Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 221E wins all 17 recorded tests. The Intel Core 3 N355 does not take a single benchmark victory in the database. This is not a close contest with tradeoffs between workloads, but a complete sweep in favor of the Core 5 221E across every measured category.

The Core 5 221E dominates in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. Its largest margin comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 173 against 27 for the Core 3 N355, a 84.4% advantage. The smallest gap between the two is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the Core 5 221E scores 4147 versus 2153, a 48.1% lead. Even the narrowest win is substantial.

The Core 3 N355's best relative showing occurs in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it trails by 54.3%. That test still favors the Core 5 221E by a wide margin, but it is the closest the N355 comes to competitive. The data indicates the N355 is not merely slower, it is categorically outclassed in every workload type, from integer math to floating point math to data compression.

The percentile rankings reinforce this split. The Core 5 221E sits at the 87th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 3 N355 sits at the 68th percentile. The average benchmark score for the Core 5 221E is 40144, roughly three times the N355's 13492. For users seeking any form of compute performance, the Core 5 221E is the clear selection from the recorded data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, listed as part of the Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) generation. The Core 5 221E uses Bartlett Lake. Both are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry, so the manufacturing process is identical, but the core designs differ significantly.

The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyper-threading support. The Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement with 6 extra threads beyond its core count. The N355's base clock is 1.90 GHz with a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Core 5 221E runs at 2.70 GHz base and boosts to 5.20 GHz. Both clock speeds and the core count difference contribute to the performance gap.

Cache hierarchies differ markedly. The Core 3 N355 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 221E's per-core L2 is larger in aggregate, and its L3 is four times the size of the N355's.

The memory interface also diverges. The Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory, but only through a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. That bandwidth advantage is more than double.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 3 N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the Core 5 221E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: the N355 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 N355 does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show consistent dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 5 221E scores 2613 against 822, a 68.5% lead. Single-core R15 shows 368 versus 168, a 54.3% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core gap grows to 10891 against 3612, a 66.8% difference, while single-core reaches 1537 against 509, a 66.9% gap.

Cinebench R23 delivers the largest multi-core margin in the entire benchmark suite. The Core 5 221E scores 25933, while the Core 3 N355 scores 5262. That represents a 79.7% difference, the second-largest gap recorded. Single-core R23 shows 3661 versus 1039, a 71.6% lead.

The PassMark suite reinforces the pattern. Data compression favors the Core 5 221E at 324285 versus 117435, a 63.8% margin. Data encryption shows 19205 versus 8121, a 57.7% gap. Extended instructions score 18216 against 5968, a 67.2% difference. Floating point math delivers 79028 versus 22695, a 71.3% margin. Integer math is similarly lopsided at 117813 versus 33894, a 71.2% gap.

The multithread benchmark scores 30510 for the Core 5 221E and 10174 for the Core 3 N355, a 66.7% difference. Physics simulation shows 2230 versus 625, a 72% gap. Random string sorting lands at 37686 versus 14706, a 61% margin. The single-thread tests, recorded twice in the database, both show 4147 versus 2153, a 48.1% gap.

The find prime numbers test is the most extreme outlier. The Core 5 221E scores 173, while the Core 3 N355 scores just 27. That 84.4% margin is the largest recorded in any test. The data indicates the Core 5 221E is particularly strong in integer-heavy workloads with high thread counts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every major specification. The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clock is 1.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz. Boost clock is 3.90 GHz versus 5.20 GHz. Thermal design power is 15 watts for the N355 and 65 watts for the Core 5 221E.

The socket is entirely different: Intel BGA 1264 for the N355, Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 5 221E. The Core 5 221E has a die size of 257 mm², while the N355 has no recorded die size. The market segment also differs, with the N355 classified as Mobile and the Core 5 221E as Desktop.

Cache specifications diverge on L1 and L2. The N355 has 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of shared L2. The Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. Both have shared L3, but the N355 has 6 MB while the Core 5 221E has 24 MB.

Memory support is similar but not identical. Both support DDR4 and DDR5, but the N355 adds LPDDR5 while the Core 5 221E does not. The memory bus is single-channel for the N355 and dual-channel for the Core 5 221E. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is absent on the N355 and present on the Core 5 221E.

PCIe generations differ: Gen 3 with 9 lanes for the N355, Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the Core 5 221E. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 for the N355 and UHD Graphics 730 for the Core 5 221E. The release dates are close, with the N355 on 2025-01-06 and the Core 5 221E on 2025-01-12. The Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232, while the N355 has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core 5 221E scores 173 against 27 for the Core 3 N355, a difference of 84.4%.

Q: How do the Cinebench R23 multi-core scores compare?

A: The Core 5 221E scores 25933 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Core 3 N355 scores 5262. The Core 5 221E leads by 79.7%.

Q: Do the processors support the same memory types?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5. The Core 3 N355 also supports LPDDR5, while the Core 5 221E does not. The Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 N355 does not.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The Core 3 N355 has a TDP of 15 watts. The Core 5 221E has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The Core 5 221E has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 3 N355 has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.