Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

The Intel Core 3 N355 and Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus occupy opposite ends of the mobile processor spectrum. The Core 3 N355 is an 8-core, 8-thread part built on Intel's Twin Lake architecture, featuring a 1.90 GHz base clock and 3.90 GHz boost clock within a 15 W thermal envelope. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is a 20-core, 20-thread processor from the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh family, with a 2.40 GHz base clock and 5.30 GHz boost clock, consuming 55 W. The benchmark database shows a decisive performance gap, with the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The average benchmark score for the Core 3 N355 is 13492, placing it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus achieves an average score of 61834, ranking at the 93rd percentile. This represents a performance class difference rather than a close contest.

FAQ

Q: How large is the performance gap between the Intel Core 3 N355 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus records an average benchmark score of 61834, which is 4.6 times higher than the Core 3 N355's 13492. In the Cinebench R23 multicore test, the Core Ultra 7 scores 41913 versus 5262, a delta of -87.4 percent relative to the Core 3.

Q: Which processor has better single-threaded performance?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus dominates single-thread workloads. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 5917 compared to 1039 for the Core 3 N355, a delta of -82.4 percent. The PassMark single-thread test shows 4764 versus 2153, a delta of -54.8 percent.

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

A: No. The recorded data shows the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus winning all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Core 3 N355 recording zero wins across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and PassMark workloads.

Q: How do the two processors compare in thermal design power?

A: The Core 3 N355 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has a TDP of 55 W. This 40 W difference explains the performance disparity, as the Core Ultra 7 has a much larger power budget for sustained high clocks.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor according to the database?

A: The Core 3 N355's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-12100F with an average score of 13494 and a delta of 0 percent, and the Intel Core i5-9500 with 13452 and a delta of 0.3 percent. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-13900KF with 61841 and a delta of 0 percent, and the Intel Core i9-13900K with 61766 and a delta of 0.1 percent.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus ranks at the 93rd percentile, while the Core 3 N355 ranks at the 68th percentile. This places the Core Ultra 7 in the top 7 percent of all recorded CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 N355 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, also listed as generation "Core 3 (Alder Lake-N)". It uses a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, with the generation listed as "Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake-HX)". Its process node is 3 nm, manufactured by TSMC. The Core Ultra 7 contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 3 N355 has no transistor or die size data recorded.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, indicating no hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. Cache hierarchies are also distinct. 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 7 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support separates the two. The Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory through a single-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core Ultra 7 supports only DDR5 through a dual-channel bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s. Both lack ECC memory support. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Core 3 N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Core 3 N355 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Core Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Core Ultra 7 has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Core 3 N355 does not. The Core 3 N355 uses Intel BGA 1264 socket, and the Core Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2114. The Core 3 N355 has a release date of January 6, 2025, while the Core Ultra 7 has a release date of March 16, 2026. Part numbers are SRPNT for the Core 3 and SADST for the Core Ultra 7.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data records a complete sweep for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus across all 17 comparisons. The largest margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 scores 482 versus 27 for the Core 3 N355, a delta of -94.4 percent. This workload heavily favors the Core Ultra 7's higher core count and clock speed.

In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core Ultra 7 scores 41913 against 5262, a delta of -87.4 percent. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 5917 versus 1039, a delta of -82.4 percent. Cinebench R20 multicore records 17603 for the Core Ultra 7 and 3612 for the Core 3, a delta of -79.5 percent. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 2485 versus 509, also a delta of -79.5 percent.

Cinebench R15 results follow the same pattern. The multicore test gives 4224 for the Core Ultra 7 and 822 for the Core 3, a delta of -80.5 percent. The single-core test records 596 versus 168, a delta of -71.8 percent. These Cinebench results indicate that the Core Ultra 7 delivers between 4.1 and 8 times the performance of the Core 3 depending on the specific test.

PassMark workloads show similar dominance. Data compression scores 493179 for the Core Ultra 7 versus 117435, a delta of -76.2 percent. Data encryption records 37813 versus 8121, a delta of -78.5 percent. Extended instructions show 39283 versus 5968, a delta of -84.8 percent. Floating point math gives 163567 versus 22695, a delta of -86.1 percent. Integer math shows 122449 versus 33894, a delta of -72.3 percent.

