Intel Core 3 N350 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison

The Intel Core 3 N350 and Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus occupy vastly different segments of the processor market, and the recorded benchmark data confirms this separation with absolute clarity. Across every single test in the head-to-head comparison, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus delivers a decisive victory, leaving no ambiguity about its superior performance envelope.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The performance gap between these two processors is not incremental; it is generational and categorical. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 6656 against the Core 3 N350’s 632, a delta of 90.5% in favor of the higher-end chip. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story, with scores of 354 versus 89, a 74.9% advantage for the Ultra 7.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore results are 24461 for the Ultra 7 270K Plus and 2635 for the N350, a 89.2% difference. The single-core R20 test yields 3453 versus 371, an 89.3% gap. These percentages indicate that the Ultra 7 is not just faster, but often an order of magnitude more capable in rendering workloads.

The Cinebench R23 tests reinforce this trend. The multicore score of 44253 for the Ultra 7 270K Plus dwarfs the N350’s 6274, representing an 85.8% lead. In single-core R23, the scores are 2439 and 885, respectively, a 63.7% difference. While the single-core gap is smaller than the multicore gap, it still represents a massive performance chasm.

The Passmark suite paints an identical picture. In data compression, the Ultra 7 270K Plus posts 804322 against the N350’s 80444, a 90% advantage. Data encryption shows 59097 versus 5693, a 90.4% lead. Extended instructions scores are 63506 and 3981, a 93.7% gap. The prime number finding test shows 615 versus 20, a 96.7% difference, the largest single delta recorded.

Floating point math scores are 229491 versus 17781, a 92.3% lead for the Ultra 7. Integer math shows 175986 versus 27669, an 84.3% difference. The multithread test yields 68574 versus 7382, an 89.2% gap. Physics simulation scores are 4064 and 446, a 89% difference. Random string sorting shows 96945 against 10102, an 89.6% lead.

The Passmark single-thread tests, recorded as both single_thread and singlethread, show identical scores of 5068 for the Ultra 7 and 1974 for the N350, a 61% advantage. Across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every single one.

Where Each One Wins

Given the data, the Intel Core 3 N350 does not win in any benchmark category. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins in every measured workload, from single-threaded responsiveness to heavily multithreaded rendering and data processing tasks.

The N350’s strengths are not in raw performance but in its operational characteristics. Its 7-watt TDP and mobile market segment suggest a design focused on power efficiency and portability. The data shows it has a 66th percentile ranking among all CPUs, placing it ahead of roughly a third of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3770 and Intel Core i5-1035G1, with average scores of 9706 and 9684, respectively, showing a close match in overall capability.

The Ultra 7 270K Plus, by contrast, sits in the 96th percentile, outperforming the vast majority of all recorded CPUs. Its nearest rivals are high-end server parts: the Intel Xeon 6520P, AMD EPYC 4564P, AMD EPYC 9175F, and AMD EPYC 4565P. The average benchmark scores for these rivals range from 93786 to 95764, placing the Ultra 7’s 93785 score in elite company. This processor is designed for maximum throughput, as evidenced by its 24 cores and 24 threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 44253 versus the Core 3 N350’s 6274, an 85.8% advantage. The Passmark multithread test confirms this with scores of 68574 and 7382, an 89.2% gap.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The Ultra 7 270K Plus leads in all single-core tests. The Passmark single-thread score is 5068 versus 1974, a 61% difference. The Cinebench R23 single-core result is 2439 versus 885, a 63.7% gap.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance class?

A: No. The Ultra 7 270K Plus holds a 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core 3 N350 holds a 66th percentile ranking. The average benchmark score is 93785 for the Ultra 7 versus 9903 for the N350.

Q: What is the difference in transistor count?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 N350 does not have a recorded transistor count or die size in the database.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 3 N350 does not.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications?

A: The Ultra 7 270K Plus has a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The Core 3 N350 has a single-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The fundamental specifications of these two processors are in completely different tiers. The Intel Core 3 N350 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The base clock of the N350 is 0.10 GHz, compared to 3.70 GHz for the Ultra 7. The boost clock is 3.90 GHz for the N350 and 5.50 GHz for the Ultra 7.

The thermal design power is a major differentiator, with the N350 rated at 7 watts and the Ultra 7 at 125 watts. The sockets are different as well: the N350 uses Intel BGA 1264, while the Ultra 7 uses Intel Socket 1851. The N350 is a mobile part, whereas the Ultra 7 is a desktop processor.

Memory support differs, with the N350 supporting DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 across a single-channel bus, while the Ultra 7 supports only DDR5 across a dual-channel bus. The memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s for the N350 and 115.2 GB/s for the Ultra 7. ECC memory support is exclusive to the Ultra 7.

PCIe capabilities are also different. The N350 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics differ, with the N350 featuring UHD Graphics 770 and the Ultra 7 featuring Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra 7 has an unlocked multiplier, unlike the N350. The release dates are 2025-01-06 for the N350 and 2026-03-10 for the Ultra 7.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is as wide as the specification gap. The Intel Core 3 N350 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node manufactured by Intel. Its generation is listed as Core 3 (Alder Lake-N). The cache hierarchy includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is built on the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2. It uses a 3 nm process node manufactured by TSMC. The generation is Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake). Its cache is substantially larger: 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3.

The foundry difference is notable, with Intel fabricating the N350 and TSMC fabricating the Ultra 7. The process node difference, 10 nm versus 3 nm, explains a significant portion of the performance and efficiency gap. The Ultra 7’s 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die reflect a high-density, high-performance design, while the N350’s smaller footprint is optimized for low power consumption.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leaves no room for debate about which processor offers higher performance. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus dominates every single recorded workload, from Cinebench rendering to Passmark’s various math and data processing tests. Its 96th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 93785 place it firmly in the high-end desktop and workstation class.

The Intel Core 3 N350, with its 66th percentile ranking and average score of 9903, is a low-power mobile processor. Its 7-watt TDP and single-channel memory bus indicate a design for basic tasks and extended battery life. The data shows it performs competitively with older desktop processors like the Intel Core i7-3770, but it is not in the same performance league as the Ultra 7 270K Plus.

For a user needing maximum multi-threaded throughput, the Ultra 7 270K Plus is the clear choice based on the data. The 24 cores, 36 MB of L3 cache, and dual-channel 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth enable it to score 44253 in Cinebench R23 multicore. For a user prioritizing low power consumption in a mobile form factor, the N350’s 7-watt TDP and 8-core configuration provide a baseline level of performance. The choice between them is not a matter of preference but of the intended application, as the performance differential is categorical.