Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core 5 213PTE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap between the Intel Core 3 N355 and the Intel Core 5 213PTE. Across all 17 recorded comparisons, the Core 5 213PTE wins outright; the Core 3 N355 does not secure a single victory.

The most extreme difference appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 213PTE scores 21,751 against the Core 3 N355's 5,262. That is a delta of -75.8% for the N355, meaning the Core 5 more than quadruples the multi-threaded rendering output. The single-core R23 result follows a similar pattern: the Core 5 213PTE posts 3,070 versus 1,039 for the N355, a -66.2% gap. These two tests alone indicate that the Core 5 213PTE is in a different performance class for both lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads.

Cinebench R20 shows a consistent margin. In multi-core, the Core 5 213PTE scores 9,135 while the N355 manages 3,612, a -60.5% difference. Single-core R20 also lands at -60.5%, with 1,289 versus 509. The R15 results are slightly less lopsided in percentage terms but still substantial: multi-core 2,192 versus 822 (-62.5%) and single-core 309 versus 168 (-45.6%).

PassMark's integer math test reinforces the pattern. The Core 5 213PTE scores 93,109, while the Core 3 N355 finishes at 33,894, a -63.6% delta. Floating point math shows a -68.4% gap: 71,722 versus 22,695. The extended instructions test, which exercises vector and cryptographic instruction sets, yields 16,146 for the Core 5 and 5,968 for the N355, a -63% difference.

The prime number search test is where the Core 5 213PTE opens its largest relative lead. It scores 157 versus just 27 for the N355, a -82.8% delta. That is the single biggest percentage gap in the entire dataset. Physics simulation follows closely: 2,199 versus 625, a -71.6% difference.

Data compression shows the Core 5 213PTE at 261,083 versus 117,435 for the N355, a -55% gap. Data encryption is less dramatic but still one-sided: 14,413 versus 8,121, a -43.7% delta. Random string sorting puts the Core 5 213PTE at 30,106 and the N355 at 14,706, a -51.2% difference.

The PassMark multi-thread score, which aggregates many of these workloads, records 25,590 for the Core 5 213PTE against 10,174 for the N355, a -60.2% gap. Single-thread PassMark shows 3,718 versus 2,153, a -42.1% delta, the narrowest relative margin in the entire comparison. Even this closest result still favors the Core 5 213PTE by a wide absolute margin.

The average benchmark score confirms the hierarchy. The Core 5 213PTE averages 32,924 across its recorded tests, while the Core 3 N355 averages 13,492. That places the Core 5 213PTE in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, whereas the N355 sits in the 68th percentile. The nearest rival data further contextualizes both chips: the Core 5 213PTE is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G, while the Core 3 N355 lands within 1.1% of the Intel Core i7-1250U and 0.8% of the Intel Core 5 120UL.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core 5 213PTE outperforms the Intel Core 3 N355 in every single measured benchmark. There is no workload category in which the N355 comes out ahead, whether that is rendering, encryption, compression, physics, or simple integer arithmetic.

The Core 5 213PTE's advantages are structural. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. That thread count difference matters in multi-threaded tests like Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 213PTE delivers a -75.8% delta over the N355. The boost clock also differs: 5.20 GHz for the Core 5 213PTE versus 3.90 GHz for the N355. That explains the single-core margins, which range from -42.1% to -66.2% depending on the test.

The Core 5 213PTE also accesses a larger L3 cache (24 MB shared versus 6 MB shared) and a dual-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the N355's single-channel 38.4 GB/s. These memory and cache differences likely contribute to the consistent leads in data-heavy workloads like compression and random string sorting.

The Core 3 N355 is not without its own positioning. Its 15 W TDP and mobile segment designation indicate a low-power part. The Core 5 213PTE, by contrast, carries a 45 W TDP and targets desktop systems. The N355's integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 770, while the Core 5 213PTE uses the UHD Graphics 730; the benchmark data does not include graphics tests, so no direct comparison is possible from the recorded numbers.

