Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (Broadcom BCM2837B0) vs Intel Processor N100

The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (Broadcom BCM2837B0), released in March 2018, was developed for educational purposes, hobby projects, and embedded systems.

It is manufactured by Broadcom using a 40 nm process and utilizes the Cortex-A15 architecture with four cores and four threads. With 1 MB L2 cache and a max. memory bandwidth of 4 GB/s, the Broadcom VideoCore 5 graphics unit offers basic performance. This processor is optimized for extremely low power consumption and is ideal for energy-autonomous projects.

It offers an outstanding price-performance ratio for its specific niche applications. The Intel Processor N100, introduced in January 2023, targets energy-efficient mini-PCs, thin clients, and IoT devices.

It is manufactured by Intel using a more advanced 10 nm process and is based on the Alder Lake N architecture with four cores and four threads. Equipped with 4 MB L2 cache, 6 MB L3 cache, and a significantly higher max. memory bandwidth of 38 GB/s, the integrated Intel UHD Graphics (24 EUs, Alder Lake) delivers substantially stronger graphics performance and supports PCIe 3.0.

With a TDP of 6 watts, it is also very energy-efficient, but offers a many times higher computing performance. In a direct comparison, the Intel Processor N100 significantly outperforms the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (Broadcom BCM2837B0) in both computing and graphics performance, for both single-core and multi-core tasks.

This translates into significantly better performance in more complex applications and lighter gaming scenarios. The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ (Broadcom BCM2837B0) is the choice for cost-effective, extremely energy-efficient single-board computer projects. For an energy-efficient mini-PC with noticeably higher overall performance for everyday tasks, the Intel Processor N100 is the superior option.