Here's a detailed comparison of the Intel Celeron N5100 (Jasper Lake, 2021) and the Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake-N, 2023), highlighting why the N100 is a significant generational leap:
https://www.sinsmarts.com/blog/intel-n100-vs-celeron-n5100-processor-comparison/
Key Specifications
Feature Intel Celeron N5100 Intel Processor N100 Winner
Generation Jasper Lake (10nm) Alder Lake-N (Intel 7) N100
Cores/Threads 4 cores / 4 threads 4 cores / 4 threads Tie
Base Clock 1.10 GHz 1.80 GHz (up to 3.4 GHz Turbo) N100
TDP 6W (cTDP 4.8W-10W) 6W (cTDP 6W) Tie
iGPU Intel UHD Graphics (24 EU) Intel UHD Graphics (24 EU) N100 🚀
GPU Architecture Gen 11 (Jasper Lake) Gen 12 (Alder Lake) N100
Memory Support DDR4/LPDDR4x (max 16GB) DDR5/LPDDR5 (max 16GB) N100
PCIe Support PCIe 3.0 (8 lanes) PCIe 3.0 (9 lanes) N100
USB/Display USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.0 USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.0/DP Tie
AI Acceleration None Intel Gaussian & Neural Accelerator (GNA) N100
Performance Breakdown
CPU Performance:
N100 is 50-80% faster in single-core tasks due to modern Gracemont cores and higher clocks.
Multi-core gains: N100 leads by ~40-60% despite the same core count, thanks to architectural improvements.
Real-world impact: N100 handles web browsing, office apps, and light multitasking smoothly; N5100 struggles with heavier tabs/apps.
GPU Performance:
Both have 24 EUs, but N100's Gen 12 Xe architecture delivers ~2x better gaming/rendering.
N100 can handle 1080p low-settings gaming (e.g., Minecraft, GTA V) and 4K video playback; N5100 chokes on 1080p games.
Efficiency & Thermals:
N100's modern process (Intel 7) offers better performance-per-watt, meaning cooler/longer battery life.
N5100 often throttles in fanless designs; N100 maintains clocks better.
Modern Features:
DDR5/LPDDR5 support on N100 → faster RAM bandwidth (important for iGPU performance).
GNA 3.0 in N100 accelerates background AI tasks (e.g., noise cancellation).
PCIe lanes: N100's extra lane improves storage/NVMe flexibility.
Use Case Recommendations
N100 is ideal for:
Budget laptops/Chromebooks (Windows 11/ChromeOS)
Mini-PCs for office/streaming
Light photo editing, 1080p gaming
Fanless designs (NAS, IoT)
N5100 only if:
Found in extreme budget devices (<$200)
Usage is strictly basic (e.g., word processing, 720p video)
💡 Verdict: The N100 is a major upgrade—faster, cooler, and more future-proof. Avoid the N5100 unless the price difference is substantial and your needs are minimal. For most users, the N100 (or N200/N305) is the clear choice in 2024.
Top comments (0)