Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and one-sided picture. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i5-14401E delivers substantially higher scores than the Intel Core 3 N355. The largest gap appears in the multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-14401E scores 18,161 points against the N355's 5,262, a difference of 71% in favor of the desktop part. Similarly, in Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-14401E posts 7,627 points versus the N355's 3,612, a 52.6% advantage. The R15 multicore test shows the same pattern, with the i5-14401E at 1,830 points and the N355 at 822, a 55.1% lead.

Single-core performance also favors the i5-14401E, though the margin is smaller than in multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14401E scores 2,564 points against the N355's 1,039, a 59.5% advantage. The R20 single-core test shows the i5-14401E at 1,076 points versus 509 for the N355, a 52.7% lead. The R15 single-core result is the closest contest, with the i5-14401E at 258 points and the N355 at 168, still a 34.9% gap.

The i5-14401E wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The N355 does not claim a single victory in the recorded tests. The data indicates that the i5-14401E is the stronger performer in every measured workload, with its largest advantage in the heavily threaded Cinebench R23 multicore test.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14401E wins across the board in the recorded Cinebench benchmarks. Its multi-core scores are consistently more than double those of the N355 in R20 and R23, and nearly double in R15. This suggests a decisive advantage in content creation, rendering, and any workload that scales across multiple threads. The single-core results also favor the i5-14401E by a wide margin, which translates to faster response in lightly threaded applications such as everyday desktop use and legacy software.

The Intel Core 3 N355, while losing every benchmark, has its own domain based on the broader database context. Its average benchmark score of 13,492 places it near the Intel Core i3-12100F, which scores 13,494, and ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 by 0.3%. It also outperforms the Intel Core i7-1250U by 1.1%. The N355's percentile ranking of 68 places it above the i5-14401E's percentile of 60, which indicates that the N355 performs competitively within its own market segment of low-power mobile processors. The N355's 15 W TDP and mobile socket point toward fanless or small-form-factor designs where the i5-14401E's 65 W TDP and desktop socket would not be suitable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and target different platforms. The Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, also labeled as Core 3 (Alder Lake-N), and is built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The i5-14401E belongs to the Raptor Lake family, specifically Raptor Lake-R, and is also built on a 10 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i5-14401E's higher clock speeds and Hyper-Threading capability (implied by 6 cores and 12 threads) explain much of its performance lead.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The N355 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14401E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a much larger 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14401E's larger L3 cache provides a substantial advantage in workloads that repeatedly access data. The die size of the i5-14401E is recorded at 215 mm², while the N355's die size is not listed.

Memory support and platform features also diverge. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory, but uses a single-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5, uses a dual-channel memory bus, and its memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. The i5-14401E supports ECC memory, while the N355 does not. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the i5-14401E provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the N355 using UHD Graphics 770 and the i5-14401E using UHD Graphics 730.

The N355 uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket and is classified as a mobile processor. The i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700 and is classified as a desktop processor. The N355 was released in January 2025, while the i5-14401E was released in June 2024. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core 3 N355 has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The benchmark data shows the Intel Core i5-14401E is significantly better. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 18,161 points versus the N355's 5,262 points, a 71% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 N355 support ECC memory?

A: No. The N355 does not support ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-14401E does support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5. The Intel Core i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 N355 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core i5-14401E is the superior processor for raw compute performance across all recorded benchmarks. Its multi-core results in Cinebench R23 show a 71% lead over the N355, and its single-core results show a 59.5% lead. For any workload that depends on CPU throughput, such as rendering, compiling, or heavy multitasking, the i5-14401E is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core 3 N355, however, serves a different purpose. Its 15 W TDP, mobile BGA socket, and support for LPDDR5 memory make it suitable for low-power and portable systems. Its average benchmark score of 13,492 places it in line with desktop processors like the Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Core i5-9500, which indicates that its efficiency does not come at the cost of all performance. The N355 also has a higher percentile rank of 68 compared to the i5-14401E's 60, meaning it outperforms a larger share of the overall CPU population within its segment.

The choice depends on the platform. For a desktop build with a Socket 1700 motherboard, the i5-14401E is the obvious pick based on benchmark results. For a compact, low-power mobile system, the N355 is the only viable option of the two, given its socket and power profile. The i5-14401E's 65 W TDP and desktop socket do not fit mobile designs, and the N355's 15 W TDP and BGA socket cannot be used in a standard desktop motherboard.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 N355 | Intel Core i5-14401E |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1.90 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Twin Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Twin Lake | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 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) | 20 MB (shared) |

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

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not listed |

| 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 | 2024-06-30 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |