Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T Comparison
Intel Core 3 N355
Core Ultra 5 225T
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225T
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225T wins all 17 recorded comparisons against the Intel Core 3 N355. The largest margin appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Ultra 5 225T scores 284 versus 27, a delta of -90.5%. This represents the single most lopsided result in the dataset. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the second-largest gap: the Ultra 5 225T scores 21971 against 5262, a -76.1% difference. That means the Ultra 5 225T delivers roughly four times the multicore performance in that specific workload.
Single-core performance also favors the Ultra 5 225T decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the score is 3101 versus 1039, a -66.5% delta. The Cinebench R20 single-core test shows 1302 against 509, a -60.9% gap. PassMark single-thread results show 4348 versus 2153, a -50.5% delta. These consistent margins across both synthetic and application-based tests indicate that the architectural advantage is not workload-specific but systemic.
Memory-intensive workloads reinforce the pattern. PassMark data compression scores 233998 for the Ultra 5 225T versus 117435, a -49.8% delta. Random string sorting shows 28774 against 14706, a -48.9% difference. Integer math scores 59543 versus 33894, a -43.1% delta, which is the narrowest margin in the entire head-to-head set. Floating-point math shows a much larger gap: 82751 versus 22695, a -72.6% delta. Extended instructions score 20083 versus 5968, a -70.3% gap. Data encryption shows 18289 against 8121, a -55.6% delta.
The Cinebench R15 tests, while older, follow the same trend. Multicore scores 2214 versus 822, a -62.9% delta. Single-core scores 312 versus 168, a -46.2% gap. PassMark multithread scores 25358 versus 10174, a -59.9% delta, while physics scores 2053 versus 625, a -69.6% gap.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from fundamentally different design families. The Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-S, built on a 3 nm process node at TSMC. This process difference alone explains a substantial portion of the performance gap: the 3 nm node allows for denser transistors and more efficient power delivery.
The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Neither processor supports hyperthreading, but the Ultra 5 225T has two additional physical cores, which directly contributes to its multicore advantages.
Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core 3 N355 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 225T has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache difference is particularly notable: 20 MB versus 6 MB, more than three times the capacity. Larger caches reduce memory latency and improve performance in workloads with repeated data access.
The Core Ultra 5 225T also carries a much larger transistor count, listed at 17,800 million, with a die size of 243 mm². The Core 3 N355 does not have recorded transistor or die size data. Memory support differs as well: the Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5, but with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, nearly three times the memory bandwidth. This bandwidth advantage matters for data-heavy tasks like compression and encryption.
PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 3 N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes from the CPU. The Core Ultra 5 225T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The newer PCIe standard and doubled lane count allow for faster peripheral communication, which can affect storage and GPU performance.
Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 3 N355 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. The Core 3 N355 targets the mobile segment on Intel BGA 1264 socket, while the Core Ultra 5 225T targets the desktop segment on Intel Socket 1851.
Where Each One Wins
The Core Ultra 5 225T wins every single benchmark in the dataset. There is no recorded workload where the Core 3 N355 comes out ahead. The data shows zero wins for the Core 3 N355 and 17 wins for the Core Ultra 5 225T.
The Core 3 N355's strongest relative performance appears in integer math, where the delta narrows to -43.1%. Even there, the Ultra 5 225T wins substantially, but the gap is smaller than in other tests. The Core 3 N355 also shows relatively smaller deltas in data compression (-49.8%), random string sorting (-48.9%), and single-thread performance (-50.5%). These are workloads where memory bandwidth and cache capacity play a role, and the Core 3 N355's 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and 6 MB L3 cache are less of a disadvantage than in tests that rely heavily on raw compute throughput.
The largest gaps favor the Ultra 5 225T in prime number finding (-90.5%), floating-point math (-72.6%), extended instructions (-70.3%), and physics (-69.6%). These are compute-intensive tasks that benefit from higher clock speeds, more cores, and the architectural efficiency of the 3 nm node. The Cinebench R23 multicore gap of -76.1% also falls into this category, indicating that heavily threaded rendering workloads strongly favor the Ultra 5 225T.
For users running single-threaded applications, the Ultra 5 225T still leads by a wide margin. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a -66.5% delta, and PassMark single-thread shows -50.5%. The higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 3.90 GHz, combined with the newer architecture, explains this consistent advantage.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification. Core count: 8 versus 10. Thread count: 8 versus 10. Base clock: 1.90 GHz versus 2.50 GHz. Boost clock: 3.90 GHz versus 4.90 GHz. TDP: 15 watts versus 65 watts. The Core 3 N355 is a low-power mobile part, while the Core Ultra 5 225T is a desktop processor with a much higher thermal envelope.
Socket types differ completely: Intel BGA 1264 for the Core 3 N355, Intel Socket 1851 for the Core Ultra 5 225T. Process node: 10 nm versus 3 nm. Foundry: Intel versus TSMC. Architecture: Twin Lake versus Arrow Lake. Codename: Twin Lake versus Arrow Lake-S. Generation: Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) versus Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake).
Cache configurations differ at every level. L1 per core: 96 KB versus 192 KB. L2: 2 MB shared versus 3 MB per core. L3: 6 MB shared versus 20 MB shared. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 versus DDR5 only. Memory bus: single-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. PCIe: Gen 3 with 9 lanes versus Gen 5 with 20 lanes.
Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 16EU. Market segment: mobile versus desktop. Release dates are close: the Core 3 N355 released on 2025-01-06, while the Core Ultra 5 225T released on 2024-12-31. Neither processor has a multiplier unlocked, and neither supports ECC memory. The Core 3 N355 has a listed part number of SRPNT, while the Core Ultra 5 225T's part number is unknown.
The manufacturing differences are stark. The Core Ultra 5 225T uses a 3 nm process at TSMC with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 3 N355 uses a 10 nm process at Intel with no recorded transistor or die size data. The process node advantage translates directly into higher clock speeds and better power efficiency per transistor, though the Core 3 N355's 15 watt TDP is notably lower than the 65 watt TDP of the Ultra 5 225T.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Core 3 N355 boosts to 3.90 GHz.
Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?
A: The Core 3 N355 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 5 225T has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?
A: The Core 3 N355 provides 38.4 GB/s over a single-channel bus, while the Core Ultra 5 225T provides 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.
Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?
A: The Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5. The Core Ultra 5 225T supports only DDR5.
Q: What are the core and thread counts?
A: The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core Ultra 5 225T has 10 cores and 10 threads.
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The Core Ultra 5 225T has an average benchmark score of 30468, compared to 13492 for the Core 3 N355. The Ultra 5 225T also ranks in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, versus the 68th percentile for the Core 3 N355.
The Verdict
The recorded data leaves no ambiguity. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225T outperforms the Intel Core 3 N355 in every benchmark test, with margins ranging from -43.1% to -90.5%. The average benchmark score confirms this hierarchy: 30468 versus 13492, roughly 2.3 times higher. The percentile ranking places the Ultra 5 225T at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 N355 sits at the 68th percentile.
The architectural gulf explains the performance chasm. The Ultra 5 225T uses a 3 nm TSMC process, two additional cores, double the L1 cache per core, more than three times the L3 cache, and nearly three times the memory bandwidth. Its 4.90 GHz boost clock outpaces the Core 3 N355's 3.90 GHz. The TDP difference, 65 watts versus 15 watts, reflects the intended usage: the Ultra 5 225T is a desktop part built for sustained performance, while the Core 3 N355 is a mobile part designed for low power consumption.
The nearest rivals provide context. The Core 3 N355's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-12100F, with a delta of 0%. The Core Ultra 5 225T's closest rival is the Intel Core i9-11980HK, with a delta of 0.2%. This places the Ultra 5 225T in the company of high-end mobile H-series processors, while the Core 3 N355 competes with entry-level desktop parts from previous generations.
For users prioritizing raw performance across all measured workloads, the Ultra 5 225T is the clear choice. For users who need a low-power mobile processor with modest performance, the Core 3 N355 serves a different purpose entirely. The data does not support any scenario where the Core 3 N355 outperforms the Ultra 5 225T, but the power envelope difference means these processors target different market segments. The choice depends on the platform: Socket 1851 desktop systems for the Ultra 5 225T, BGA 1264 mobile systems for the Core 3 N355.