For users whose workloads align with the measured tests, the Core 5 213PTE is the stronger choice on every metric in this database. The N355's only apparent advantage is its lower power envelope, but no efficiency benchmarks are recorded here to quantify that trade-off. The data simply shows that the Core 5 213PTE is the faster processor, and the Core 3 N355 is suited to contexts where its 15 W TDP and mobile form factor take priority over raw performance.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core 5 213PTE wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21,751 versus 5,262 for the Core 3 N355, a -75.8% delta. PassMark multi-thread shows 25,590 versus 10,174, a -60.2% gap.

Q: How large is the single-core advantage for the Core 5 213PTE?

A: The Core 5 213PTE leads in every single-core test. The closest margin is PassMark single-thread at 3,718 versus 2,153, a -42.1% delta. The widest single-core gap is Cinebench R23 at -66.2%, with 3,070 versus 1,039.

Q: Does the Core 3 N355 win any benchmark in this comparison?

A: No. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Core 5 213PTE wins every one. The Core 3 N355 records zero victories.

Q: What memory and cache differences exist between the two?

A: The Core 5 213PTE uses a dual-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Core 3 N355 uses a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s and supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5. The Core 5 213PTE has 24 MB shared L3 cache and 2 MB L2 per core; the N355 has 6 MB shared L3 and 2 MB shared L2.

Q: How do the two processors compare in encryption and compression workloads?

A: The Core 5 213PTE leads in data encryption with 14,413 versus 8,121, a -43.7% delta. In data compression, it scores 261,083 versus 117,435, a -55% gap. Both are PassMark tests from the recorded benchmarks.

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

A: Both have 8 cores. The Core 5 213PTE has 16 threads, while the Core 3 N355 has 8 threads. The Core 5 213PTE also has a higher boost clock (5.20 GHz versus 3.90 GHz) and a higher base clock (2.10 GHz versus 1.90 GHz).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Core 5 213PTE has 16 threads, while the Core 3 N355 has 8 threads, despite both having 8 cores. Base clock speeds differ: 2.10 GHz for the Core 5 213PTE versus 1.90 GHz for the N355. Boost clocks show a larger gap: 5.20 GHz versus 3.90 GHz.

Thermal design power is another differentiator. The Core 5 213PTE is rated at 45 W, while the Core 3 N355 is rated at 15 W. The sockets are not interchangeable: the Core 5 213PTE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the Core 3 N355 uses Intel BGA 1264.

Memory support varies. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, but the Core 3 N355 adds LPDDR5 support. The memory bus differs: dual-channel for the Core 5 213PTE versus single-channel for the N355. Recorded memory bandwidth is 76.8 GB/s for the Core 5 213PTE and 38.4 GB/s for the N355. ECC memory is supported on the Core 5 213PTE but not on the Core 3 N355.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 5 213PTE provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 3 N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 5 213PTE and the UHD Graphics 770 on the Core 3 N355.

The market segments differ: Desktop for the Core 5 213PTE, Mobile for the Core 3 N355. The Core 5 213PTE has a launch MSRP of $221; the Core 3 N355 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 N355 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, with a codename of Twin Lake and a generation listed as Core 3 (Alder Lake-N). The Core 5 213PTE uses the Bartlett Lake architecture, with a codename of Bartlett Lake and a generation listed as Core 5 (Bartlett Lake). Both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core 3 N355 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 213PTE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 213PTE's per-core L2 allocation and larger L3 pool give it a significant cache advantage, which aligns with its superior performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

The Core 5 213PTE supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 N355 does not. The Core 5 213PTE also offers PCIe Gen 5 connectivity with 16 lanes, whereas the Core 3 N355 is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes. These architectural differences correspond to the Core 5 213PTE's desktop positioning and the Core 3 N355's mobile orientation. The N355's support for LPDDR5 memory is a mobile-specific feature not present on the Core 5 213PTE.