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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data delivers a complete sweep: the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Core 3 N355 taking zero wins. The margins are substantial across every category, but the single-core and multi-core splits tell different stories about the scale of the gap.

The largest single-core advantage appears in Cinebench R20, where the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 3453 against 509, a delta of 85.3% in favor of the Ultra part. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a similar pattern: 2439 versus 1039, a 57.4% advantage. PassMark single-thread results confirm the trend, with 5068 against 2153, matching that 57.5% delta. The smallest single-core delta in the dataset is Cinebench R15, where the Ultra scores 354 versus 168, a 52.5% edge. This consistency across four different single-core tests indicates the Ultra 7 270K Plus holds a fundamental per-thread performance advantage, not one tied to a specific workload type.

Multi-core results amplify the gap considerably. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Ultra 7 270K Plus at 44253 against 5262, an 88.1% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 24461 versus 3612, an 85.2% difference. The PassMark multithread test records 68574 for the Ultra against 10174, another 85.2% delta. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 6656 versus 822, an 87.7% gap. These four multi-core deltas cluster around 85 to 88%, meaning the Ultra's advantage grows significantly when all cores are active.

The specialized PassMark workloads expose even wider gaps. Find prime numbers shows the Ultra at 615 against 27, a 95.6% delta, the largest margin in the entire dataset. Extended instructions deliver 63506 versus 5968, a 90.6% edge. Floating point math records 229491 versus 22695, a 90.1% difference. Data compression shows 804322 against 117435, an 85.4% gap. Even the smallest PassMark delta, integer math at 80.7%, still represents a decisive 175986 to 33894 result. The data confirms the Ultra 7 270K Plus is not merely faster, it is categorically faster in every measured dimension.

Architecture Differences

The two processors occupy opposite ends of Intel's product stack, and the architectural records reflect that separation. The Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, part of the Alder Lake-N generation, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses the Arrow Lake Refresh codename, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 and the Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake) generation, fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. This process difference alone explains much of the efficiency and clock headroom gap.

Core counts diverge sharply. The N355 provides 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus provides 24 cores and 24 threads. Neither part uses hyperthreading, so thread counts equal core counts. The Ultra has three times the cores, and its 5.50 GHz boost clock against the N355's 3.90 GHz boost gives it both a width and a speed advantage. Base clocks also differ: 3.70 GHz for the Ultra versus 1.90 GHz for the N355.

Cache hierarchies reveal a structural difference. The N355 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 270K Plus has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The per-core L2 design on the Ultra is a fundamental departure from the shared L2 on the N355, giving each Ultra core its own private cache. The L3 difference, 36 MB versus 6 MB, is a sixfold increase.

Memory support also separates the two. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 over a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 7 270K Plus supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the Ultra but not on the N355. The Ultra's PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the N355 uses Gen 3 with 9 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The N355 carries UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU. The Ultra's production status is active, with a release date of 2026-03-10 and a launch MSRP of $299. The N355 released on 2025-01-06 and also remains active. The Ultra has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the N355 lists no transistor or die size data. The Ultra is multiplier unlocked; the N355 is not. Sockets differ: the N355 uses Intel BGA 1264, and the Ultra uses Intel Socket 1851. The market segments also diverge, with the N355 classified as Mobile and the Ultra as Desktop.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus records an average benchmark score of 93785, compared to 13492 for the Core 3 N355. The Ultra also sits at the 96th percentile among all CPUs, while the N355 sits at the 68th percentile.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 44253 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Core 3 N355 scores 5262. That is an 88.1% delta in favor of the Ultra.

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

A: No. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Core 3 N355 records zero wins. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins all 17 comparisons.

Q: What memory configurations does each processor support?

