Intel Core 3 N355 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a complete benchmark record for the Intel Core 3 N355, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 has no recorded scores in any test. This creates an unusual comparison situation: the Intel part has 17 measured results across Cinebench and Passmark suites, and the Qualcomm part has zero entries. The head-to-head comparison therefore rests entirely on the Intel chip's recorded performance and its position relative to the broader CPU population.

The Intel Core 3 N355 delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 5262 and a single-core score of 1039. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 3612 and single-core is 509. The older R15 test shows 822 multi-core and 168 single-core. These scores place the N355 at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 13492.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 has an average benchmark score of 0 and sits at the 50th percentile, but that percentile reflects the absence of data rather than measured performance. The nearest rival list for the N355 provides context: the Intel Core i3-12100F scores 13494 on average, essentially identical (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452 (0.3% behind), the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594 (0.8% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351 (1.1% behind). These deltas are all within a narrow band, indicating the N355 performs near the level of these established desktop and mobile chips.

Passmark results for the N355 show integer math at 33894, floating point math at 22695, data compression at 117435, data encryption at 8121, extended instructions at 5968, find prime numbers at 27, random string sorting at 14706, physics at 625, multi-thread at 10174, and single-thread at 2153. The single-thread score appears twice in the database with the same value, confirming consistency.

Without any recorded benchmarks for the Snapdragon X1E-78-100, the data cannot establish which processor wins any specific test. The score differential remains undefined. The only quantitative comparison available is architectural, which the specification differences section addresses.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 N355 wins every benchmark category by default, simply because it has recorded data and the Qualcomm part does not. The N355's strongest relative performance appears in data compression, where it scores 117435, and integer math, at 33894. Its weakest recorded result is find prime numbers at 27, a test that heavily favors higher single-thread frequency.

The N355's Cinebench scores indicate a balanced multi-core and single-core profile. The R23 multi-core to single-core ratio is roughly 5:1, which is typical for an 8-thread processor. The Passmark multi-thread score of 10174 against a single-thread score of 2153 yields a scaling factor near 4.7, again consistent with 8 threads.

For the Snapdragon X1E-78-100, the database shows no wins in any category. The processor has 12 cores and 12 threads, but no benchmark results confirm how that configuration translates into actual performance. Any claim about where the Snapdragon wins would require speculative extrapolation, which the database does not support.

The use-case split from the available data favors the Intel chip for all measured workloads: content creation (Cinebench render tests), data handling (compression, encryption, string sorting), and mathematical computation (integer and floating point). The N355 also shows a physics score of 625, which relates to simulated physics workloads in Passmark.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake architecture, also listed under the Core 3 generation with the Alder Lake-N lineage. It is built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 uses the Oryon codename under the Snapdragon X Elite generation, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The process node difference is significant: the Qualcomm part uses a smaller transistor geometry, which typically enables higher density and lower power per transistor, though the database does not record transistor counts or die sizes for either chip.

Core counts differ substantially. The N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Snapdragon has 12 cores and 12 threads. The base clock for the N355 is 1.90 GHz with a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Snapdragon has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and no recorded boost clock in the database. This means the Snapdragon starts at a much higher frequency but lacks a documented maximum boost.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The N355 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Snapdragon has 288 KB of L1 per core, 12 MB of L2 per module, and 6 MB of shared L3. The per-core L1 is three times larger on the Qualcomm part, and the L2 allocation of 12 MB per module dwarfs the Intel's 2 MB shared L2. Both have identical L3 at 6 MB shared.

Memory support diverges. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Snapdragon supports only LPDDR5X but uses a dual-channel bus with 135.2 GB/s bandwidth, which is roughly 3.5 times the bandwidth of the Intel part. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs. The N355 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only). The Snapdragon provides Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: the N355 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Snapdragon uses Adreno X1-85.

The socket types are incompatible. The N355 uses Intel BGA 1264, and the Snapdragon uses Qualcomm BGA 2073. Both are mobile market segments, active production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates differ: the N355 launched on 2025-01-06, and the Snapdragon launched on 2024-04-23, making the Qualcomm part roughly eight months older in the database timeline.

