CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 5 120UL and Intel Core 3 N355 are both 15-watt Intel processors, but they are built for different worlds. The 120UL is a desktop chip on Socket 1700 with a Raptor Lake architecture, while the N355 is a mobile processor on BGA 1264 using the Twin Lake design. Despite their similar average benchmark scores, 13,594 for the 120UL and 13,492 for the N355, their performance profiles diverge sharply across different workloads, making the choice between them a matter of matching silicon to specific tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divide appears in multi-threaded rendering. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 8,974, which is a massive 70.5% ahead of the Core 3 N355’s 5,262. This is the single largest delta in the head-to-head comparison. The 120UL also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 904 versus 822 (10% ahead) and Cinebench R20 multi-core with 3,769 versus 3,612 (4.3% ahead). The gap narrows as the workload becomes lighter, but the 120UL maintains its lead in the R20 single-core test, scoring 531 against 509 (4.3% ahead), and in R23 single-core with 1,266 versus 1,039 (21.8% ahead).

The Core 3 N355 strikes back in several PassMark tests, particularly those involving memory-level parallelism. It wins data compression with 117,435 versus 109,090 (7.1% ahead) and random string sorting with 14,706 versus 13,610 (7.5% ahead). Its lead extends to data encryption (8,121 vs 7,685, 5.4% ahead) and extended instructions (5,968 vs 5,203, 12.8% ahead). In single-threaded PassMark tests, the N355 also takes the win, scoring 2,153 versus 2,080 (3.4% ahead). Interestingly, the N355 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by a wide margin, 168 versus 127 (24.4% ahead), a result that contrasts sharply with its losses in newer single-core tests.

The 120UL dominates the math-heavy PassMark suite. It wins find prime numbers with 47 versus 27 (74.1% ahead), floating point math with 26,311 versus 22,695 (15.9% ahead), and integer math with 38,060 versus 33,894 (12.3% ahead). The 120UL also takes physics (807 vs 625, 29.1% ahead) and the PassMark multi-thread test (10,558 vs 10,174, 3.8% ahead). Overall, the 120UL wins 10 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the N355 takes 7.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 120UL is the clear choice for sustained multi-core compute. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8,974 places it in a different performance tier than the N355’s 5,262. This advantage is amplified in integer and floating-point math, where the 120UL leads by 12.3% and 15.9%, respectively. For users running CPU-bound workloads like 3D rendering, scientific simulations, or video encoding, the 120UL’s 10 cores and 12 threads provide a substantial throughput advantage over the N355’s 8 cores and 8 threads.

The Core 3 N355 is better suited for single-threaded responsiveness and memory-heavy operations. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2,153 edges out the 120UL’s 2,080, and its win in Cinebench R15 single-core (168 vs 127) suggests a strong burst performance. The N355’s wins in data compression, encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting indicate that it handles pointer-chasing and data-manipulation workloads with greater efficiency. This makes the N355 a reasonable fit for lightweight office tasks, web browsing, and applications that rely on rapid data shuffling rather than raw compute throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel design lineages. The Core 5 120UL uses Raptor Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, with a Raptor Lake-PS codename. It packs 10 cores and 12 threads, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache. The Core 3 N355 uses Twin Lake architecture, also on a 10 nm process, but with a Twin Lake codename and an Alder Lake-N generation label. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a 6 MB shared L3 cache.

Cache topology differs significantly. The 120UL provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the N355 offers 96 KB L1 per core and 2 MB of shared L2. The 120UL’s larger shared L3 (12 MB vs 6 MB) helps explain its strong multi-core scores, as more data can be cached closer to the cores. The N355’s per-core L1 is larger, which may contribute to its single-thread wins in older benchmarks.

Memory support also separates them. The 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 but only in a single-channel setup. The N355 has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the 120UL’s bandwidth is not specified in the data. The N355 also uses PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), whereas the 120UL uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The core counts are the most obvious difference: 10 cores and 12 threads for the 120UL versus 8 cores and 8 threads for the N355. Clock speeds also vary, with the 120UL running a 1.30 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost, compared to the N355’s 1.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The 120UL has a higher boost clock by 0.70 GHz, while the N355 has a higher base clock by 0.60 GHz.

Memory bus width is a key differentiator: the 120UL is dual-channel, while the N355 is single-channel. The N355 supports LPDDR5 in addition to DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the 120UL only lists DDR4 and DDR5. The N355’s memory bandwidth is specified at 38.4 GB/s; the 120UL’s is not listed. PCIe generation and lane counts also differ: Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the 120UL versus Gen 3 with 9 lanes for the N355.

The integrated graphics are different: the 120UL pairs with Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the N355 uses UHD Graphics 770. Socket and market segment differ as well, the 120UL is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1700, while the N355 is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 1264. Release dates are distinct: the 120UL launched on April 7, 2024, while the N355 launched on January 6, 2025. Both have a 15 W TDP, no unlocked multiplier, and no ECC memory support. The N355 has a known part number (SRPNT), while the 120UL’s part number is unknown.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL is significantly ahead. It scores 8,974 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 70.5% higher than the Core 3 N355’s 5,262. It also leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core (904 vs 822) and R20 multi-core (3,769 vs 3,612).

Q: Does the Core 3 N355 win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, the N355 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by a wide margin (168 vs 127, 24.4% ahead) and also takes PassMark single-thread (2,153 vs 2,080, 3.4% ahead). However, the 120UL wins Cinebench R20 single-core (531 vs 509) and R23 single-core (1,266 vs 1,039).

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Both are 15 W parts.

Q: How do their memory controllers differ?

A: The 120UL supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, but is limited to a single-channel bus with a specified bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: Which chip has a larger last-level cache?

A: The Intel Core 5 120UL has a 12 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 3 N355 has a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The N355, however, has a larger L2 cache of 2 MB shared, compared to the 120UL’s 1.25 MB per core.

Q: What are the architectural origins of these two processors?

A: The Core 5 120UL is based on Raptor Lake architecture (codename Raptor Lake-PS) on a 10 nm process. The Core 3 N355 is based on Twin Lake architecture (codename Twin Lake, generation Alder Lake-N) also on a 10 nm process.