CPU Comparison

The Intel Processor N100 and the Intel Core i5-4300M occupy the same overall performance percentile (27th), but their benchmark results reveal a stark generation gap. The N100 wins every head-to-head test, with its most dramatic advantage coming in single-thread performance, where it is 156.5% ahead. While the average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1007 vs 1004), this is a case where the modern low-power chip decisively outperforms the older high-power part in every measured category.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Processor N100 wins all three shared benchmark comparisons. The largest margin appears in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the N100 scores 910.5 against the i5-4300M’s 355, a 156.5% advantage. This is not a marginal improvement; the N100 more than doubles the older chip’s single-thread output. The implications are clear for daily responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications.

In multi-core workloads, the gap narrows considerably but the N100 still prevails. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the N100 scores 2559.5 versus 2515 for the i5-4300M, a modest 1.8% lead. This is a surprisingly close result given the architectural differences, but it still favors the newer chip. The N100’s four physical cores are enough to match the i5-4300M’s two cores with Hyper-Threading, which also provides four threads.

The most lopsided multi-threaded result comes from Cinebench R15, where the N100 scores 401.5 against the i5-4300M’s 253, a 58.7% advantage. This older benchmark appears to penalize the Haswell architecture more heavily than the newer R23 test. The N100’s efficiency cores handle this workload with far greater throughput, reinforcing that the generation leap is real across both synthetic and legacy testing.

The overall win count is 3-0 in favor of the N100. There is no benchmark in the shared set where the i5-4300M manages a victory. This is a clean sweep, though the close R23 multi-core result suggests that heavily multi-threaded modern workloads may not show as dramatic a gap as single-threaded or legacy tests.

Architecture Differences

The N100 uses the Gracemont architecture on a 10 nm process, while the i5-4300M is built on the older Haswell architecture at 22 nm. This process shrink is a primary driver of the performance-per-watt difference, though the power disparity is extreme: the N100 has a 6W TDP versus 37W for the i5-4300M. The newer chip delivers superior performance while consuming a fraction of the power budget.

Core configuration differs significantly. The N100 has 4 cores and 4 threads, all efficiency-oriented Gracemont cores. The i5-4300M has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on Hyper-Threading to reach the same thread count. The N100’s cache hierarchy is also more generous: it offers 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-4300M has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and only 3 MB of shared L3.

Memory support is another differentiator. The N100 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a single-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-4300M is limited to DDR3, and its memory bus and bandwidth are not specified in the data. The N100 also includes PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4300M has no PCIe information listed.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the N100 features UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-4300M has Intel HD 5000. Both are mobile parts, but the N100 was released on 2023-01-02, roughly a decade after the i5-4300M’s 2013-08-31 launch. The i5-4300M has a larger die size (118 mm²) and 1,400 million transistors, reflecting its older, less dense manufacturing process.

The Verdict

The Intel Processor N100 is the clear winner based on the data. It wins every head-to-head benchmark, offers dramatically better single-thread performance, and does so with a 6W TDP versus the i5-4300M’s 37W. The verdict is straightforward: the N100 is the superior processor for all measured workloads.

The core count advantage is decisive. Four physical Gracemont cores outpace two Haswell cores with Hyper-Threading in every test. The N100’s 156.5% single-core lead is the headline figure, but the 58.7% R15 multi-core margin shows that the newer architecture is not just a single-thread specialist.

The i5-4300M does have one consolation: its R23 multi-core score is only 1.8% behind the N100. This suggests that in very specific, heavily optimized modern multi-threaded workloads, the older chip can nearly keep pace. However, this is the exception rather than the rule, and it still loses the comparison.

For anyone choosing between these two, the N100 is the only rational pick. It is faster, cooler, and newer. The i5-4300M’s only advantage would be platform compatibility with legacy Socket G3 systems, but from a pure performance standpoint, the data leaves no room for debate.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score?

A: The Intel Processor N100 scores 910.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 355 for the Intel Core i5-4300M, a 156.5% advantage.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The N100 scores 2559.5, while the i5-4300M scores 2515, giving the N100 a 1.8% lead.

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

A: Yes, both have 4 threads. The N100 achieves this with 4 physical cores, while the i5-4300M uses 2 cores with Hyper-Threading.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The N100 has a 6W TDP, while the i5-4300M has a 37W TDP. The N100 uses significantly less power.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Processor N100 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Intel Core i5-4300M only supports DDR3.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The N100 has an average benchmark score of 1007, and the i5-4300M has an average of 1004, a difference of 0.3%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Processor N100 wins in every head-to-head category measured. Its biggest wins are in single-threaded performance and legacy multi-core benchmarks. For users running everyday applications, web browsing, office work, or any software that relies on single-core speed, the N100 delivers a transformative advantage over the i5-4300M.

The N100 also wins in modern multi-core workloads, though by a smaller margin. Its 1.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core suggests that for heavily parallelized modern applications, the gap narrows. Still, a win is a win, and the N100 takes it.

The i5-4300M has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its closest performance comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it trails by only 1.8%. This means that for users running very specific, highly optimized multi-threaded workloads, the i5-4300M is nearly competitive with the N100. However, it still loses.

Power efficiency is another clear win for the N100, with a 6W TDP versus 37W. This makes the N100 suitable for fanless or ultra-portable designs, while the i5-4300M requires more substantial cooling. The N100 also wins on memory flexibility, supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the i5-4300M is locked to DDR3.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Processor N100 | Intel Core i5-4300M |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 100.00 MHz | 2.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 6 W | 37 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1264 | Intel Socket G3 |

| Architecture | Gracemont | Haswell |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not specified | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 118 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 | DDR3 |

| 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 | Intel HD 5000 |

| Release Date | 2023-01-02 | 2013-08-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $128 | Not specified |

| Production Status | Active | Not specified |

| Part Number | SRMDM | Not specified |