Generation | Ryzen Embedded (Zen 5 (Granite Ridge)) | Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) |

| Process Node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 8,315 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 70.6 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (shared) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001405E | SRPNT |

| Release Date | 2025-10-06 | 2025-01-06 |