Intel Core i7-4558U vs Intel Processor N150 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Processor N150 dominates the Intel Core i7-4558U across every shared benchmark in the database. The most striking gap appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the N150 scores 935 against the i7-4558U’s 357, a 61.8% advantage. That is not a marginal lead; it is a generational leap in per-thread performance. The N150’s newer architecture delivers nearly triple the single-thread throughput, which directly impacts everyday responsiveness, application launch times, and lightly threaded workloads.

Multi-threaded results tell a more nuanced story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the N150 posts 422.5 versus 255 for the i7-4558U, a 39.6% win. This is the largest multicore margin recorded between the two. However, in Cinebench R23 multicore, the gap narrows dramatically: the N150 scores 2590.5, only 2.3% ahead of the i7-4558U’s 2532. The R23 result suggests that sustained heavy multi-threaded loads do not favor the N150 as strongly as the older R15 test implies. The i7-4558U’s higher thermal design power (28 W versus 6 W) likely allows it to maintain boost clocks under extended all-core stress, closing the gap despite its older Haswell architecture.

The N150 wins all three head-to-head comparisons, giving it a clean 3-0 record. Yet the magnitude of those wins varies widely, from a near-tie in R23 multicore to a blowout in R23 single-core. The i7-4558U never wins outright, but its R23 multicore performance shows it is not entirely outclassed in sustained productivity tasks. For single-threaded and older multi-threaded benchmarks, however, the N150 is decisively faster.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Processor N150 scores 935, which is 61.8% higher than the Intel Core i7-4558U’s 357 in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The Intel Processor N150 scores 422.5, while the Intel Core i7-4558U scores 255. The N150 leads by 39.6% in this older multi-threaded test.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Core i7-4558U comes close to the N150?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 multicore the i7-4558U scores 2532 versus the N150’s 2590.5, a margin of only 2.3%. This is the closest result in the head-to-head data.

Q: Do both processors have the same overall performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-4558U and the Intel Processor N150 sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs in the database, despite their different benchmark profiles.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-4558U has an average benchmark score of 1038, while the Intel Processor N150 has 1025. The i7-4558U is effectively tied with the N150 on average, with a difference of about 1.3%.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Processor N150 has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i7-4558U has 2 cores. However, the i7-4558U supports 4 threads, while the N150 also has 4 threads, so thread counts are equal.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Processor N150 is the clear winner for single-threaded tasks. Its 61.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core means it is substantially better for everyday computing: web browsing, office documents, media playback, and any application that relies heavily on one or two threads. The N150 also wins in older multi-threaded benchmarks like Cinebench R15, where its 39.6% advantage shows better short-burst all-core performance. For users running legacy software or lightly threaded productivity tools, the N150 is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core i7-4558U does not win any benchmark outright, but its performance in Cinebench R23 multicore deserves attention. The 2.3% deficit there is negligible, which means the i7-4558U can hold its own in sustained multi-threaded workloads such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or compiling. Its higher 28 W power envelope allows it to keep boosting under load, whereas the N150’s 6 W design may throttle sooner during prolonged stress. If a workload runs long enough to push all cores continuously, the i7-4558U narrows the gap to nearly nothing.

For raw performance per watt, the N150 is the obvious winner. It achieves comparable or better scores across the board while drawing only 6 W versus 28 W. That makes it the better fit for fanless designs, compact laptops, and any scenario where battery life and thermals matter more than peak compute. The i7-4558U, meanwhile, is best suited to older laptops where the chassis can handle 28 W of heat and where the user prioritizes consistent multi-threaded throughput over energy efficiency.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-4558U uses 2 cores with 4 threads, while the Intel Processor N150 uses 4 cores with 4 threads. The i7-4558U has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz; the N150 has a base clock of 0.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The N150’s extremely low base clock reflects its power-saving design, while its higher boost clock explains its single-core dominance.

Thermal design power differs sharply: the i7-4558U is rated at 28 W, while the N150 is rated at 6 W. The sockets are different as well: the i7-4558U uses Intel BGA 1168, and the N150 uses Intel BGA 1264. Memory support also diverges. The i7-4558U supports DDR3, while the N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 with a single-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The N150 also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 9 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-4558U has no PCIe specification in the database.

Cache layouts differ in size and organization. The i7-4558U has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The N150 has 96 KB L1 per core, 2 MB shared L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Integrated graphics also differ: the i7-4558U uses Intel HD 5100, while the N150 uses UHD Graphics 730. The i7-4558U was released in 2013, while the N150 was released in 2024. The N150 is marked as active in production, while the i7-4558U has no production status listed.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans roughly 11 years. The Intel Core i7-4558U is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-ULT codename, using a 22 nm process node. It integrates 1,300 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The Intel Processor N150 is built on the Twin Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node, and its transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The process node shrink from 22 nm to 10 nm is a primary driver of the N150’s superior efficiency and clock speed capability.

The core designs differ fundamentally. The i7-4558U is a dual-core Haswell part with Hyper-Threading, enabling 4 threads. The N150 is a quad-core Twin Lake part with no Hyper-Threading, so it also runs 4 threads. The N150’s per-core L1 cache is larger at 96 KB versus 64 KB, and its L3 cache is 6 MB versus 4 MB. The N150 also uses a shared 2 MB L2, whereas the i7-4558U uses a per-core 256 KB L2. These cache differences contribute to the N150’s single-core advantage, as more cache per core reduces memory latency in lightly threaded workloads.

The i7-4558U belongs to the Core i7 (Haswell) generation, while the N150 belongs to the Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N) generation. This naming difference reflects Intel’s repositioning of low-power parts. The N150’s memory controller supports newer DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 standards, while the i7-4558U is limited to DDR3. The N150’s single-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth is a notable limitation, but newer memory standards help offset that constraint. The i7-4558U has no listed memory bandwidth, making direct memory throughput comparison impossible from the data.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Processor N150 if you want a modern, efficient processor with decisively better single-threaded performance. Its 61.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core makes it the better option for everyday tasks, web applications, and any software that does not scale across many cores. The N150 also wins in Cinebench R15 multicore by 39.6%, so older multi-threaded workloads run faster on it as well. Its 6 W thermal design power means it fits into thin, fanless, or battery-focused devices where the 28 W i7-4558U would be impractical.

Choose the Intel Core i7-4558U only if you are working with a legacy system and need sustained multi-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-4558U trails the N150 by just 2.3%, which is within the margin of run-to-run variation. If your workload keeps all cores busy for extended periods, the i7-4558U’s higher power budget may allow it to sustain boost clocks more effectively than the 6 W N150. However, that advantage is narrow and does not apply to single-threaded or short-burst workloads, where the N150 wins by wide margins.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1038 for the i7-4558U and 1025 for the N150. Both sit at the 28th percentile among all CPUs. This means the two are comparable in aggregate performance, but their profiles differ sharply. The N150 concentrates its strength in single-thread and short multi-thread bursts, while the i7-4558U retains competitive sustained multi-thread performance despite its age. For nearly all modern use cases, the N150 is the better buy. The i7-4558U only makes sense in the context of an existing Haswell-era laptop where upgrading the processor is not an option.