Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core i7-14701E Comparison

The Intel Core 3 N355 and the Intel Core i7-14701E represent two distinct extremes within Intel’s current lineup. The data shows a complete sweep for the i7-14701E across all recorded benchmarks, with the Core 3 N355 failing to secure a single win. The performance gap is substantial and consistent, driven by fundamental differences in architecture, power allocation, and market positioning. The benchmark data indicates that the i7-14701E is not merely faster, but is in a different performance class altogether, with the N355 designed for efficiency and low-power operation rather than raw throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark results show zero wins for the Intel Core 3 N355. In every single test, from Cinebench rendering workloads to PassMark’s various computational tasks, the Intel Core i7-14701E delivers a higher score. The N355’s role is therefore not defined by victory in performance comparisons, but by its positioning as a low-power mobile processor. Its 15 W TDP and single-channel memory bus indicate a focus on thermal efficiency and battery life in compact mobile devices, where sustained heavy multi-core loads are not the primary use case.

The Intel Core i7-14701E, in contrast, wins all 17 recorded benchmarks. It is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, designed to handle demanding workloads such as content creation, software compilation, and scientific computing. The data shows its dominance is most pronounced in multi-threaded scenarios, where the combination of 16 threads and a larger cache allows it to pull far ahead of the N355. While the N355 does not win any tests, the data suggests its advantage lies in the platform level, specifically its low power draw and mobile form factor, which are not captured in raw performance scores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different architectural foundations. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, also referred to as Alder Lake-N, and is fabricated on a 10 nm process. The Intel Core i7-14701E uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, and is also fabricated on a 10 nm process. Despite the same process node, the core designs differ significantly. The N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, indicating no hyper-threading, while the i7-14701E has 8 cores and 16 threads, doubling the thread count.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The N355 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-14701E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and a much larger 33 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size also differs, with the i7-14701E measuring 257 mm², while no die size is recorded for the N355. These structural differences explain the performance gap, as the larger L3 cache and per-core L2 allocation on the i7-14701E allow for better data locality and reduced memory latency in complex workloads.

Platform support also sets them apart. The N355 uses the Intel BGA 1264 socket and supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory through a single-channel bus, with memory bandwidth capped at 38.4 GB/s. It does not support ECC memory. The i7-14701E uses the Intel Socket 1700 and supports DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded. It does support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs as well, with the N355 offering Gen 3 with 9 lanes and the i7-14701E offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes, allowing the desktop part to connect to faster storage and expansion cards.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent and large advantage for the Intel Core i7-14701E across all tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-14701E scores 22195 against the N355’s 5262, a delta of negative 76.3 percent from the N355’s perspective. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire dataset. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-14701E scores 3133 versus 1039, a negative 66.8 percent delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a score of 9321 compared to 3612, a negative 61.2 percent delta, and Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1315 versus 509, a negative 61.3 percent delta.

The PassMark suite confirms the trend. In data compression, the i7-14701E scores 282939 against 117435, a negative 58.5 percent delta. Data encryption shows 14862 versus 8121, a negative 45.4 percent delta, the smallest gap in the dataset. Extended instructions tests show 18528 versus 5968, a negative 67.8 percent delta. The find prime numbers test reveals the largest multi-threaded discrepancy in the PassMark suite, with the i7-14701E scoring 176 against 27, a negative 84.7 percent delta. Floating point math shows 61873 versus 22695, a negative 63.3 percent delta, and integer math shows 81325 versus 33894, a negative 58.3 percent delta.

The PassMark multithread score for the i7-14701E is 26112, while the N355 manages 10174, a negative 61 percent delta. Physics simulation scores are 2399 versus 625, a negative 73.9 percent delta. Random string sorting shows 29158 versus 14706, a negative 49.6 percent delta. Single-thread performance is exactly halved, with the i7-14701E scoring 4305 and the N355 scoring 2153, a negative 50 percent delta. This consistent pattern across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests indicates that the i7-14701E’s advantage is not limited to parallel workloads, but also extends to raw per-core performance.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two processors are significant and explain the performance separation. The most obvious difference is in thread count, with the N355 offering 8 threads and the i7-14701E offering 16 threads. Clock speeds also diverge, with the N355 having a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i7-14701E has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The higher boost clock on the i7-14701E directly contributes to its superior single-thread performance.

Power consumption is another major divider. The N355 has a TDP of 15 W, while the i7-14701E has a TDP of 65 W. This more than quadrupled power envelope allows the desktop processor to sustain higher clock speeds and feed its additional threads. The N355 operates on a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i7-14701E uses a dual-channel bus with no bandwidth figure recorded. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory, while the i7-14701E supports DDR4 and DDR5 only, and the i7-14701E adds ECC memory support which the N355 lacks.

The cache hierarchy is markedly different, with the N355 using a shared 2 MB L2 cache and a 6 MB L3 cache, while the i7-14701E uses a 2 MB per-core L2 cache and a 33 MB shared L3 cache. The socket types differ, with the N355 using Intel BGA 1264 and the i7-14701E using Intel Socket 1700. PCIe support also differs, with the N355 limited to Gen 3 with 9 lanes and the i7-14701E offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The market segments are different as well, with the N355 classified as Mobile and the i7-14701E as Desktop. The release dates are also different, with the N355 released in January 2025 and the i7-14701E released in June 2024.

FAQ

Q: How do the multi-core performance scores compare between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E is significantly faster in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-14701E scores 22195 while the Intel Core 3 N355 scores 5262, a negative 76.3 percent delta for the N355. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the scores are 2237 and 822 respectively, a negative 63.3 percent delta.

Q: What is the difference in single-thread performance?

A: The i7-14701E also leads in single-thread tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3133 versus 1039 for the N355, a negative 66.8 percent delta. In PassMark single-thread, the i7-14701E scores 4305 versus 2153, a negative 50 percent delta.

Q: Why is the Intel Core i7-14701E so much faster in the find prime numbers test?

A: The find prime numbers test shows the largest gap in the dataset. The i7-14701E scores 176 while the N355 scores 27, a negative 84.7 percent delta. This test is highly sensitive to integer arithmetic performance and thread scaling, both of which favor the i7-14701E.

Q: Do both processors use the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 3 N355 and the Intel Core i7-14701E are listed with UHD Graphics 770 as their integrated graphics solution.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory through a single-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-14701E supports DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus, and it also supports ECC memory while the N355 does not.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-14701E has an average benchmark score of 33206, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 N355 has an average benchmark score of 13492, placing it in the 68th percentile.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The N355 has a TDP of 15 W, while the i7-14701E has a TDP of 65 W. This difference in power envelope is a key factor in the performance gap, as the i7-14701E can sustain much higher clock speeds.