Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core 5 221TE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in the Intel Core 5 221TE, which takes 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 3 N355 manages only 3 wins, but those wins are concentrated in specific single-threaded workloads. The most decisive result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 221TE scores 11305 against the Core 3 N355's 5262, a lead of 53.5%. That is the largest margin in any recorded test, and it confirms the Core 5 221TE as the substantially stronger multi-core processor.

The Core 5 221TE also dominates Cinebench R20 multi-core, scoring 4748 versus 3612, a 23.9% advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core 5 221TE posts 1139 against 822, a 27.8% lead. These three Cinebench multi-core results tell a consistent story: the Core 5 221TE has significantly more multi-threaded compute capacity. The PassMark integer math test shows a smaller but still meaningful gap, with the Core 5 221TE scoring 42303 versus 33894, a 19.9% win. Floating point math goes to the Core 5 221TE at 31661 versus 22695, a 28.3% advantage.

The Core 3 N355's wins are notable for their specificity. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 168 against the Core 5 221TE's 160, a 5% edge. The PassMark single-thread test shows a much larger gap: the Core 3 N355 scores 2153 versus 1734, a 24.2% advantage. This is the second-largest margin in the entire head-to-head set, and it indicates the Core 3 N355 has a real single-thread speed advantage in at least one measurement methodology. Interestingly, the two chips reverse positions in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Core 5 221TE wins 670 to 509, a 24% margin, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it wins 1596 to 1039, a 34.9% lead. The single-thread picture is mixed across different render workloads, but the PassMark single-thread result is unambiguous in favor of the Core 3 N355.

Other PassMark tests show the Core 5 221TE ahead across the board. Data compression goes to the Core 5 221TE at 156682 versus 117435, a 25% win. Data encryption shows a closer race, 8963 versus 8121, a 9.4% edge. Extended instructions score 9655 versus 5968, a 38.2% lead. Prime number finding, a heavily thread-bound workload, sees the Core 5 221TE score 59 versus 27, a 54.2% advantage, matching the scale of the Cinebench R23 multi-core gap. Physics simulation goes to the Core 5 221TE at 977 versus 625, a 36% win. Random string sorting is closer, 16929 versus 14706, a 13.1% edge. The multithread aggregate score lands at 13301 versus 10174, a 23.5% lead for the Core 5 221TE.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE has an average benchmark score of 17860, while the Intel Core 3 N355 averages 13492. The Core 5 221TE also sits in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, compared to the Core 3 N355's 68th percentile.

Q: How does the Core 3 N355 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Core 3 N355's average score of 13492 is effectively tied with the Intel Core i3-12100F (13494, 0% delta) and roughly 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 (13452). It sits 0.8% behind the Intel Core 5 120UL (13594) and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U (13351).

Q: Where does the Core 5 221TE sit among its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 5 221TE's average score of 17860 is 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT (17891) and the Intel Core 5 120U (17898). It is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core 7 350 (17779) and 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (17994).

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and by how much?

A: The Intel Core 5 221TE wins decisively with a score of 11305 against the Core 3 N355's 5262, a 53.5% margin. This is the largest single-test gap in the head-to-head data.

Q: Does the Core 3 N355 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Core 3 N355 wins three tests: Cinebench R15 single-core (168 versus 160, 5% ahead) and both PassMark single-thread entries (2153 versus 1734, 24.2% ahead). The PassMark single-thread result is its strongest showing.

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

A: The Core 5 221TE supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core 3 N355 uses single-channel memory at 38.4 GB/s. The Core 5 221TE has exactly double the memory bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. 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 221TE uses the Bartlett Lake codename with a generation of Core 5 (Bartlett Lake). Both are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and fabricated by Intel, but the similarities end there.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core 5 221TE has 10 cores and 16 threads, so it does use hyper-threading to double its thread count. This thread advantage is a major contributor to the Core 5 221TE's multi-core benchmark leads, especially in heavily threaded workloads like Cinebench R23 multi-core and prime number finding.

Cache hierarchies are also structured differently. 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 221TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a much larger 24 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 221TE's larger L3 cache is consistent with its desktop positioning and likely helps in workloads with large working sets.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The Core 3 N355 has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Core 5 221TE has a lower base clock of 1.80 GHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The higher boost clock on the Core 5 221TE explains its strong Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core wins, while the Core 3 N355's PassMark single-thread win suggests its architecture handles that specific workload more efficiently.

Memory support and bus width differ. The Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory over a single-channel bus. The Core 5 221TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is supported on the Core 5 221TE but not on the Core 3 N355. PCIe connectivity also diverges: the Core 3 N355 offers Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the Core 5 221TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 3 N355 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core 5 221TE uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core 3 N355 is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP and an Intel BGA 1264 socket, while the Core 5 221TE is a desktop part with a 45 W TDP and an Intel Socket 1700. The Core 5 221TE has a stated die size of 215 mm², while the Core 3 N355 has no die size recorded.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates the Intel Core 5 221TE is the faster processor in the aggregate. Its average benchmark score of 17860 is 32.4% higher than the Core 3 N355's 13492. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, and its multi-core leads are large, particularly the 53.5% margin in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 54.2% margin in prime number finding. The Core 5 221TE also sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, three points above the Core 3 N355's 68th.

The Core 3 N355 is not without merit. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2153 beats the Core 5 221TE's 1734 by 24.2%, and it also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 5%. For workloads that rely on that specific PassMark single-thread measurement, the Core 3 N355 has a clear edge. But those wins are narrow and isolated. The Core 5 221TE wins every PassMark multi-thread test, every Cinebench multi-core test, and even wins Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core by substantial margins. The data supports choosing the Core 5 221TE for any mixed workload where multi-threaded performance matters, which is the majority of modern compute tasks.

The Core 5 221TE's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at a 0.2% higher average score, the Intel Core 5 120U at 0.2% higher, the Intel Core 7 350 at 0.5% lower, and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 0.7% higher. The Core 3 N355's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-12100F at a 0% delta, the Intel Core i5-9500 at 0.3% lower, the Intel Core 5 120UL at 0.8% higher, and the Intel Core i7-1250U at 1.1% lower. The Core 5 221TE competes in a higher performance tier than the Core 3 N355, based on the database's own classification.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 N355 | Intel Core 5 221TE |

|----------------|-------------------|--------------------|

| Cores | 8 | 10 |

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 1.90 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Twin Lake | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) | Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 215 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (shared) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-01-06 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $232 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 221TE wins in every multi-core benchmark category, and the margins are generally large. Its biggest wins come in Cinebench R23 multi-core (53.5% ahead), prime number finding (54.2% ahead), extended instructions (38.2% ahead), and physics simulation (36% ahead). These are workloads that scale with core count, thread count, and cache size, all areas where the Core 5 221TE has clear structural advantages. It also wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 24% and Cinebench R23 single-core by 34.9%, so even in some single-threaded render tasks it is faster. Data compression, integer math, floating point math, multithread aggregate, data encryption, and random string sorting all go to the Core 5 221TE with margins between 9.4% and 28.3%.

The Intel Core 3 N355 wins only in Cinebench R15 single-core by 5% and in the PassMark single-thread test by 24.2%. The PassMark single-thread result is the more substantial of the two and indicates that for lightweight, single-threaded tasks measured by that benchmark, the Core 3 N355 is the faster part. Its lower TDP of 15 W also makes it a more power-efficient mobile option, though the database does not record power consumption in benchmarks. For workloads that are purely single-threaded and measured by PassMark's methodology, the Core 3 N355 is the choice. For everything else, the Core 5 221TE is the stronger performer in the recorded data.