Intel Core i3-4160 vs Intel Processor N100 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a fascinating split between these two processors. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Intel Processor N100 posts a score of 401.5 against the Core i3-4160's 297, giving the N100 a 26% lead. This is a substantial margin, suggesting the newer architecture handles this particular workload with considerably more efficiency.

However, the tables turn dramatically in the Cinebench R23 multicore test. Here, the Core i3-4160 scores 2955 while the N100 manages 2559.5, a 15.5% advantage for the older desktop chip. This is a curious reversal. The R23 workload is generally more demanding and longer-running, which may expose thermal or power characteristics that favor the i3-4160's higher 54 W TDP versus the N100's 6 W TDP.

The most striking difference appears in single-core performance. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the N100 achieves 910.5, dwarfing the i3-4160's 417. That is a 54.2% deficit for the Core i3, and it represents the largest performance gap in any direct comparison. The N100's Gracemont cores, despite being efficiency-oriented, clearly deliver far stronger per-thread throughput in this test.

Overall, the N100 wins two of the three head-to-head tests, while the i3-4160 claims one. The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the i3-4160 sits at 1017, while the N100 is at 1007, a difference of roughly 1%. Both chips land in the 27th to 28th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution.

Where Each One Wins

The N100 demonstrates its strengths in shorter, bursty workloads and single-threaded tasks. Its 54.2% lead in R23 single-core is decisive, and its 26% advantage in R15 multicore suggests it handles older benchmark suites with greater ease. The 3DMark results for the N100, while not directly compared against the i3-4160, show consistent scaling from 1243 at 16 threads to 1250 at 8 threads, with a single-thread score of 386. This pattern indicates the N100 maintains robust performance across varying thread counts.

The i3-4160, conversely, shows its dominance in sustained multicore rendering as captured by R23 multicore. Its 15.5% win there implies that when the workload stretches over a longer duration, the Haswell architecture's higher power envelope and dual-core with Hyper-Threading setup can sustain performance where the N100 might throttle or hit efficiency limits.

For users running modern rendering workloads, the i3-4160 appears better suited. For everyday responsiveness, legacy benchmark suites, or anything heavily dependent on single-core speed, the N100 is the clear choice. The data also hints that the N100's efficiency (6 W TDP versus 54 W) makes it attractive for passively cooled or battery-powered systems, though the exact thermal implications are not quantified here.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is generational and fundamental. The Core i3-4160 uses the Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 177 mm². It features 2 cores and 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and no boost capability. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3.

The Intel Processor N100 employs the newer Gracemont architecture on a 10 nm node. It offers 4 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock listed at 100.00 (likely a placeholder for a variable base frequency) and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is different: 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The larger shared caches and extra cores represent a significant structural advantage.

Memory support also diverges. The i3-4160 uses DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the N100 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 but operates on a single-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-4160 carries Intel HD 4400, while the N100 includes UHD Graphics 730.

The i3-4160 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1150, released in July 2014. The N100 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1264, released in January 2023. Both are listed as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The N100 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes from the CPU, while the i3-4160 supports PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count specified.

The Verdict

The choice between these two depends almost entirely on workload priority. If the primary task is modern multicore rendering, the Core i3-4160's 15.5% edge in Cinebench R23 multicore makes it the stronger option. This is notable given its age and older process node; the data suggests that sustained, heavy threaded workloads are where Haswell's higher TDP pays off.

If the priority is single-core performance, the Intel Processor N100 is the obvious winner with a 54.2% lead in R23 single-core. For general everyday use, legacy applications, or any workload that is latency-sensitive rather than throughput-bound, the N100 should feel noticeably snappier. Its 26% win in R15 multicore also indicates better performance in shorter-duration parallel tasks.

The N100's 6 W TDP versus the i3-4160's 54 W TDP is a massive efficiency gap. While power consumption itself is not a benchmark score, the implication for system design is significant: the N100 enables fanless or ultra-compact builds that the i3-4160 cannot support. The N100 also supports newer memory technologies (DDR4 and DDR5) and has a larger total cache (6 MB L3 versus 3 MB), which may benefit certain data-local workloads.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical (28th for the i3-4160, 27th for the N100), and the nearest rivals for each show similar average scores. The i3-4160 sits close to the Pentium Gold G5600 and Core i3-4330, while the N100 is comparable to the Core i5-10210Y and Core i7-880. Neither chip is a performance outlier; they occupy the same tier in the database's overall hierarchy.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Processor N100 is substantially faster, scoring 910.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core against the Core i3-4160's 417, a 54.2% lead.

Q: How do they compare in multicore performance?

A: It depends on the test. The N100 wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 401.5 versus 297 (26% lead), but the i3-4160 wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 2955 versus 2559.5 (15.5% lead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Core i3-4160 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel Processor N100 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor supports newer memory types?

A: The Intel Processor N100 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core i3-4160 only supports DDR3.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Core i3-4160 has a TDP of 54 W, while the Intel Processor N100 has a TDP of 6 W.

Q: When was each processor released?

A: The Core i3-4160 was released in July 2014, and the Intel Processor N100 was released in January 2023.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i3-4160 | Intel Processor N100 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 100.00 (placeholder) |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 54 W | 6 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Gracemont |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not specified |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | Not specified |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 3 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

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

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | July 2014 | January 2023 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $128 |

| Part Number | Not specified | SRMDM |