Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core 5 211TE Comparison

The Intel Core 3 N355 and Intel Core 5 211TE occupy different segments of the desktop and mobile processor market, with the N355 designed for low-power mobile systems and the 211TE aimed at desktop deployments. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the N355 holds specific advantages in a few key workloads. The following analysis compares their architectural foundations, benchmark results, and the data-driven scenarios where each processor is the better choice.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has a higher average benchmark score of 15370, compared to the Intel Core 3 N355's average score of 13492. This places the 211TE in the 69th percentile of all CPUs, while the N355 sits in the 68th percentile.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE scores 12201 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 56.9% higher than the Intel Core 3 N355's score of 5262. This is the largest single benchmark margin between the two processors.

Q: In what benchmark does the Intel Core 3 N355 outperform the Intel Core 5 211TE?

A: The N355 wins in three recorded benchmarks: passmark_data_encryption (8121 vs 7231, a 12.3% advantage), passmark_single_thread (2153 vs 1408, a 52.9% advantage), and passmark_singlethread (2153 vs 1408, a 52.9% advantage).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core 5 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, making it the higher-core-count processor with simultaneous multithreading support.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 3 N355 does not. This makes the 211TE suitable for systems requiring error-correcting memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 211TE has a dual-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses a single-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, exactly half the 211TE's bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectural foundations. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture with a codename of Twin Lake, and its generation is listed as Core 3 (Alder Lake-N). The Intel Core 5 211TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with its generation listed as Core 5 (Bartlett Lake). Both are manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, but the die size differs: the N355 has no recorded die size, while the 211TE has a die size of 215 mm².

The core configurations diverge significantly. The N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, indicating a hybrid or hyperthreaded design. Cache layouts also differ: the N355 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The 211TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a larger 20 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the 211TE a substantial cache advantage, particularly in L3 capacity.

Memory support differentiates the pair further. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, but the N355 adds LPDDR5 support, which the 211TE lacks. The N355 uses a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the 211TE uses dual-channel memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the 211TE. PCIe capabilities are also distinct: the N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the 211TE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics differ as well. The N355 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the 211TE uses UHD Graphics 730. The N355 is classified as a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1264 socket, whereas the 211TE is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700. The N355 has a 15 W TDP, while the 211TE has a 45 W TDP. The 211TE has a launch MSRP of $221, while the N355 has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 211TE wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks recorded in the database. Its dominance is most pronounced in multi-core workloads and compute-intensive tasks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it leads by 56.9%, and in passmark_find_prime_numbers, it leads by 62.5%. Passmark physics shows a 51.1% advantage for the 211TE, and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 33.1% lead. These results indicate the 211TE is the stronger choice for rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that scales with core count and cache size.

The Intel Core 3 N355 wins 3 benchmarks, all in specific Passmark tests. Its wins come in passmark_data_encryption (12.3% ahead) and in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread (52.9% ahead in each). The single-thread scores are notable because the N355's recorded score of 2153 in those tests is higher than the 211TE's 1408, despite the 211TE having a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus the N355's 3.90 GHz. This suggests the N355's architecture handles these particular single-threaded Passmark workloads more efficiently. The N355 also wins the data encryption test, which measures a specific cryptographic workload where its architecture shows an advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the 211TE has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are close: 1.90 GHz for the N355 versus 1.70 GHz for the 211TE. Boost clocks favor the 211TE at 4.80 GHz versus 3.90 GHz for the N355. TDP is a major differentiator, with the N355 at 15 W and the 211TE at 45 W.

Socket and market segment differ: the N355 uses Intel BGA 1264 and is classed as Mobile, while the 211TE uses Intel Socket 1700 and is classed as Desktop. Cache structures are distinct, with the N355 having 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB shared L2, and 6 MB shared L3, versus the 211TE's 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. Memory support: the N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, while the 211TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 only. Memory bus is single-channel for the N355 and dual-channel for the 211TE, with corresponding bandwidths of 38.4 GB/s and 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the 211TE. PCIe generation and lanes differ: Gen 3 with 9 lanes for the N355, Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the 211TE. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 on the N355 and UHD Graphics 730 on the 211TE. The 211TE has a die size of 215 mm², which the N355 does not have recorded. Release dates are close: January 6, 2025 for the N355 and January 12, 2025 for the 211TE. The 211TE has a launch MSRP of $221.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire benchmark set is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core 5 211TE scores 12201 against the Intel Core 3 N355's 5262, a delta of 56.9% in favor of the 211TE. This result highlights the impact of the 211TE's additional cores, threads, and larger L3 cache in sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the 211TE scores 5124 versus 3612 for the N355, a 29.5% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar pattern: 1229 for the 211TE versus 822 for the N355, a 33.1% advantage. The single-core Cinebench results are closer but still favor the 211TE. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 211TE scores 1722 versus 1039 for the N355, a 39.7% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 723 versus 509, a 29.6% lead, and Cinebench R15 single-core shows 173 versus 168, a slim 2.9% lead.

Passmark results show a mixed picture. The 211TE leads in passmark_extended_instructions (8615 vs 5968, 30.7% ahead), passmark_find_prime_numbers (72 vs 27, 62.5% ahead), passmark_floating_point_math (26150 vs 22695, 13.2% ahead), passmark_physics (1278 vs 625, 51.1% ahead), passmark_multithread (11685 vs 10174, 12.9% ahead), passmark_data_compression (133434 vs 117435, 12% ahead), passmark_random_string_sorting (14838 vs 14706, 0.9% ahead), and passmark_integer_math (33991 vs 33894, 0.3% ahead). The integer math margin is nearly negligible, indicating parity in that specific workload.

The N355 wins decisively in passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, both scoring 2153 versus 1408 for the 211TE, a 52.9% advantage. The N355 also wins passmark_data_encryption with 8121 versus 7231, a 12.3% lead. These wins are concentrated in workloads that appear to favor the N355's architectural design, despite its lower core count and boost clock.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 211TE for most workloads. With 14 wins out of 17 head-to-head tests, the 211TE is the stronger processor for multi-core rendering, physics calculations, floating-point math, and extended instruction set tasks. Its 56.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 51.1% lead in Passmark physics, and 62.5% lead in prime number finding demonstrate its superiority in compute-heavy applications. The 211TE's dual-channel memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and 20 MB of shared L3 cache support these results, as does its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz. For desktop systems requiring ECC memory, PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, and the higher 45 W TDP envelope, the 211TE is the data-backed choice.

The Intel Core 3 N355 is the better option only in specific scenarios. Its wins in single-threaded Passmark tests, with a 52.9% margin, and in data encryption, with a 12.3% margin, indicate that certain light single-threaded or cryptographic workloads run faster on this chip. The N355's 15 W TDP and support for LPDDR5 make it suited for mobile systems where power efficiency is prioritized. Its single-channel memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s is half the 211TE's, but its integrated UHD Graphics 770 is one tier above the 211TE's UHD Graphics 730. For users whose workloads match the N355's specific strengths, namely the Passmark single-thread and encryption tests, the N355 delivers better recorded performance. For everything else, the 211TE's benchmark results make it the superior processor.