Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core i5-9400F Comparison

The Verdict

The data splits this comparison into two distinct profiles. The Intel Core 3 N355 wins 8 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-9400F wins 9. The overall average benchmark scores are close: the Core 3 N355 records 13492 against the i5-9400F’s 13041, a difference of about 3.5%. Both sit at the 68th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

For users prioritizing sustained multi-threaded rendering and legacy instruction throughput, the i5-9400F is the stronger choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8040 beats the N355’s 5262 by 34.6%. It also leads in extended instructions by 48.9%, in prime number finding by 28.9%, and in data compression by 11.6%. These are classic compute-heavy desktop workloads.

For users who need efficiency, encryption throughput, and integer math, the Core 3 N355 is the data-backed pick. It crushes the i5-9400F in data encryption by 179.8% and in integer math by 29.6%. It also wins the Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, plus the PassMark multi-thread test by 7.6%. Its single-channel memory and mobile socket are trade-offs, but the benchmark record shows it can outpace the older desktop chip in several meaningful areas.

The verdict is not a blanket recommendation. The i5-9400F wins the heavier, longer-duration workloads (R23, compression, extended instructions), while the N355 wins the lighter or more parallel-friendly tests (R15, R20, integer math, encryption). The i5-9400F is end-of-life and desktop-bound; the N355 is active and mobile-oriented. Choose based on workload priority, not on raw name recognition.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras and design philosophies. The Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process, and is classified as part of the Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) generation. It packs 8 cores and 8 threads with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Its thermal design power is 15 W, and it fits the Intel BGA 1264 socket, marking it as a mobile part.

The i5-9400F is a Coffee Lake refresh part, built on a 14 nm process, with 6 cores and 6 threads. It runs at a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and boosts to 4.10 GHz. Its TDP is 65 W, and it uses the Intel Socket 1151, a desktop platform. The process node difference (10 nm vs 14 nm) explains much of the efficiency gap, but the i5-9400F compensates with higher clocks and a larger shared L3 cache.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The N355 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-9400F has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. The i5-9400F’s larger L3 (9 MB vs 6 MB) and per-core L2 (256 KB vs 2 MB shared) provide a structural advantage for workloads that reuse data.

Memory support is another split. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, but only on a single-channel bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-9400F supports only DDR4, but on a dual-channel bus, yielding 42.7 GB/s. The i5-9400F has more raw memory bandwidth, though the N355’s support for newer memory types offers platform flexibility.

PCIe lanes also differ. The N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only); the i5-9400F provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5-9400F has more expansion headroom. Integrated graphics are present on the N355 (UHD Graphics 770), while the i5-9400F has none, reflecting its “F” suffix for no graphics. The N355 is active in production; the i5-9400F is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 N355 wins in several multi-core and integer-heavy benchmarks. It takes Cinebench R15 multi-core by 1.5% (822 vs 810) and R20 multi-core by 7% (3612 vs 3376). It leads PassMark multi-thread by 7.6% (10174 vs 9455), integer math by 29.6% (33894 vs 26155), and floating point math narrowly by 1% (22695 vs 22465). Its encryption win is enormous: 8121 vs 2902, a 179.8% margin. These results point to workloads that scale with core count and benefit from modern instruction execution, such as encryption, integer calculations, and moderately threaded rendering.

The i5-9400F wins the heavier and more single-thread-sensitive tests. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8040 versus 5262 is its largest win, a 34.6% advantage. It also leads in data compression (132877 vs 117435, up 11.6%), extended instructions (11684 vs 5968, up 48.9%), and prime number finding (38 vs 27, up 28.9%). In single-thread tests, the i5-9400F wins PassMark single-thread by 11.3% (2428 vs 2153) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 8.5% (1135 vs 1039). It also wins PassMark physics by 4.3% (653 vs 625) and random string sorting by 9.8% (16298 vs 14706).

The split is clear: the N355 excels in parallel integer and encryption tasks, while the i5-9400F dominates in single-thread, compression, and sustained heavy multi-core workloads like Cinebench R23. Users running short multi-core bursts or encryption-heavy processes should favor the N355. Users doing long renders, compression, or legacy instruction-heavy tasks should favor the i5-9400F.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400F, with a score of 8040 versus the Core 3 N355’s 5262, a 34.6% advantage.

Q: How does the Core 3 N355 perform in encryption workloads?

A: It leads decisively, scoring 8121 in PassMark data encryption against the i5-9400F’s 2902, a 179.8% margin.

Q: Which chip is better for single-threaded tasks?

A: The i5-9400F wins PassMark single-thread (2428 vs 2153, up 11.3%) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1135 vs 1039, up 8.5%).

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The i5-9400F provides 42.7 GB/s on a dual-channel bus, while the Core 3 N355 provides 38.4 GB/s on a single-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Core 3 N355 has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770). The i5-9400F has none.

Q: What is the production status of each?

A: The Core 3 N355 is active in production, while the i5-9400F is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the i5-9400F is Cinebench R23 multi-core: 8040 versus 5262, a 34.6% lead. This is a long-duration render workload, and the i5-9400F’s higher clocks and larger L3 cache pay off. The i5-9400F also dominates PassMark extended instructions, scoring 11684 against 5968, a 48.9% margin, and data compression, 132877 versus 117435, an 11.6% lead.

The Core 3 N355’s most spectacular win is PassMark data encryption: 8121 versus 2902, a 179.8% margin. It also wins integer math by 29.6% (33894 vs 26155) and Cinebench R20 multi-core by 7% (3612 vs 3376). In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the N355 edges ahead by 1.5% (822 vs 810), and it takes PassMark multi-thread by 7.6% (10174 vs 9455).

Single-thread tests favor the i5-9400F. PassMark single-thread shows 2428 versus 2153, an 11.3% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1135 versus 1039, an 8.5% lead. The i5-9400F also wins Cinebench R15 single-core (114 vs 168? No, the N355 wins that: 168 vs 114, a 47.4% lead). That is a notable outlier: the N355’s R15 single-core score is far higher relative to the i5-9400F than in other single-thread tests.

The N355 wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 6.9% (509 vs 476), but loses R23 single-core by 8.5%. This inconsistency suggests workload-specific behavior. The i5-9400F wins PassMark physics (653 vs 625, up 4.3%) and random string sorting (16298 vs 14706, up 9.8%). The N355 wins floating point math narrowly, 22695 versus 22465, a 1% margin.

Overall, the head-to-head record shows 8 wins for the N355 and 9 for the i5-9400F. The i5-9400F’s wins tend to be larger in magnitude (34.6%, 48.9%), while the N355’s wins are more numerous in smaller tests and include the massive encryption outlier.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads; the i5-9400F has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 1.90 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.90 GHz versus 4.10 GHz. TDP is 15 W versus 65 W, reflecting the N355’s mobile focus.

Sockets differ: the N355 uses Intel BGA 1264, the i5-9400F uses Intel Socket 1151. Process nodes differ: 10 nm for the N355, 14 nm for the i5-9400F. Cache layouts diverge: the N355 has 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB shared L2, and 6 MB shared L3; the i5-9400F has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 9 MB shared L3.

Memory support differs: the N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 on a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth; the i5-9400F supports only DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe lanes differ: the N355 provides Gen 3, 9 lanes; the i5-9400F provides Gen 3, 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are present only on the N355 (UHD Graphics 770). Production status: the N355 is active, the i5-9400F is end-of-life. Release dates are January 6, 2025 for the N355 and January 7, 2019 for the i5-9400F. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.