The TDP values show a major power envelope difference. The N355 has a 15 W TDP, while the Snapdragon has a 35 W TDP, more than double. The part numbers are SRPNT for Intel and X1E78100 for Qualcomm.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 has an average benchmark score of 13492 across its recorded tests. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 has an average benchmark score of 0, reflecting the absence of any recorded benchmark results.

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

A: The N355 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i3-12100F (0% delta, rival score 13494), trails the Intel Core 5 120UL by 0.8% (rival score 13594), and leads the Intel Core i7-1250U by 1.1% (rival score 13351). The Intel Core i5-9500 is 0.3% behind the N355 with a score of 13452.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 has 12 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 3 N355 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Qualcomm part also has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz compared to the Intel's 1.90 GHz.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 supports a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth across DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory types. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 supports a dual-channel memory bus with 135.2 GB/s bandwidth using LPDDR5X only.

Q: Is the Snapdragon X1E-78-100 faster than the Core 3 N355?

A: The database cannot answer this. The Snapdragon has no recorded benchmark scores, so no speed comparison is possible from the data. The only recorded results belong to the Intel part, which has a 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs.

Q: What are the process nodes for these two processors?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in every major specification category recorded in the database.

| Specification | Intel Core 3 N355 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base clock | 1.90 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.90 GHz | Not recorded |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Qualcomm BGA 2073 |

| Architecture | Twin Lake | Oryon |

| Generation | Core 3 (Alder Lake-N) | Snapdragon X (Elite) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| L1 cache | 96 KB per core | 288 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 2 MB shared | 12 MB per module |

| L3 cache | 6 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 | LPDDR5X |

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

| Memory bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 135.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 lanes | Gen 4, 12 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Adreno X1-85 |

| Release date | 2025-01-06 | 2024-04-23 |

| Part number | SRPNT | X1E78100 |

The manufacturer field for the Qualcomm part is listed as "Unknown" in the database, though the codename and generation identify it as a Snapdragon product. Neither processor supports ECC memory, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both target the mobile market segment with active production status.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports only one clear conclusion: the Intel Core 3 N355 has measurable performance, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 does not. The N355's average benchmark score of 13492 places it among capable mid-range processors, as shown by its proximity to the Intel Core i3-12100F, Core i5-9500, Core 5 120UL, and Core i7-1250U. All four rivals sit within a 1.1% delta band of the N355, which indicates that the Intel chip delivers consistent performance near the level of these established designs.

The Snapdragon X1E-78-100 brings a compelling specification sheet: 12 cores, 3.40 GHz base clock, 12 MB L2 per module, dual-channel LPDDR5X with 135.2 GB/s bandwidth, and a 4 nm process. These specs suggest a design aimed at higher throughput and efficiency, but the database contains no benchmark results to confirm that potential. The 35 W TDP is more than double the N355's 15 W, so any performance advantage would come at a higher power cost. The 12-lane Gen 4 PCIe support and Adreno X1-85 graphics also indicate a more modern platform, but without scores, these remain unverified capabilities.

For users selecting between these two based on the database, the Intel Core 3 N355 is the only option with demonstrated performance. Its 68th percentile ranking and balanced Cinebench and Passmark results confirm it handles rendering, compression, encryption, and math workloads with measured competence. The Snapdragon part offers architectural advantages on paper, including a smaller process node, larger caches, and higher memory bandwidth, but none of those translate into recorded wins because no tests appear in the database.

The verdict from the data is straightforward: pick the Intel Core 3 N355 if the task requires proven performance today, since every benchmark score in the comparison belongs to it. Pick the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E-78-100 only if the specification sheet matters more than measured results, because the database provides no evidence of its actual execution speed. The N355's launch on 2025-01-06 also makes it the newer design in the database timeline, while the Snapdragon's 2024-04-23 release predates it by roughly eight months. The Intel part's lower TDP of 15 W versus 35 W further favors it for power-sensitive mobile designs, though the Snapdragon's 4 nm process suggests it may close that gap in efficiency per operation, which the database cannot confirm.