The multithread test records 48270 for the Core Ultra 7 and 10174 for the Core 3, a delta of -78.9 percent. Physics simulation shows 3843 versus 625, a delta of -83.7 percent. Random string sorting gives 60020 versus 14706, a delta of -75.5 percent. The smallest margin across all tests is in PassMark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 7 scores 4764 versus 2153, a delta of -54.8 percent. This still represents more than double the single-thread performance.

Specification Differences

The following specification fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 8 (Core 3 N355) versus 20 (Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus)
• Threads: 8 versus 20
• Base Clock: 1.90 GHz versus 2.40 GHz
• Boost Clock: 3.90 GHz versus 5.30 GHz
• TDP: 15 W versus 55 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1264 versus Intel BGA 2114
• Architecture: Twin Lake versus Arrow Lake-HX Refresh
• Process Node: 10 nm versus 3 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Transistors: Not recorded versus 17,800 million
• Die Size: Not recorded versus 243 mm²
• L1 Cache: 96 KB per core versus 192 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 2 MB shared versus 3 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared versus 30 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, 9 Lanes versus Gen 5, 20 Lanes
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics 770 versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU
• Multiplier Unlocked: No versus Yes
• Release Date: January 6, 2025 versus March 16, 2026
• Part Number: SRPNT versus SADST

Both processors share the same manufacturer, lack ECC memory support, target the mobile market segment, and have active production status. Neither has a recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus outperforms the Intel Core 3 N355 in every measured benchmark. The Core Ultra 7 wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons with deltas ranging from -54.8 percent to -94.4 percent. Its average benchmark score of 61834 places it at the 93rd percentile, while the Core 3 N355 sits at the 68th percentile with an average of 13492.

The Core Ultra 7's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-13900KF and i9-13900K, with deltas of 0 percent and 0.1 percent respectively. This positions it in the same performance class as high-end desktop processors from previous generations. The Core 3 N355's nearest rivals are the Core i3-12100F and Core i5-9500, indicating it competes with lower-tier desktop parts despite being a mobile processor.

The Core 3 N355's advantages are limited to power consumption and platform simplicity. Its 15 W TDP versus 55 W for the Core Ultra 7 makes it suitable for fanless or ultra-portable designs. The support for DDR4 and LPDDR5 memory alongside DDR5 offers more memory flexibility. The single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for basic tasks but constrain performance in memory-intensive workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins in every performance category recorded in the database. For multi-core rendering, Cinebench R23 multicore shows 41913 versus 5262, making the Core Ultra 7 approximately 8 times faster. For single-core responsiveness, Cinebench R23 single-core shows 5917 versus 1039, a 5.7 times advantage. For encryption workloads, PassMark data encryption records 37813 versus 8121, a 4.7 times advantage. For prime number calculation, the Core Ultra 7 scores 482 versus 27, a 17.9 times advantage.

The Core 3 N355 holds no benchmark wins, but its specification profile suggests specific use cases. The 15 W TDP allows for passive cooling in thin-and-light notebooks or fanless industrial systems. The 8 cores and 8 threads handle basic productivity tasks, and the UHD Graphics 770 provides display output without a discrete GPU. The support for DDR4 and LPDDR5 memory enables cost-effective system designs. The Gen 3 PCIe with 9 lanes limits expansion but suffices for standard SSDs and wireless cards.

The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus targets performance-oriented mobile workstations and gaming laptops. Its 20 cores, 5.30 GHz boost clock, and 30 MB L3 cache deliver high-end compute. The Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units provides substantial integrated graphics capability. The Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes supports high-speed storage and external GPU connections. The dual-channel DDR5 with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth feeds the large core count effectively. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking in systems with adequate cooling.

The choice between these processors depends entirely on the intended workload and power constraints. The Core 3 N355 serves energy-efficient mobile computing with modest performance expectations. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus serves demanding applications that require maximum throughput, accepting a 40 W higher thermal envelope. The benchmark database shows no scenario where the Core 3 N355 matches the Core Ultra 7 in raw performance, making the Core Ultra 7 the clear choice for compute-intensive tasks.