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Intel Core 3 N355 specifications and in-depth review

Intel Core 3 N355

Manufacturer: Intel

The Intel Core 3 N355 is a laptop processor designed for energy-efficient mobile computing, operating within a 15W thermal design power envelope. It features eight cores with a base clock of 3 GHz and a turbo frequency reaching up to 3.9 GHz, making it suited for everyday notebook workloads. The chip is fabricated on a 10nm process node and supports 64-bit operation along with PCIe 3.0 connectivity.

On the memory side, the Core 3 N355 supports LPDDR5 at up to 4800 MHz through a single channel, with a maximum capacity of 16 GB. Cache is organized across three levels: 768 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2, and 6 MB of L3. The integrated GPU runs at up to 1350 MHz with 32 execution units, supports up to three displays simultaneously, and is compatible with DirectX 12 Ultimate and OpenGL 4.6. The processor also includes a range of instruction set extensions including AVX2, AES, and FMA3, and achieves a PassMark multi-thread score of 10918.

Pros
  • Turbo clock speed reaches 3.9 GHz across all 8 cores, allowing the processor to handle bursts of demanding workloads beyond its base frequency
  • Integrated GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and OpenCL 3, covering a wide range of graphics and compute tasks without a discrete card
  • Supports up to three simultaneous displays through the integrated graphics solution
  • DDR5 memory support at up to 4800 MHz brings modern memory bandwidth to the platform
  • Includes a broad set of instruction set extensions such as AVX2, AES, and FMA3, enabling hardware-accelerated encryption and vectorized processing
  • NX bit support provides a hardware-level security layer against certain memory exploitation techniques
Cons
  • Single memory channel configuration limits overall memory bandwidth compared to dual-channel setups
  • Maximum supported RAM is capped at 16 GB, which may be restrictive for memory-intensive workloads
  • No support for ECC memory, making it unsuitable for error-sensitive or mission-critical applications
  • Multithreading is not supported, so each core processes only one thread at a time, limiting parallelism
  • Unlocked multiplier is absent, meaning clock speeds cannot be manually adjusted beyond factory settings
  • PassMark single-thread score of 2284 reflects modest per-core performance for tasks that rely heavily on sequential execution
Who is this for?

This processor is well suited to users building or buying a lightweight laptop for everyday computing tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. Its 15W TDP and mobile-oriented design make it a natural fit for thin notebooks where thermal efficiency matters. The integrated GPU with DirectX 12 Ultimate support and three-display output also makes it a reasonable choice for users who need basic graphics capability or a multi-monitor setup without relying on a discrete graphics card. The inclusion of DDR5 memory support and a broad set of instruction extensions adds practical value for general productivity workflows.

Who is this NOT for?

This processor is not well suited to users with demanding workloads that require strong parallel processing, as the lack of multithreading means each core handles only one thread at a time, limiting throughput under heavy concurrent tasks. The single memory channel and 16 GB maximum RAM cap make it a poor fit for memory-intensive applications such as video editing, large dataset processing, or running multiple virtual machines. Users who need reliable performance for compute-heavy or GPU-accelerated workloads will also find the integrated graphics insufficient, as there is no discrete GPU in this configuration.

General info:

Type Laptop
Has integrated graphics ✓
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 15W
semiconductor size 10 nm
CPU temperature 105 °C
PCI Express (PCIe) version 3
Supports 64-bit ✓

The Intel Core 3 N355 is a laptop processor built on a 10nm semiconductor process and designed to operate within a 15W thermal design power limit, with a maximum CPU temperature of 105°C. It includes integrated graphics and fully supports 64-bit computing. Connectivity is handled through PCI Express 3.0, and the chip is manufactured for mobile platforms where efficiency and compact power envelopes are a priority.

Performance:

CPU speed 8 x 3 GHz
CPU threads 8 threads
turbo clock speed 3.9GHz
Has an unlocked multiplier ✕
L2 cache 4 MB
L3 cache 6 MB
L1 cache 768 KB
L2 core 0.5 MB/core
L3 core 0.75 MB/core
Uses big.LITTLE technology ✕
clock multiplier 30

The processor features 8 cores running at a base clock of 3 GHz, with 8 threads and a turbo frequency of up to 3.9 GHz, using a clock multiplier of 30. It does not use big.LITTLE heterogeneous core architecture, nor does it have an unlocked multiplier. Cache is distributed across three levels: 768 KB of L1, 4 MB of L2 at 0.5 MB per core, and 6 MB of L3 at 0.75 MB per core, providing a structured memory hierarchy to support sustained workloads.

Benchmarks:

PassMark result 10918
PassMark result (single) 2284

In benchmark testing, the Intel Core 3 N355 achieves a PassMark multi-thread score of 10918, reflecting its overall multi-core throughput across parallel workloads. Its single-thread PassMark score stands at 2284, indicating the per-core processing capability for tasks that rely on sequential execution.

Integrated graphics:

GPU turbo 1350 MHz
GPU execution units 32
DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
supported displays 3
OpenGL version 4.6
OpenCL version 3

The integrated GPU operates at a turbo frequency of 1350 MHz and is equipped with 32 execution units, providing the processing resources needed for display and graphics tasks. It supports up to three simultaneous displays and is compatible with DirectX 12 Ultimate, along with OpenGL 4.6 and OpenCL 3, covering a broad range of graphics and compute workloads handled directly by the integrated graphics solution.

Memory:

RAM speed (max) 4800 MHz
DDR memory version 5
memory channels 1
maximum memory amount 16GB
Supports ECC memory ✕

The Intel Core 3 N355 supports DDR5 memory at speeds of up to 4800 MHz, operating through a single memory channel with a maximum supported capacity of 16 GB. ECC memory is not supported, which is typical for a consumer-oriented mobile processor of this class.

Features:

instruction sets MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
uses multithreading ✕
Has NX bit ✓

The processor supports a range of instruction set extensions including MMX, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, F16C, AES, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2, enabling hardware-level support for vectorized math, encryption, and floating-point operations. It does not use simultaneous multithreading, meaning each core handles one thread at a time. Security is addressed through the inclusion of the NX bit, which helps guard against certain classes of memory-based exploits.

Final Verdict

The Intel Core 3 N355 is a competent mobile processor built around efficiency and everyday usability, with its 8-core configuration, DDR5 memory support, and integrated GPU capable of driving up to three displays with DirectX 12 Ultimate compatibility making it a practical choice for general-purpose laptop use. It handles standard productivity workloads reliably within its 15W thermal envelope, and the inclusion of modern instruction set extensions adds tangible utility for common computing tasks. That said, its single memory channel, 16 GB RAM ceiling, and lack of multithreading place a clear ceiling on how far it can scale under demanding or parallel workloads. For users whose needs align with light to moderate daily computing, the Core 3 N355 delivers a well-rounded and focused mobile platform.

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