Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core i7-10750H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core i7-10750H, which wins 15 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The Intel Core 3 N355 manages only two wins, but one of them is by a massive margin. The most striking result is in PassMark data encryption, where the Core 3 N355 scores 8121 against the i7-10750H’s 3930, a 106.6% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and indicates a fundamental strength in cryptographic workloads for the Twin Lake architecture.

Outside of that encryption outlier, the i7-10750H dominates across the board. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7-10750H scores 9718 versus 5262 for the Core 3 N355, a 45.9% deficit for the latter. This is a significant margin that speaks to sustained multi-threaded rendering capability. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a smaller but still clear gap: 979 for the i7-10750H against 822 for the Core 3 N355, a 16% difference. Similarly, Cinebench R20 multi-core favors the i7-10750H at 4081 versus 3612, an 11.5% edge.

Single-core results are more nuanced across different benchmark generations. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 3 N355 actually wins, scoring 168 against 138, a 21.7% advantage. This is a notable bright spot for the newer chip. However, in Cinebench R20 single-core, the i7-10750H takes the lead with 576 versus 509, an 11.6% margin. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows an even larger win for the i7-10750H: 1372 versus 1039, a 24.3% deficit for the Core 3 N355. The PassMark single-thread score also favors the i7-10750H at 2625 versus 2153, an 18% gap.

In data compression, the i7-10750H is clearly superior, scoring 167213 against 117435, a 29.8% advantage. Extended instruction workloads also favor the i7-10750H heavily: 10470 versus 5968, a 43% deficit for the Core 3 N355. Prime number finding shows a 30.8% gap (39 versus 27), and random string sorting shows a 31.3% gap (21416 versus 14706). Floating point math gives the i7-10750H a 9.5% edge (25070 versus 22695), while integer math shows a 14.7% gap (39730 versus 33894). The PassMark multithread score favors the i7-10750H by 12.4% (11616 versus 10174), and physics simulation shows a 10.7% gap (700 versus 625).

The average benchmark scores place the Core 3 N355 at 13492 and the i7-10750H at 13024, which is interesting given the head-to-head results. Both chips sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs. The Core 3 N355’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-12100F (13494, 0% delta) and the Intel Core 5 120UL (13594, -0.8% delta). The i7-10750H’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9400F (13041, -0.1% delta) and the Intel Core Ultra 3 105UL (13061, -0.3% delta). This means the Core 3 N355’s average score is actually slightly higher than the i7-10750H’s average score, driven by its encryption win and relatively competitive single-core results in some tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core 3 N355 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, which the database lists as part of the Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) generation. It uses a 10 nm process node. The i7-10750H is a Comet Lake-H part, built on a 14 nm node. This process difference is substantial, with the newer 10 nm node allowing for higher efficiency per watt in the Core 3 N355.

Core counts differ in both direction and configuration. The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning it lacks Hyper-Threading. The i7-10750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach its thread count. This explains why the i7-10750H wins heavily in multi-core workloads: its 12 threads outperform the 8 threads of the Core 3 N355 despite having fewer physical cores. Clock speeds also favor the i7-10750H: its base clock is 2.60 GHz and boost clock is 5.00 GHz, versus 1.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost for the Core 3 N355. This higher boost clock explains the i7-10750H’s advantage in single-core and lightly threaded tests.

Cache hierarchies are notably different. The Core 3 N355 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-10750H has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The i7-10750H’s larger L3 cache (12 MB versus 6 MB) is a significant advantage for workloads that benefit from larger working sets. However, the Core 3 N355’s larger L1 per core (96 KB versus 64 KB) may help with certain latency-sensitive operations.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, while the i7-10750H supports only DDR4. The i7-10750H uses a dual-channel memory bus with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 3 N355 uses a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s. This gives the i7-10750H a memory bandwidth advantage, which likely contributes to its wins in data compression and extended instruction workloads. Neither chip supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the i7-10750H has 16 lanes versus 9 lanes for the Core 3 N355.

