Intel Core 3 N355 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-46-100 Comparison

The Verdict

The data shows two mobile processors with fundamentally different design goals. The Intel Core 3 N355 is a low-power, 8-thread part built on Intel’s Twin Lake architecture, and it has a full set of recorded benchmark scores. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-46-100, based on the Oryon cores and TSMC’s 4 nm process, has no recorded benchmark scores in the database at this time, which makes a direct numerical comparison impossible.

Given the available measurements, the Intel Core 3 N355 sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13492. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13494, the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13594, the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452, and the Intel Core i7-1250U at 13351. The N355 is essentially tied with the i3-12100F, 0.3% ahead of the i5-9500, 0.8% behind the Core 5 120UL, and 1.1% ahead of the Core i7-1250U. This places it in the middle of a cluster of capable mainstream processors.

For the Snapdragon X1P-46-100, the database records a 50th percentile ranking, but the average benchmark score is listed as zero, and there are no nearest rivals. This indicates a lack of measured performance data; the processor is active in the market, but the database has not yet recorded any results for it. Consequently, the verdict for the Snapdragon must be based on its architectural specifications alone. It offers a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz, a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, a 30 W TDP, and a dual-channel LPDDR5X memory interface with 135.2 GB/s of bandwidth. These specifications suggest a design aimed at higher sustained performance, but without benchmark scores, the database cannot confirm this.

The Intel Core 3 N355 is the only one of the two with verified performance data. For users who rely on measured results, the N355 is the safer choice, as it delivers scores in line with the Core i3-12100F and Core i5-9500, both of which are well-known desktop processors. The Snapdragon X1P-46-100 is a newer design with a more advanced process node and faster memory support, but its performance profile remains unquantified in the database. The N355 is the processor to select if benchmark scores matter, while the Snapdragon is a speculative pick based on its higher clocks and memory bandwidth.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 N355 wins in every category where the database has recorded a score, simply because the Snapdragon X1P-46-100 has no benchmark entries. The N355’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 5262 and single-core score of 1039 are the strongest indicators of its performance in rendering workloads. The PassMark suite shows a multithread score of 10174, integer math at 33894, and floating point math at 22695, all of which point to solid general-purpose compute capability.

The Snapdragon X1P-46-100 wins on architectural specifications that are likely to matter for sustained workloads. Its 4 nm process node from TSMC, compared to Intel’s 10 nm node for the N355, suggests better transistor density and potentially better power efficiency per unit of work. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz is significantly higher than the N355’s 1.90 GHz, and its boost clock of 4.00 GHz exceeds the N355’s 3.90 GHz. The Snapdragon also has a dual-channel memory bus with 135.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than three times the N355’s 38.4 GB/s single-channel bandwidth. In memory-bound tasks, the Snapdragon would be expected to win based on this specification alone.

The cache hierarchy also favors the Snapdragon in per-core capacity. The Snapdragon has 288 KB of L1 cache per core and 12 MB of L2 cache per module, while the N355 has 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of shared L2. Both have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L1 and L2 caches on the Snapdragon should reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data, an advantage in workloads with poor data locality.

For integrated graphics, the N355 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Snapdragon uses Adreno X1-45. Without benchmark scores for either GPU, the database cannot assign a winner here. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory, while the Snapdragon only supports LPDDR5X, which means the N355 has more flexible memory options for system designers.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 3 N355 is built on Intel’s Twin Lake architecture, which the database lists as part of the Core 3 generation under Alder Lake-N. It uses a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Snapdragon X1P-46-100 uses Oryon cores, which are Qualcomm’s custom CPU cores, fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC. This is a generational difference in process technology, with the Snapdragon having a smaller lithography.

The core and thread counts are identical: both processors have 8 cores and 8 threads. This means neither uses simultaneous multithreading, so each core handles one thread. The base clock on the Snapdragon is 3.40 GHz, which is nearly double the N355’s 1.90 GHz. The boost clocks are closer, with the Snapdragon at 4.00 GHz and the N355 at 3.90 GHz. The TDP differs substantially, with the Snapdragon rated at 30 W and the N355 at 15 W. This indicates that the Snapdragon is designed to draw more power for higher sustained performance, while the N355 targets lower-power mobile devices.

The cache architectures are notably different. 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 Snapdragon’s L2 is organized per module rather than shared across all cores, which is a different topology. The total L2 capacity on the Snapdragon is much larger, though the database does not specify the exact number of modules.

Memory support diverges significantly. The N355 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, while the Snapdragon supports only LPDDR5X. The N355 has a single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Snapdragon has a dual-channel bus with 135.2 GB/s. This gives the Snapdragon a clear advantage in raw memory bandwidth.

PCIe support also differs. The N355 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the Snapdragon uses PCIe Gen 4 with 12 lanes (CPU only). The Snapdragon’s newer PCIe standard and higher lane count allow for faster connectivity to peripherals such as NVMe storage and discrete GPUs.

The integrated graphics are different as well: the N355 has Intel UHD Graphics 770, and the Snapdragon has Adreno X1-45. Neither has benchmark scores in the database for graphics workloads. The N355 uses Intel BGA 1264 socket, while the Snapdragon uses Qualcomm BGA 2073, so they are not interchangeable in system designs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-46-100 has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core 3 N355’s boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Snapdragon X1P-46-100 supports dual-channel LPDDR5X memory with 135.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 N355 supports single-channel DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 3 N355 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-46-100 have 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The Snapdragon X1P-46-100 is fabricated on a 4 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel Core 3 N355 is fabricated on a 10 nm process by Intel.

Q: Are there any benchmark scores recorded for the Snapdragon X1P-46-100?

A: No, the database has no benchmark entries for the Snapdragon X1P-46-100. Its average benchmark score is listed as zero, and it has no nearest rivals recorded.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core 3 N355 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-46-100 has a TDP of 30 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between the Intel Core 3 N355 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1P-46-100. The headToHeadBenchmarks field is empty, and the win counts for both items are zero. This means there are no direct comparison measurements to report.

However, the Intel Core 3 N355 has a full suite of individual benchmark scores that can be interpreted against its nearest rivals. In Cinebench R23, the N355 scores 5262 multicore and 1039 single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 3612 multicore and 509 single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 822 multicore and 168 single-core. These scores show a consistent scaling across Cinebench versions, with the multicore scores roughly tripling from R15 to R23.

The PassMark results for the N355 are more varied. The multithread score is 10174, and the single-thread score is 2153. The integer math score is 33894, and the floating point math score is 22695. The extended instructions score is 5968, and the data compression score is 117435. The data encryption score is 8121, and the find prime numbers score is 27. The random string sorting score is 14706, and the physics score is 625.

Comparing the N355 to its nearest rivals, the average benchmark score of 13492 is essentially identical to the Intel Core i3-12100F at 13494, with a delta of 0%. It is 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 at 13452, and 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-1250U at 13351. It is 0.8% behind the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13594. This places the N355 in a tight performance band, where no rival is more than about one percentage point away.

The Snapdragon X1P-46-100 has no scores, so there are no wins to assign for it. The N355 wins by default in every measured category, but this is a function of data availability rather than measured superiority. The Snapdragon’s architectural specifications suggest it could outperform the N355 in memory bandwidth and sustained multi-core workloads, given its higher base clock, higher TDP, and dual-channel memory. But without recorded benchmark results, those expectations remain unverified in the database. The N355’s scores are the only evidence of actual performance, and they show a processor that is competitive with established desktop and mobile parts from Intel’s own lineup.