AMD Ryzen 5 3500U vs Intel Processor N150

The following two mobile processors are compared in detail: the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U and the Intel Processor N150.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U was introduced around early 2019 and is aimed at thin and light notebooks, where it offers balanced performance for everyday tasks and light productivity. It is based on the Picasso (Zen+) architecture and is manufactured using a 12 nm fabrication process. This processor features 4 cores and 8 threads, giving it solid multitasking capability.

It is equipped with 4 MB of Level 3 Cache. The integrated graphics unit, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Raven Ridge), offers good graphics performance for its class. In terms of performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U shows competitive multicore performance, while its single-core performance is surpassed by the Intel Processor N150.

In gaming scenarios, the Vega 8 graphics unit generally offers superior performance for light games. The Intel Processor N150, part of the N-series, was launched around late 2022/early 2023. It is designed for entry-level notebooks, educational devices, and fanless systems, with a focus on high efficiency for basic computing tasks.

Based on the Twin Lake architecture, it is manufactured using a modern 7 nm fabrication process. This processor has 4 cores and 4 threads and is equipped with 4 MB of Level 2 Cache and 6 MB of Level 3 Cache. Its integrated graphics unit is the Intel UHD Graphics 24 EUs (Alder Lake). The Intel Processor N150 shows a significant advantage in single-core performance compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, which is due to its newer core architecture.

Multicore performance is comparable in some tests, but lower than the AMD model in others. Its graphics performance is designed for basic applications and less suitable for gaming. Due to its 7 nm fabrication process and architecture, it is designed for significantly lower power consumption, enabling longer battery life and passively cooled designs.

Multicore performance shows a mixed picture. While the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U gains advantages in some tests due to its 8 threads, the Intel Processor N150 is close behind or slightly outperforms it in other scenarios. The gaming experience is better suited for light games on the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U thanks to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Raven Ridge) graphics unit than on the Intel Processor N150 with its Intel UHD Graphics 24 EUs (Alder Lake).

Regarding power consumption, the Intel Processor N150, with its 7 nm fabrication process and efficiency-optimized architecture, is significantly more economical in consumption, which positively impacts battery life. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U has a higher typical TDP, which allows for overall higher performance in its class.

The Intel Processor N150 is often found in very inexpensive systems and offers good cost efficiency for basic applications. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, although older, can offer a good balance for somewhat more demanding tasks in older or refurbished systems.