Core 3 N355 vs Core i3-12100TE

Core 3 N355

8 Cores8 Thrd15 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2025

Core i3-12100TE

4 Cores8 Thrd35 WWMax: 4 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core 3 N355

8 / 8

10,502

+0.7%

10,432

0.0%

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. The Core 3 N355 is positioned at rank #625 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core 3 N355

#187

Core Ultra 9 288V

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

97%

#613

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

838%

#614

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

826%

#615

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

758%

#616

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

755%

#617

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

748%

#619

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

722%

#620

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

692%

#621

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

691%

#622

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

673%

#625

Core 3 N355

MSRP: $300|Avg: $300

100%

#628

Core i5-1335UE

MSRP: $312|Avg: $312

100%

#638

Celeron Dual-Core T1400

MSRP: $80|Avg: $10

97%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i3-12100TE leads in gaming performance. However, the Core 3 N355 is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.7% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core 3 N355	Core i3-12100TE
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($300)	✅ More affordable ($149)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Twin Lake (2024−2025) / Intel 7 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: The Core i3-12100TE leads not only in performance but also in value. It is effectively 50% cheaper ($149 vs $300) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core 3 N355	Core i3-12100TE
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+100%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($300)	✅ More affordable ($149)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core 3 N355 Benchmark Check

Core i3-12100TE Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 3 N355 and Core i3-12100TE

Core 3 N355

The Core 3 N355 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): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,502 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-12100TE

The Core i3-12100TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 10,432 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 3 N355 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i3-12100TE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core 3 N355 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core 3 N355 versus 4 GHz on the Core i3-12100TE — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-12100TE (base: 0.1 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core 3 N355 uses the Twin Lake (2024−2025) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i3-12100TE uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core 3 N355 scores 10,502 against the Core i3-12100TE's 10,432 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 3 N355. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core 3 N355 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100TE.

Feature	Core 3 N355	Core i3-12100TE
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+100%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4 GHz+3%
Base Clock	0.1 GHz	2.1 GHz+2000%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	12 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	2 MB (total)+60%	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Twin Lake (2024−2025)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	10,502	10,432
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,100

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core 3 N355 uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i3-12100TE uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core 3 N355	Core i3-12100TE
Socket	FCBGA1264	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	✅
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core 3 N355) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100TE). The Core i3-12100TE includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Core 3 N355 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100TE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100TE rivals Ryzen Embedded V2000.