CPU Comparison
AMD Ryzen 5 7520C vs Intel Core 3 N355
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The AMD Ryzen 5 7520C is a 15 W, 4‑core/8‑thread Chromebook SoC from AMD’s Mendocino family, built on a 6 nm Zen 2 CPU core and an RDNA 2 Radeon 610M iGPU, designed to bring modern performance and long battery life to mainstream Chromebooks.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Noticeably quicker than older dual‑core Chromebook SoCs for multitasking, Android apps, and browser workloads.
Handles web, office, and light multitasking well; single-channel memory constrains memory-sensitive workloads.
Gaming
Radeon 610M is entry‑level; modern 3D games at low resolution and detail only, but fine for casual and older titles.
Not designed for gaming; playable only at low resolutions and settings in older titles due to the 32 EU iGPU and single-channel memory.
Virtualization
Acceptable for light Linux or Crostini containers, but memory and core count limit heavier VM use.
Adequate for a couple of light VMs or containers, but limited RAM ceiling (16 GB) and single-channel bandwidth.
Efficiency
6 nm process and 15 W TDP enable good performance per watt in thin Chromebooks with long battery life.
Strong efficiency at 9–15 W for always-on appliances; Intel 7 is not class-leading in efficiency versus newer nodes, but power is low.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI accelerator; inference relies on CPU/iGPU
- Fine for on‑device Chrome OS AI features, not for heavy ML workloads
- No dedicated NPU; CPU-based inference only via AVX2.
- GNA 3.0 assists some low-power audio/voice tasks.
- Unsuitable for heavy local LLMs or large vision models.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Radeon 610M with only 2 CUs limits gaming potential
- Suitable for 2D, e‑sports, and older titles at low settings
- Not aimed at AAA gaming or high refresh rate gameplay
- 32 EU Xe iGPU is capable of video decode and desktop compositing, but too weak for modern AAA games.
- Single-channel memory narrows effective bandwidth.
- Best suited for casual, older, or esports titles at 720p/low.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- 4 cores / 8 threads at 15 W, a clear upgrade over dual‑core Chromebook SoCs
- High boost up to 4.3 GHz for snappy Chrome OS responsiveness
- RDNA 2 Radeon 610M with modern feature set and hardware video decode
- 6 nm process and 15 W TDP enable fanless designs and long battery life
- Dual‑channel LPDDR5‑5500 improves both CPU and iGPU performance
Cons
- Only 4 PCIe 3.0 lanes; NVMe speed and expandability are limited
- Radeon 610M has just 2 CUs, restricting gaming and GPU compute potential
- Max memory officially limited to 16 GB, typical of budget Chromebooks
- No unlocked multiplier; no overclocking support
- Zen 2 CPU architecture is several generations old behind Zen 4/Zen 5
Pros
- Eight E-cores provide solid multi-thread throughput at low power.
- Configurable 9 W cTDP enables truly fanless designs.
- LPDDR5 support improves compatibility for compact, soldered-down designs.
- 32 EU iGPU with Quick Sync handles modern video codecs including AV1.
- Embedded lifecycle support makes it attractive for OEMs needing long-term availability.
Cons
- Single-channel memory caps real-world bandwidth.
- No P-cores means lower per-thread performance than P+E designs.
- PCIe 3.0 x9 limits NVMe speeds and high-speed I/O expansion.
- Multiplier locked; no enthusiast overclocking.
- 16 GB max memory may be restrictive for heavier workloads or future-proofing.
Competitors & Alternatives
AMD Ryzen 5 7520C
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3‑N305Rival
Chromebook / Entry-Level Laptop
- AMD Ryzen 3 7320CRival
Chromebook
- AMD Ryzen 5 5625CRival
Chromebook (Barcelo‑R)
- Intel Core i3‑1315U (in Chromebooks)Rival
Chromebook / Mainstream Laptop
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2Rival
Chromebook (ARM)
- Intel Core i3‑N305 ChromebookAlt
Strong multi‑core performance and good efficiency; better if you prefer Intel or need more E‑cores.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5625C ChromebookAlt
Older but with more L3 cache and stronger CPU performance if you need more headroom for heavier apps.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 ChromebookAlt
Always‑connected ARM‑based alternative if you value LTE/5G and all‑day battery over x86 compatibility.
- Older Ryzen 5 4500U/5500U ChromebooksAlt
Used or discounted models may offer more cores and cache if you can tolerate DDR4 and lower efficiency.
Intel Core 3 N355
- AMD Ryzen 3 7320URival
Budget laptop / thin client
- AMD Ryzen 5 7520URival
Budget laptop / mini PC
- Intel Processor N97 (Alder Lake-N, 4C/4T)Rival
Very low power mini PCs and embedded
- Intel Core i3-N305 (Alder Lake-N, 8C/8T)Rival
Mini PC / laptop, prior generation
- Intel Processor N200 (Alder Lake-N, 4C/4T)Rival
Low-cost mini PCs and embedded
Cheaper if LPDDR5 and slight clock bump are unnecessary; similar 8 E-cores and 32 EU iGPU.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Processor N97Alt
Lower-power 4-core option when 8 threads are not needed.
- Intel Processor N200Alt
Very low power 4-core for strictly light tasks; not suited if you need 8 threads.
Lower PBP (7 W) version of Twin Lake for fanless designs when peak performance is less critical.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A solid step up from older dual‑core Chromebook chips, with competitive CPU performance and modern RDNA 2 graphics, but limited by a small GPU and no upgrade path beyond typical Chromebook constraints.
Best for: Buying a Chromebook Plus or mainstream Chromebook where you want better CPU and iGPU performance than older Intel or AMD dual‑core designs, without sacrificing battery life.
Read the full reviewThe Core 3 N355 is a sensible step up over the Alder Lake-N N305 for always-on, thermally constrained systems: modestly higher clocks, LPDDR5 support, and Intel 7 branding, but still limited by single-channel memory, PCIe 3.0, and no P-core performance.
Best for: Buying or specifying a fanless mini PC, home NAS, or embedded appliance where 15 W (or lower) is a hard constraint and workloads are light.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, AMD Ryzen 5 7520C or Intel Core 3 N355?
Based on our editorial ratings, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C comes out ahead with a score of 7.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, AMD Ryzen 5 7520C or Intel Core 3 N355?
For gaming, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520C leads with a gaming performance score of 50/100 among AMD Ryzen 5 7520C and Intel Core 3 N355.
Do AMD Ryzen 5 7520C and Intel Core 3 N355 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (AMD Ryzen 5 7520C: FT6, Intel Core 3 N355: FCBGA1264 (35 mm × 24 mm)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core 3 N355 has the most cores. Core counts: AMD Ryzen 5 7520C (4 cores), Intel Core 3 N355 (8 cores).