Intel Core 3 N355 vs Intel Core Ultra X9 378H Comparison

The Intel Core 3 N355 and Intel Core Ultra X9 378H occupy different tiers of the mobile processor market, and the benchmark data reflects a wide performance gulf. The Core Ultra X9 378H wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons recorded in the database, with the Core 3 N355 failing to secure a single victory. This analysis examines the recorded scores, architectural differences, and the use-case implications of each processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the head-to-head data appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Core Ultra X9 378H scores 357, while the Core 3 N355 scores 27, a delta of 92.4% in favor of the Core Ultra. This represents the largest percentage gap between the two processors in any recorded benchmark.

Cinebench multi-core results show a similar pattern of dominance. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra X9 378H records 32553 points against the Core 3 N355's 5262 points, a delta of 83.8%. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test follows with the Core Ultra scoring 13672 versus 3612, a delta of 73.6%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core Ultra delivers 3281 points compared to 822, a delta of 74.9%.

Single-core performance also favors the Core Ultra, though by a slightly narrower margin. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the Core Ultra at 4595 points versus 1039 for the Core 3, a delta of 77.4%. Cinebench R20 single-core records 1929 against 509, a delta of 73.6%. The Cinebench R15 single-core result is 462 versus 168, a delta of 63.6%. The PassMark single-thread test shows 4453 against 2153, which is the smallest delta in the entire comparison at 51.7%.

PassMark workloads reinforce the Core Ultra's lead. In integer math, the Core Ultra scores 92603 against 33894, a delta of 63.4%. Floating point math shows 114500 versus 22695, a delta of 80.2%. The extended instructions test records 31315 versus 5968, a delta of 80.9%. Data compression results are 386591 versus 117435, a delta of 69.6%, and data encryption shows 29840 versus 8121, a delta of 72.8%. The multithread score is 38298 versus 10174, a delta of 73.4%, while the physics test shows 3404 versus 625, a delta of 81.6%. Random string sorting completes the set with 44648 versus 14706, a delta of 67.1%.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra X9 378H wins every recorded benchmark category, which makes a use-case split straightforward. Its largest advantages appear in integer-heavy and floating-point workloads, as well as in multi-threaded rendering tasks. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 32553 places it in a performance class that suits demanding content creation and simulation workloads.

The smallest advantage for the Core Ultra appears in the PassMark single-thread test, where it leads by 51.7%. This narrower gap suggests that while the Core Ultra still dominates single-threaded tasks, the Core 3 N355 is comparatively less disadvantaged in that area than in multi-threaded or math-intensive workloads.

The Core 3 N355, with its 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs, still delivers usable performance for everyday tasks. Its average benchmark score of 13492 places it near the Intel Core i3-12100F, which scores 13494, and the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13594. The Core Ultra X9 378H, by contrast, ranks in the 89th percentile with an average score of 47468, placing it near the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 at 47527 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265T at 47697.

FAQ

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

A: The Core Ultra X9 378H leads by 83.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 32553 against the Core 3 N355's 5262.

Q: Which processor has the better single-thread performance?

A: The Core Ultra X9 378H records 4453 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the Core 3 N355 scores 2153, a delta of 51.7% in favor of the Core Ultra.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the PassMark physics test?

A: The Core Ultra X9 378H scores 3404, while the Core 3 N355 scores 625, giving the Core Ultra an 81.6% advantage.

Q: What is the smallest performance difference between the two?

A: The smallest delta is 51.7% in the PassMark single-thread test, where the Core Ultra scores 4453 and the Core 3 scores 2153.

Q: What is the largest performance difference between the two?

A: The largest delta is 92.4% in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra scores 357 and the Core 3 scores 27.

Q: How does the Core 3 N355 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 3 N355 has an average benchmark score of 13492, which is essentially even with the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13494 and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452.

Specification Differences

The Core Ultra X9 378H doubles the core count of the Core 3 N355, with 16 cores and 16 threads compared to 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clock speeds are close, with the Core Ultra at 2.00 GHz and the Core 3 at 1.90 GHz, but the boost clock differs significantly: 5.00 GHz for the Core Ultra versus 3.90 GHz for the Core 3. Thermal design power also differs, with the Core Ultra rated at 25 W and the Core 3 at 15 W.

The two processors use different sockets. The Core 3 N355 uses Intel BGA 1264, while the Core Ultra X9 378H uses Intel BGA 2540. Cache configurations diverge substantially. The Core 3 offers 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3.

Memory support also differs. The Core 3 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 over a single-channel memory bus, with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra supports LPDDR5X over a dual-channel bus, with 153.6 GB/s of bandwidth. PCIe connectivity shows the Core 3 with Gen 3 and 9 lanes, while the Core Ultra uses Gen 5 with 4 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the Core 3 using UHD Graphics 770 and the Core Ultra using Arc B390.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 N355 is built on the Twin Lake architecture and uses a 10 nm process node. Its generation is listed as Core 3 (Alder Lake-N). The Core Ultra X9 378H uses the Panther Lake codename with a 3 nm process node and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 3, with the generation listed as Ultra X9 (Panther Lake-H). Both processors are manufactured by Intel.

The Core 3 N355's cache hierarchy reflects a shared L2 design, with 2 MB shared across the chip. The Core Ultra uses a per-core L2 allocation of 2.5 MB per core, which scales with the 16-core configuration. The L3 cache difference is substantial: 6 MB shared on the Core 3 versus 18 MB shared on the Core Ultra.

Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. The release dates differ, with the Core 3 N355 released on January 6, 2025, and the Core Ultra X9 378H released on April 3, 2026. The Core 3 N355 has a listed part number of SRPNT, while the Core Ultra's part number is unknown.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates a clear performance hierarchy. The Core Ultra X9 378H dominates every benchmark in the comparison, with deltas ranging from 51.7% in PassMark single-thread to 92.4% in PassMark find prime numbers. Its 89th percentile ranking and average score of 47468 place it alongside desktop-class processors like the Intel Core i7-13700KF at 47330 and the Intel Core i9-12900F at 47176.

The Core 3 N355 serves a different role. Its 68th percentile ranking and average score of 13492 place it near the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13494 and the Intel Core i7-1250U at 13351. For workloads that do not require the extreme multi-threaded or math performance of the Core Ultra, the Core 3 N355 provides a functional baseline.

Users seeking maximum multi-core throughput, high-bandwidth memory support, and the largest cache footprint should select the Core Ultra X9 378H. Users whose workloads align with the Core 3 N355's 68th percentile performance class will find it sufficient, but the data shows no benchmark category where it outperforms the Core Ultra. The choice comes down to the performance tier required by the target application.