Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus vs Intel Processor N250 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus and the Intel Processor N250 occupy opposite ends of the mobile processing spectrum. The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between these two parts, but the recorded measurements for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus, combined with the architectural data for the N250, make the performance gap unambiguous.

The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus delivers a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 41913 and a single-core score of 5917. Its Cinebench R20 results are 17603 multi-core and 2485 single-core, while Cinebench R15 shows 4224 multi-core and 596 single-core. These figures place the chip at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The nearest rival in average benchmark score is the Intel Core i9-13900KF at 61841, a delta of 0 percent, followed by the Core i9-13900K at 61766 (0.1 percent ahead of the 270HX Plus) and the Core i9-13900T at 61723 (0.2 percent ahead). The Intel Xeon 636 trails slightly at 61360, a 0.8 percent gap.

PassMark results for the 270HX Plus reinforce this standing. The chip scores 48270 in multi-thread testing, 4764 in single-thread testing, 493179 in data compression, 37813 in data encryption, 39283 in extended instructions, 163567 in floating-point math, 122449 in integer math, 3843 in physics, and 60020 in random string sorting. The average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 61834.

The Intel Processor N250, by contrast, has no benchmark entries in the database. Its percentile ranking of 50 places it at the midpoint of all CPUs, a position consistent with a low-power 4-core design. The 270HX Plus, with 20 cores and 20 threads, fundamentally outclasses the N250 in any parallel workload. In single-threaded tasks, the 270HX Plus boost clock of 5.30 GHz against the N250's 3.80 GHz suggests a substantial advantage, though no direct measured comparison exists in the database.

FAQ

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Processor N250 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What are the clock speed ranges for each processor?

A: The 270HX Plus has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The N250 has a base clock of 0.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the larger cache configuration?

A: The 270HX Plus features 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The N250 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The 270HX Plus supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. The N250 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 memory over a single-channel bus.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for the two chips?

A: The 270HX Plus has a TDP of 55 watts. The N250 has a TDP of 6 watts.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking in the database?

A: The 270HX Plus ranks at the 93rd percentile among all CPUs. The N250 ranks at the 50th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design families. The 270HX Plus belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 under the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh codename, fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The N250 uses the Twin Lake architecture, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, with no transistor count or die size recorded in the database.

The 270HX Plus uses Intel BGA 2114 as its socket, while the N250 uses Intel BGA 1264. The 270HX Plus generation is listed as Ultra 7 (Arrow Lake-HX), and the N250 generation is listed as Intel Processor (Alder Lake-N). The production status for both chips is Active.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The 270HX Plus carries Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The N250 integrates UHD Graphics 730. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity separates the two platforms. The 270HX Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The N250 provides Gen 3 with 9 lanes from the CPU. The 270HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the N250 does not.

The release dates place the N250 first, arriving on 2026-01-06, with the 270HX Plus following on 2026-03-16. The part numbers are SADST for the 270HX Plus and SRPNS for the N250.

Specification Differences

The database records several specification fields where the two processors differ. Core count: 20 for the 270HX Plus versus 4 for the N250. Thread count: 20 versus 4. Base clock: 2.40 GHz versus 0.10 GHz. Boost clock: 5.30 GHz versus 3.80 GHz. TDP: 55 watts versus 6 watts. Socket: Intel BGA 2114 versus Intel BGA 1264.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. The 270HX Plus allocates 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with a 30 MB shared L3 pool. The N250 allocates 96 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of shared L2, with a 6 MB shared L3 pool.

Memory support: the 270HX Plus supports only DDR5, while the N250 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5. Memory bus width: dual-channel for the 270HX Plus, single-channel for the N250. Memory bandwidth: 102.4 GB/s for the 270HX Plus versus 38.4 GB/s for the N250.

PCIe: Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the 270HX Plus, Gen 3 with 9 lanes for the N250. Integrated graphics: Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU for the 270HX Plus, UHD Graphics 730 for the N250. Process node: 3 nm for the 270HX Plus, 10 nm for the N250. Foundry: TSMC for the 270HX Plus, Intel for the N250.

The N250 lacks a series designation in the database, while the 270HX Plus is explicitly listed under Core Ultra Series 2. The 270HX Plus has an unlocked multiplier; the N250 does not. The 270HX Plus has no launch MSRP recorded, and neither does the N250.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the clear choice for compute-heavy mobile workloads. Its 20-core, 20-thread configuration with a 30 MB L3 cache and 5.30 GHz boost clock positions it for rendering, encoding, compilation, and scientific computing. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 41913 and PassMark multi-thread score of 48270 confirm strong parallel throughput. The 93rd percentile ranking places it alongside desktop-class parts such as the Core i9-13900KF, which shows a 0 percent delta in average score. Single-threaded performance is equally strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 5917 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4764.

The 270HX Plus also wins on memory bandwidth, with 102.4 GB/s over dual-channel DDR5, and on PCIe connectivity, with Gen 5 and 20 lanes. Its unlocked multiplier allows overclocking on supported platforms. The 3 nm TSMC process and 17,800 million transistors indicate a modern, high-density design.

The Intel Processor N250 wins on power efficiency. Its 6-watt TDP versus the 270HX Plus's 55-watt TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power enclosures, thin-and-light notebooks, and always-on devices. The N250's support for DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5 gives platform designers flexibility in memory selection. Its single-channel 38.4 GB/s bandwidth is modest but consistent with its 4-core design. The 10 nm Intel process and Twin Lake architecture target basic productivity, web browsing, and media playback rather than high-performance computing.

The N250's single-thread performance, with a 3.80 GHz boost clock, is adequate for light daily tasks, but the 270HX Plus's 5.30 GHz boost clock and much larger cache hierarchy give it the advantage in any latency-sensitive or single-threaded application. The N250 has no benchmark entries in the database, so its measured capabilities remain unquantified, but its 50th percentile ranking and 4-core layout define its expected position.

In workloads that benefit from many cores, the 270HX Plus dominates. In scenarios where power draw and thermal output are the primary constraints, the N250 is the only reasonable option between the two. The two chips target different market segments within the mobile space: the 270HX Plus for performance laptops and mobile workstations, the N250 for economical, low-power portable systems.