Core 3 N350 vs Core i5-8260U
Core 3 N350
Core i5-8260U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core 3 N350 is positioned at rank 666 and the Core i5-8260U is on rank 239, so the Core i5-8260U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 3 N350
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8260U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 3 N350 | Core i5-8260U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($220) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Twin Lake (2024−2025) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 3 N350 | Core i5-8260U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($220) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core 3 N350 and Core i5-8260U
Core 3 N350
The Core 3 N350 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Twin Lake (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 0.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 7,249 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-8260U
The Core i5-8260U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,316 points. Launch price was $297.
Processing Power
The Core 3 N350 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-8260U offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core 3 N350 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core 3 N350 versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8260U — identical boost frequencies (base: 0.1 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core 3 N350 uses the Twin Lake (2024−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-8260U uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 3 N350 scores 7,249 against the Core i5-8260U's 7,316 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-8260U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core 3 N350 vs 6 MB on the Core i5-8260U.
| Feature | Core 3 N350 | Core i5-8260U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 0.1 GHz | 1.6 GHz+1500% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Twin Lake (2024−2025) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 7,249 | 7,316 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 3 N350 uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-8260U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 3 N350 | Core i5-8260U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1264 | FCBGA1528 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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