Core 3 N350 vs Core i7-6920HQ

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.

Core 3 N350 vs Core i7-6920HQ FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core 3 N350 vs Core i7-6920HQ: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core 3 N350

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1264 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,249 vs 7,269).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $225 MSRP, while Core i7-6920HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌600% higher power demand at 7W vs 1W.

Core i7-6920HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Draws 1W instead of 7W, a 6W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core 3 N350 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core 3 N350 moves to FCBGA1264 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core 3 N350 better than Core i7-6920HQ?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core 3 N350 is ahead with a 3.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-6920HQ pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark. Core i7-6920HQ also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-6920HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core 3 N350 is the better buy right now. Core 3 N350 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $225 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i7-6920HQ is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.3% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (32.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core 3 N350 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2015) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1264 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core 3 N350 vs Core i7-6920HQ Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 i7-6920HQ

The Core i7-6920HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,269 points. Launch price was $568.

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Processing Power

The Core 3 N350 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-6920HQ 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 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-6920HQ — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Core 3 N350 (base: 0.1 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core 3 N350 uses the Twin Lake (2024−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-6920HQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core 3 N350 scores 7,249 against the Core i7-6920HQ's 7,269 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-6920HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core 3 N350 vs 8 MB on the Core i7-6920HQ.

Feature	Core 3 N350	Core i7-6920HQ
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+100%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+3%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	0.1 GHz	2.9 GHz+2800%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB (total)+100%	1 MB
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Twin Lake (2024−2025)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	7,249	7,269

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Memory & Platform

The Core 3 N350 uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-6920HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.