Intel Core i3-4160 vs Intel Processor N150 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores, the Intel Processor N150 or the Intel Core i3-4160?

A: The Intel Processor N150 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-4160 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Both support 4 threads total, but the N150 does so with twice the physical core count.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Processor N150 scores 935 versus 417 for the Core i3-4160, a 124.2% advantage for the N150. This is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head data.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the test. The Intel Processor N150 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 422.5 versus 297, a 42.3% lead. However, the Core i3-4160 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 2955 versus 2590.5, a 12.3% lead.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The Intel Processor N150 has a TDP of 6 watts, while the Intel Core i3-4160 has a TDP of 54 watts. The N150 draws significantly less power on paper.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The Intel Processor N150 uses Intel BGA 1264, while the Intel Core i3-4160 uses Intel Socket 1150. They are not interchangeable.

Q: What integrated graphics do they carry?

A: The Intel Processor N150 includes UHD Graphics 730, while the Intel Core i3-4160 includes Intel HD 4400.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Processor N150 and Intel Core i3-4160 come from different generations and design philosophies. The N150 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, part of the Alder Lake-N generation, and uses a 10 nm process node. The Core i3-4160 uses the Haswell architecture and a 22 nm process node. The N150 is a mobile part, while the Core i3-4160 is a desktop part.

The core layouts differ sharply. The N150 has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core i3-4160 has 2 physical cores and 4 threads, using hyper-threading to reach the same thread count. In cache organization, the N150 uses 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of shared L2, plus 6 MB of shared L3. The Core i3-4160 uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The N150 has a larger total cache footprint, especially in L3.

Memory support also separates the two. The N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory over a single-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Core i3-4160 supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, and the database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for it. The N150 also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i3-4160 lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

Clock behavior is another difference. The N150 has a base clock of 0.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, an unusual low-base, high-boost design. The Core i3-4160 has a fixed base clock of 3.60 GHz and no boost clock. The integrated graphics differ as well: UHD Graphics 730 on the N150 versus Intel HD 4400 on the Core i3-4160. The N150 uses a BGA 1264 socket and is marked as an Active mobile product, while the Core i3-4160 uses Socket 1150 and is also Active but in the desktop segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers three Cinebench tests, and the two processors split the wins. The Intel Processor N150 takes two of the three tests, while the Intel Core i3-4160 takes one.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the N150 scores 422.5 against 297 for the Core i3-4160, a 42.3% delta. That is a substantial win for the N150, and it aligns with the N150 having double the physical core count. The Core i3-4160's two cores, even with hyper-threading, cannot match the N150 in this older multi-threaded workload.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the N150 wins by an even larger margin. The N150 scores 935, while the Core i3-4160 scores 417, a 124.2% delta. This is the most lopsided result in the head-to-head set. The N150's boost clock of 3.60 GHz, combined with the newer Twin Lake architecture, gives it a commanding single-thread advantage over the Haswell-based Core i3-4160.

The Core i3-4160's only win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core. There, the Core i3-4160 scores 2955 versus 2590.5 for the N150, a 12.3% delta in favor of the older chip. This result is notable because the N150 wins R15 multi-core but loses R23 multi-core. The R23 workload is more demanding and may scale differently with memory bandwidth or sustained power. The Core i3-4160 has a dual-channel DDR3 memory bus, while the N150 runs single-channel memory, which could be a factor in longer multi-core render threads. The Core i3-4160 also has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz with no boost variability, whereas the N150's base clock is only 0.10 GHz and relies entirely on boosting to reach 3.60 GHz.

The average benchmark scores in the database place the two chips very close overall. The N150 has an average benchmark score of 1025, and the Core i3-4160 has an average of 1017. Both sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs. The N150's nearest rivals include the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T at 1024 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core i3-4340 at 1026 (-0.1% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U at 1024 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i7-5650U at 1027 (-0.2% delta). The Core i3-4160's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-2300 at 1014 (0.3% delta), the Intel Core i3-4330 at 1020 (-0.3% delta), the Intel Xeon W5580 at 1012 (0.5% delta), and the Intel Pentium Gold G5600 at 1022 (-0.5% delta). The delta values are tiny, meaning both processors sit in a dense performance cluster around the 1020-point mark.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, as recorded in the database.

| Field | Intel Processor N150 | Intel Core i3-4160 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 0.10 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | None |

| TDP | 6 W | 54 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Twin Lake | Haswell |

| Codename | Twin Lake | Haswell |

| Generation | Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N) | Core i3 (Haswell) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 177 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 3 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 | DDR3 |

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

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

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

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

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2014-07-20T17:00:00.000Z (November 19, 2024) | 2014-07-20T17:00:00.000Z (July 20, 2014) |

| Part Number | SRPNR | Not recorded |

The release dates show a gap of over a decade between the two. The N150 launched in November 2024, while the Core i3-4160 launched in July 2014. Neither chip has a recorded launch MSRP, and neither is multiplier unlocked.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Processor N150 is the stronger choice in scenarios that favor single-threaded responsiveness and low-power mobile deployment. The 124.2% single-core win in Cinebench R23 makes the N150 clearly better for lightly threaded applications such as everyday desktop tasks, web browsing, and legacy single-thread software. The N150 also wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 42.3%, so it holds up in moderately threaded workloads on older render engines. With a 6 W TDP and mobile segment classification, the N150 fits thin-and-light laptops or fanless designs where thermal limits are tight. Its wider cache, particularly 6 MB of shared L3, and support for DDR4, DDR5 memory give it a modern memory ecosystem advantage on paper.

The Intel Core i3-4160 wins in at least one sustained multi-core workload. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 2955 beats the N150 by 12.3%, which matters for longer render passes or continuous multi-threaded workloads that run past the N150's R15 scenario. The Core i3-4160 has a dual-channel memory bus and a 3.60 GHz fixed clock with no boost, factors that likely contribute to its stronger showing in newer Cinebench R23. For users running desktop workloads on DDR3 builds, the Socket 1150 platform is the better fit in that specific legacy ecosystem.

In aggregate, the database records a near tie between the two processors, with average benchmark scores of 1025 for the N150 and 1017 for the Core i3-4160. Both sit at the same 28th percentile among all CPUs, and their nearest rival deltas are under 0.5% in every case. The N150's two wins versus one win in head-to-head tests give it the edge in direct comparisons, but the Core i3-4160's R23 multi-core victory prevents the N150 from sweeping. The N150 is the pick for single-core speed, the Core i3-4160 is the pick for sustained multi-core Cinebench R23 performance, and the rest of the data shows them as near equals in overall average score.