CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 3 N355 and Intel Core i5-9500 occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance hierarchy, with average benchmark scores of 13492 and 13452, respectively. Both processors sit at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, making this a matchup between two very closely matched parts. The data reveals a fascinating split: the newer mobile chip wins on raw compute in some tests, while the older desktop part dominates in others, creating a nuanced picture that defies a simple "newer is better" conclusion.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic victory in this comparison belongs to the Intel Core 3 N355 in the PassMark data encryption test, where it scores 8121 against the i5-9500's 3125, a staggering 159.9% advantage. This is not a marginal win; it suggests a fundamental architectural strength in cryptographic workloads that completely overwhelms the older chip. Similarly, the N355 takes the Cinebench R15 single-core test by a massive margin, scoring 168 versus 109, a 54.1% difference that indicates a substantial per-thread efficiency advantage in that particular workload.

The N355 also shows clear superiority in integer math, scoring 33894 compared to the i5-9500's 27574, a 22.9% lead. In Cinebench R20, the N355 wins both multi-core (3612 vs 3236, an 11.6% edge) and single-core (509 vs 456, also 11.6%). The PassMark multithread test goes to the N355 with 10174 versus 9826, a 3.5% margin, and the physics test shows a narrow 1% win at 625 versus 619. These results paint a picture of a chip that excels in certain parallel and encryption-heavy tasks.

The i5-9500 fights back decisively in several key areas. Its most significant win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 7705 against the N355's 5262, a 31.7% advantage that reverses the R20 result. The older chip also dominates extended instructions, scoring 12088 versus 5968, a 50.6% lead that suggests better SIMD or specialized instruction handling. In data compression, the i5-9500 wins with 136283 versus 117435, a 13.8% margin.

The single-threaded PassMark tests favor the i5-9500, which scores 2565 compared to the N355's 2153, a 16.1% difference. The desktop chip also wins in random string sorting (16894 vs 14706, 13% ahead) and floating-point math (23788 vs 22695, 4.6% ahead). In prime number finding, the i5-9500 takes a 25% win at 36 versus 27. The Cinebench R23 single-core test goes narrowly to the i5-9500 at 1087 versus 1039, a 4.4% margin. Overall, the i5-9500 wins 9 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the N355 takes 8, underscoring just how evenly matched these processors are despite their different designs.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from completely different design philosophies. The Intel Core 3 N355 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, which belongs to the Alder Lake-N generation, manufactured on a 10 nm process node. It is a mobile-focused part with a 15 W TDP, designed for efficiency and longevity. The i5-9500, by contrast, uses the Coffee Lake architecture from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, built on a 14 nm process with a 65 W TDP for desktop use. This node difference explains why the N355 achieves competitive performance at a fraction of the power budget.

Core configurations differ significantly. The N355 packs 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-9500 offers 6 cores and 6 threads, neither supports hyper-threading. The N355 compensates for its lower base clock of 1.90 GHz (versus 3.00 GHz) and boost clock of 3.90 GHz (versus 4.30 GHz) with two additional cores. Cache hierarchies also diverge: the N355 has 96 KB L1 per core and 2 MB shared L2, while the i5-9500 has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. In L3, the i5-9500 holds an advantage with 9 MB shared versus the N355's 6 MB shared.

Memory support further differentiates the pair. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 across a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-9500 is limited to DDR4 but uses a dual-channel configuration, achieving 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe lanes also favor the desktop chip: the i5-9500 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the N355 offers Gen 3 with only 9 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the N355 featuring UHD Graphics 770 versus the i5-9500's UHD 630. The N355 uses an Intel BGA 1264 socket and is currently active in production, while the i5-9500 uses Intel Socket 1151 and has reached end-of-life status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-9500 wins decisively with a score of 7705 versus 5262 for the N355, a 31.7% advantage.

Q: Does the newer N355 beat the i5-9500 in any single-core test?

A: Yes, the N355 wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 168 versus 109 (54.1% ahead) and Cinebench R20 single-core with 509 versus 456 (11.6% ahead), but loses in Cinebench R23 single-core (1039 vs 1087) and PassMark single-thread (2153 vs 2565).