A: The Core 3 N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 over a single-channel bus. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. Memory bandwidth is 38.4 GB/s for the N355 and 115.2 GB/s for the Ultra.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. Both processors lack hyperthreading, so threads equal cores in each case.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus boosts to 5.50 GHz, while the Core 3 N355 boosts to 3.90 GHz. The Ultra's base clock is 3.70 GHz, and the N355's base clock is 1.90 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 N355 | Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 24 |

| Threads | 8 | 24 |

| Base clock | 1.90 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.90 GHz | 5.50 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 125 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Twin Lake | Arrow Lake Refresh |

| Generation | Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) | Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die size | Not listed | 243 mm² |

| L1 cache | 96 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2 MB (shared) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 lanes | Gen 5, 20 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2025-01-06 | 2026-03-10 |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $299 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part number | SRPNT | SA4V6 |

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every recorded benchmark, so the analysis shifts to which workloads show the most extreme margins and which show the narrowest. The narrowest deltas are all single-core tests: Cinebench R15 single-core at 52.5%, PassMark single-thread at 57.5%, and Cinebench R23 single-core at 57.4%. These still favor the Ultra decisively, but they represent the closest competition the N355 offers.

The widest gaps appear in specialized compute tasks. Find prime numbers shows a 95.6% delta, extended instructions a 90.6% delta, and floating point math a 90.1% delta. These are workloads where the Ultra's 24 cores, higher clock speeds, and larger cache hierarchy compound into overwhelming advantages. Data encryption, data compression, and random string sorting all show deltas between 84.8% and 86.3%, indicating the Ultra handles memory and data manipulation tasks with similar dominance.

The Core 3 N355, despite losing all comparisons, has a profile that fits specific deployment scenarios. Its 15 W TDP, mobile segment classification, and BGA 1264 socket indicate a low-power embedded or laptop-oriented part. Its support for DDR4 alongside DDR5 and LPDDR5 gives it flexibility in memory selection that the Ultra lacks, since the Ultra supports only DDR5. The N355 also uses Gen 3 PCIe with 9 lanes, which is modest but sufficient for light peripheral connectivity. Its single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth cap its memory throughput, but for workloads that are not memory-intensive, the N355 can operate within its thermal envelope where the 125 W Ultra would require substantial cooling.

The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, by contrast, targets desktop performance. Its 115.2 GB/s dual-channel memory bandwidth, Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes, and 36 MB of L3 cache feed its 24 cores effectively. The 5.50 GHz boost clock and unlocked multiplier allow overclocking, and the ECC memory support adds reliability for workstation-class use. The Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU integrated GPU provides display output without a discrete card, though the benchmark data does not cover graphics performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports only one conclusion: the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is overwhelmingly faster than the Intel Core 3 N355 in every measured workload. The average benchmark score of 93785 versus 13492 places the Ultra at the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the N355 sits at the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals listed for the Ultra include server-class parts like the Intel Xeon 6520P, AMD EPYC 4564P, AMD EPYC 9175F, and AMD EPYC 4565P, with deltas of 0%, 1.5%, 1.9%, and 2.1% respectively. The N355's nearest rivals are mainstream desktop and mobile parts: the Intel Core i3-12100F, Intel Core i5-9500, Intel Core 5 120UL, and Intel Core i7-1250U, with deltas of 0%, 0.3%, 0.8%, and 1.1%.

The architectural separation is complete. The Ultra uses a 3 nm TSMC process, 24 cores, 24 threads, a 5.50 GHz boost clock, 36 MB of L3 cache, dual-channel DDR5 memory at 115.2 GB/s, and Gen 5 PCIe. The N355 uses a 10 nm Intel process, 8 cores, 8 threads, a 3.90 GHz boost clock, 6 MB of L3 cache, single-channel memory at 38.4 GB/s, and Gen 3 PCIe. The Ultra has three times the cores, roughly double the boost clock, six times the L3 cache, and triple the memory bandwidth.

The data indicates the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the appropriate selection for any workload where performance is the priority. Its 24 cores and high clock speeds deliver results from 52.5% to 95.6% ahead of the N355 depending on the test. The N355, with its 15 W TDP and mobile socket, serves a different purpose: low-power operation in compact or battery-powered systems where the Ultra's 125 W TDP and desktop socket cannot be accommodated. The N355's support for DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory types gives it integration flexibility, and its UHD Graphics 770 provides basic display output.

The verdict is unambiguous from the recorded data. The Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the performance leader by every metric in the database, with no benchmark result favoring the Core 3 N355. The Core 3 N355 remains a viable part only for systems that require the low power envelope and mobile form factor, accepting a multi-core performance level that the Ultra exceeds by margins of at least 80% in all multi-threaded tests and at least 52% in single-threaded tests.