Intel Core i7-6500U vs Intel Processor N95

The Intel Core i7-6500U, based on the Skylake-U architecture and manufactured on the 14 nm process, was developed in 2015 for thin notebooks.

It features 2 cores and 4 threads, 4 MB Level 3 Cache, and Intel HD Graphics 520. The Intel Processor N95 is a chip from the Alder Lake-N generation, introduced in 2023 and manufactured on the 10 nm process.

It has 4 cores and 4 threads, 4 MB Level 2 Cache, 6 MB Level 3 Cache, and Intel UHD Graphics (Alder Lake) with 16 EUs. It targets energy-efficient entry-level devices. In single-core performance, the Intel Processor N95 significantly outperforms the Intel Core i7-6500U with approximately 47 percent higher performance.

In multithreaded applications, the Intel Processor N95 is also noticeably more powerful, with a lead of over 10 percent. Neither processor is designed for demanding gaming. However, the newer integrated graphics unit of the Intel Processor N95 offers marginally better performance for very light or older games.

Memory bandwidth is similar for both (34 GB/s for the Intel Core i7-6500U versus 38 GB/s for the Intel Processor N95). Both chips are designed for low power consumption, with the Intel Processor N95 benefiting from the more modern manufacturing process. The Intel Core i7-6500U is an older model, primarily found in used devices.

As a more current chip in new entry-level devices, the Intel Processor N95 offers a more advantageous price-performance ratio and is the better choice for modern basic tasks, web browsing, and media consumption.