Q: How do the two compare in encryption performance?

A: The N355 dominates data encryption with a score of 8121 versus 3125, a 159.9% lead, indicating a major architectural advantage in cryptographic workloads.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The i5-9500 has 9 MB of shared L3 cache, while the N355 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which chip has more cores?

A: The N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-9500 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No, the N355 is active, while the i5-9500 has been marked as end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data shows two processors that achieve near-identical average performance but through very different means. The i5-9500 is the stronger choice for sustained multi-core workloads like video rendering, as evidenced by its 31.7% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It also excels in extended instruction workloads and data compression, where its 50.6% and 13.8% leads respectively suggest better optimization for complex instruction sets. Users prioritizing single-threaded PassMark performance or floating-point math would also prefer the i5-9500.

The N355 makes a compelling case for efficiency-focused and specific workloads. Its 159.9% encryption advantage and 22.9% integer math lead indicate strengths in security-related tasks and general arithmetic processing. The 8-core configuration provides a 3.5% multithread win and a 1% physics advantage, showing that the extra cores help in certain parallel scenarios. For mobile or low-power applications, the N355's 15 W TDP versus 65 W makes it the obvious choice.

The overall benchmark picture is essentially a tie, the N355 averages 13492 versus the i5-9500's 13452, a 0.3% difference. Neither chip holds a decisive overall advantage, and the selection ultimately depends on the specific workload and platform requirements. The i5-9500 is better for heavy compute and existing desktop systems, while the N355 suits modern mobile designs and encryption-heavy tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The N355 offers 8 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-9500 provides 6 cores and 6 threads. Clock speeds favor the i5-9500, with a 3.00 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost versus the N355's 1.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. Thermal design power is dramatically different: the N355 operates at 15 W, while the i5-9500 requires 65 W.

The N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture on a 10 nm node, while the i5-9500 uses Coffee Lake on a 14 nm node. Cache configurations differ in L1 (96 KB per core versus 64 KB per core), L2 (2 MB shared versus 256 KB per core), and L3 (6 MB shared versus 9 MB shared). Memory support varies, with the N355 accepting DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 over a single-channel bus, while the i5-9500 supports only DDR4 over a dual-channel bus. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5-9500 at 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s.

PCIe capabilities differ, with the i5-9500 offering 16 Gen 3 lanes versus the N355's 9 Gen 3 lanes. Integrated graphics are distinct, featuring UHD Graphics 770 on the N355 and UHD 630 on the i5-9500. The market segments differ (mobile versus desktop), as do the sockets (Intel BGA 1264 versus Intel Socket 1151) and production status (active versus end-of-life). The release dates are also far apart, with the N355 launching in January 2025 and the i5-9500 in October 2018.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 N355 wins in scenarios that leverage its architectural strengths. Data encryption is a clear use case, given the 159.9% performance lead. Integer math operations favor the N355 by 22.9%, making it suitable for general arithmetic processing. The N355 also takes the Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, suggesting it handles certain older render workloads well. Its PassMark multithread win indicates competence in parallel tasks, and the physics test shows a slight edge. The 15 W TDP makes it ideal for fanless or battery-powered designs where power efficiency is paramount.

The Intel Core i5-9500 wins in sustained and specialized compute scenarios. The 31.7% Cinebench R23 multi-core lead points to better long-duration rendering performance. Extended instructions show a 50.6% advantage, making the i5-9500 superior for workloads that use advanced SIMD operations. Data compression tasks benefit from its 13.8% edge, while random string sorting (13% ahead) and prime number calculations (25% ahead) also favor the desktop chip. Single-threaded PassMark performance is 16.1% better, and floating-point math holds a 4.6% advantage. With dual-channel memory and 16 PCIe lanes, the i5-9500 supports more bandwidth-hungry configurations despite its older architecture.

The split is clear: the N355 excels in encryption, integer math, and power-sensitive mobile applications, while the i5-9500 dominates in rendering, extended instruction workloads, and tasks requiring high single-thread throughput. The near-identical average scores suggest that for mixed usage, either chip would serve adequately, but specialized workloads will reveal the distinct character of each design.