Power envelopes differ dramatically. The Core 3 N355 has a 15 W TDP, while the i7-10750H has a 45 W TDP. This threefold difference in thermal design power explains the performance gap in sustained workloads: the i7-10750H is allowed to draw far more power to maintain higher clocks. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 N355 features UHD Graphics 770, while the i7-10750H has a generic UHD Graphics solution. The Core 3 N355 was released on 2025-01-06, while the i7-10750H dates to 2020-04-01, making the former a much newer design.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-10750H is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 9718 versus 5262 shows a 45.9% advantage, which translates to faster video rendering, compilation, and other heavily threaded tasks. Data compression also strongly favors the i7-10750H (167213 versus 117435, a 29.8% gap), making it the better choice for file archiving and database workloads. Extended instruction performance is another strong suit: 10470 versus 5968, a 43% gap, which matters for scientific computing and media encoding. The i7-10750H also wins in integer math (39730 versus 33894), floating point math (25070 versus 22695), and random string sorting (21416 versus 14706). For general single-threaded responsiveness, the i7-10750H holds the edge in Cinebench R23 single-core (1372 versus 1039) and PassMark single-thread (2625 versus 2153).

The Intel Core 3 N355 has a narrow but important niche. Its data encryption score of 8121 versus 3930 is a 106.6% advantage, making it vastly superior for cryptographic operations such as VPN traffic, disk encryption, and secure web serving. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core (168 versus 138, a 21.7% gap), suggesting that in certain legacy or lightly threaded workloads, the newer Twin Lake architecture can outpace the older Comet Lake design. Given its 15 W TDP versus the i7-10750H’s 45 W, the Core 3 N355 is also the more power-efficient option, though the database does not provide direct efficiency benchmarks.

The average scores tell a nuanced story. The Core 3 N355’s average benchmark score is 13492, slightly higher than the i7-10750H’s 13024. This is because the encryption win is so large that it lifts the Core 3 N355’s average despite losing most individual tests. Both processors sit at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 N355’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-12100F with a 0% delta, while the i7-10750H’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-9400F at -0.1%, indicating that both chips are very closely matched to their respective peers in overall performance.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward recommendation for users who prioritize raw performance: the Intel Core i7-10750H is the stronger processor for most workloads. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, and its multi-core advantage is decisive in Cinebench R23 (45.9% ahead), extended instructions (43% ahead), and data compression (29.8% ahead). Anyone running rendering, scientific simulations, database compression, or heavy multitasking should choose the i7-10750H without hesitation. Its 12 threads and 5.00 GHz boost clock provide a level of sustained performance that the Core 3 N355 cannot match, despite the latter’s newer architecture.

The Intel Core 3 N355 is the right choice for a very specific set of use cases. If the workload involves encryption, its 106.6% advantage in PassMark data encryption is overwhelming. This makes it ideal for network appliances, secure communication devices, or any system where cryptographic throughput is the bottleneck. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core, which may appeal to users running legacy software that scales poorly across cores but benefits from the newer architecture’s efficiency. Additionally, the Core 3 N355’s 15 W TDP versus the i7-10750H’s 45 W suggests it belongs in fanless or passively cooled designs where power draw is the primary constraint.

For general-purpose mobile computing, the i7-10750H is the safer bet. Its wins in PassMark single-thread (2625 versus 2153), integer math, and floating point math cover the typical range of everyday applications. The Core 3 N355 should be reserved for security-focused devices or ultra-low-power systems where encryption performance is paramount. Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, and both are considered active production parts. The i7-10750H uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the Core 3 N355 uses Intel BGA 1264, so they are not interchangeable in existing designs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-10750H wins all multi-core tests. The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 9718 versus 5262 for the Core 3 N355, a 45.9% advantage.

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

A: Yes, it wins two tests. It scores 8121 in PassMark data encryption versus 3930 for the i7-10750H, a 106.6% advantage, and it wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 168 versus 138, a 21.7% gap.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i7-10750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, using Hyper-Threading to double its thread count.

Q: What are the power requirements for each chip?

A: The Core 3 N355 has a TDP of 15 W. The i7-10750H has a TDP of 45 W, three times higher.

Q: Which processor has higher clock speeds?

A: The i7-10750H has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core 3 N355 has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core 3 N355 has an average benchmark score of 13492, while the i7-10750H has an average of 13024. Both sit at the 68th percentile of all CPUs.