Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Processor N97 Comparison

The Intel Processor N97 and Intel Core i3-10110U are mobile processors that land in the same performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 1132 and 1131 respectively. Despite this near-identical overall standing, the data reveals a sharp divergence in workload behavior, driven by fundamentally different architectural approaches. The N97 pairs four efficient Gracemont cores with a low 12W TDP, while the i3-10110U uses two Comet Lake cores with hyper-threading and a 25W TDP. This results in a split decision across the head-to-head benchmarks, with each chip claiming two wins in different arenas.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate that the Intel Processor N97 is the stronger choice for heavily threaded short-duration workloads. Its advantage is most pronounced in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 479 against the i3-10110U's 326, a 46.9% lead. This suggests that the N97's four physical cores can saturate workloads that scale well with core count, even without hyper-threading. The N97 also dominates in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 973 versus 456, a staggering 113.4% advantage, indicating that its Gracemont core architecture delivers superior per-thread performance in this specific rendering test.

Conversely, the Intel Core i3-10110U wins in sustained multi-core rendering. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-10110U scores 3236 against the N97's 2913, a 10% lead. This suggests that the i3-10110U's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz and hyper-threading allow it to maintain performance over longer workloads, possibly due to thermal and power management differences. The i3-10110U also edges out the N97 in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 162 versus 161, a negligible 0.6% margin, showing that in this older test the two are effectively tied.

The overall wins are split evenly at two apiece. However, the magnitude of the N97's victories—particularly the 113.4% single-core lead in R23—is far larger than the i3-10110U's 10% win in R23 multi-core. This indicates that the N97 is the more decisive winner in its favorable tests, while the i3-10110U's advantage is comparatively modest.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design lineages. The Intel Processor N97 is based on the Gracemont architecture, part of the Alder Lake-N generation, and is built on a 10 nm process node. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with no hyper-threading. Its cache layout includes 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i3-10110U, in contrast, uses the Comet Lake architecture (Comet Lake-U), is built on a 14 nm node, and belongs to the Core 10th Gen series. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, enabled by hyper-threading, and its cache is smaller: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3.

The process node difference is significant: 10 nm versus 14 nm, which partially explains the N97's much lower 12W TDP compared to the i3-10110U's 25W. The N97 also supports newer memory types—DDR4 and DDR5—with a single-channel memory bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-10110U supports DDR3 and DDR4 with no memory bus or bandwidth data provided. The integrated graphics differ as well: the N97 has UHD Graphics 730, while the i3-10110U has a generic UHD Graphics unit. The N97 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i3-10110U has no PCIe information listed. The N97 is also an active production part released in January 2023, while the i3-10110U is end-of-life and was released in August 2019.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Processor N97 has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i3-10110U has 2 cores. However, the i3-10110U supports 4 threads via hyper-threading, matching the N97's 4 threads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Processor N97 has a TDP of 12W, while the Intel Core i3-10110U has a TDP of 25W. This makes the N97 more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which chip performs better in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The Intel Processor N97 wins decisively with a score of 973, which is 113.4% higher than the Intel Core i3-10110U's score of 456.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-10110U ever beat the N97 in multi-core tests?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-10110U scores 3236, which is 10% higher than the N97's 2913.

Q: Are these processors from the same generation?

A: No. The N97 is from the Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N) generation, while the i3-10110U is from the Core 10th Gen (Comet Lake-U) series. The N97 was released in 2023, the i3-10110U in 2019.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The N97 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a single-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-10110U supports DDR3 and DDR4, with no bandwidth data provided.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Processor N97 | Intel Core i3-10110U |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2000.00 MHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 12W | 25W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Gracemont | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Gracemont | Comet Lake-U |

| Generation | Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N) | Core 10th Gen (Comet Lake-U) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (shared) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Not specified |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) | Not specified |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | UHD Graphics |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2023-01-02 | 2019-08-20 |

| Part Number | SRMLM | Not specified |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Intel Processor N97 comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 973 against the i3-10110U's 456, a 113.4% delta. This is an extraordinary margin that dwarfs any other difference in the comparison. The N97 also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core decisively, scoring 479 versus 326, a 46.9% lead. These two victories show that in short, bursty workloads—whether single-threaded or multi-threaded—the N97's architecture is clearly superior.

The Intel Core i3-10110U's wins are smaller in magnitude. Its best result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 3236 versus 2913, a 10% lead. This is a notable reversal given the N97's 46.9% win in R15 multi-core, suggesting that the i3-10110U's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz and hyper-threading help it in longer, sustained rendering tasks. The i3-10110U's other win is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 162 versus 161, a 0.6% margin that is effectively a tie.

The pattern is clear: the N97 excels in short-burst performance, while the i3-10110U holds an edge in sustained multi-core work. The N97's 113.4% single-core R23 victory is particularly striking because the i3-10110U's boost clock is higher (4.10 GHz versus 3.60 GHz), indicating that the Gracemont core's IPC advantage is substantial in this workload.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear trade-off between these two processors. The Intel Processor N97 is the better choice for users whose workloads are short, bursty, and benefit from high single-thread performance or multiple physical cores. Its 113.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 46.9% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core are decisive, and its lower 12W TDP makes it more attractive for power-constrained mobile devices. The N97 also has a modern 10 nm process, newer memory support (DDR4 and DDR5), and is an active production part.

The Intel Core i3-10110U is preferable for sustained multi-core rendering tasks, as evidenced by its 10% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Its higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz and hyper-threading appear to help maintain performance over longer periods. However, its 25W TDP is more than double the N97's, and it is an end-of-life part on the older 14 nm process. The i3-10110U's single-core win in R15 is negligible at 0.6%, so it cannot claim any meaningful advantage in that area.

Given that both processors have identical average benchmark scores (1132 versus 1131) and the same 32nd percentile ranking, the choice comes down to workload profile. For general use, quick tasks, and power efficiency, the N97 is the stronger option. For sustained multi-threaded rendering where the i3-10110U's 10% lead in R23 multi-core matters, the older chip still has a role. The N97's two wins are far larger in magnitude, making it the more compelling all-around processor from the data presented.