Intel Processor N100 vs Intel Core i5-7400

The Intel Core i5-7400 (Kaby Lake S, 2017) is a mainstream desktop processor. The Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake N, 2023) was designed for energy-efficient, compact systems.

The Intel Core i5-7400 is manufactured in 14 nm (4 Cores/4 Threads, 6 MB L3 Cache). The Intel Processor N100 uses a 10 nm process (4 Cores/4 Threads, 4 MB L2, 6 MB L3 Cache). Both offer PCIe 3.0 and 38 GB/s memory bandwidth. In Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i5-7400 shows over 10 percent higher multi-core performance.

The single-core performance of both CPUs is comparable in Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 6. The Intel Processor N100 delivers results in Cinebench 2024, which demonstrates its more modern architecture. Both processors are unsuitable for demanding games. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 of the Intel Core i5-7400 is older than the Intel UHD Graphics 24 EUs of the Intel Processor N100, which offers more modern graphics performance for light titles.

The TDP of the Intel Core i5-7400 is 65 Watts. The Intel Processor N100 only requires 6 Watts and is extremely energy-efficient. The Intel Core i5-7400 is a cost-effective option on the used market. The Intel Processor N100 is built into new mini-PCs and is characterized by its excellent performance per watt ratio.

The Intel Core i5-7400 is suitable for general desktop tasks. The Intel Processor N100 is ideal for energy-conscious systems that need to run basic applications smoothly.