Intel N150 vs N100 vs N97: Which Budget Mini PC Chip to Buy in 2026
The N150, N100 and N97 power most budget mini PCs, and their names suggest big differences. Independent benchmarks say otherwise: the three are close in processor speed, and the real gaps are in graphics, power settings and the rest of the box. Here is what each chip is, what the numbers show, and what to buy now that Intel’s next budget platform has arrived.
In short
For a new budget mini PC, buy an N150 model: it is the current chip, it costs the same as older N100 boxes, and it is a little faster in single-threaded work. The N97 is slightly quicker in multi-core tests and has noticeably better integrated graphics, so it is a good buy when it costs the same; the N100 is fine if it is clearly cheaper. None of them is fast enough for gaming, video editing or several virtual machines, and Intel’s new Wildcat Lake chips only make sense if you need 10GbE, USB4 or much better single-core speed.
What changed in this update (Oct 10, 2026)
This page replaces our 2025 article on a GMKtec N97 mini PC. We removed a fixed price, an unsourced customer rating and the claim that the N97 is “up to 40% faster” than the N100: independent benchmarks put the gap in the single digits for the processor. The page is now a comparison of the three chips, with sourced figures and 2026 buying advice.
The three chips at a glance
All three are 4-core, 4-thread Intel efficiency chips with 6MB of cache and single-channel memory; they differ in clock speed, graphics clock and power rating.
| Intel N97 | Intel N100 | Intel N150 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family | Alder Lake-N (2023) | Alder Lake-N (2023) | Twin Lake (late 2024 refresh) |
| Cores / threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Max CPU clock | 3.6GHz | 3.4GHz | 3.6GHz |
| Rated power (TDP) | 12W | 6W | 6W |
| Graphics | 24 EU, up to 1.2GHz | 24 EU, up to 750MHz | 24 EU, up to 1.0GHz |
| Memory | Single-channel DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800 or LPDDR5-4800 | ||
| Video | Quick Sync, hardware AV1 decoding, up to three 4K displays (depends on the mini PC’s ports) | ||
| NPU | None — not Copilot+ PCs | ||
The N150 is essentially an N100 with a 200MHz higher CPU clock and a 250MHz higher graphics clock, built on the same design. The N97 has the highest graphics clock of the three and a 12W rating, which lets it hold higher speeds under load when the mini PC’s cooling allows it. As CNX Software points out, the TDP figure says little about real consumption: its N97 and N100 test machines drew about the same power at idle.
Benchmarks: how close they really are
In processor tests the three land within about 10–15% of each other; in graphics the N97 leads clearly.
| Test | N97 | N100 | N150 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 multi-core | ~2,900 | ~2,450 | ~2,490 |
| Cinebench R23 single-core | ~970 | ~885 | ~910 |
| Geekbench 6.5 single-core | ~1,300 | ~1,195 | ~1,220 |
| Geekbench 6.5 multi-core | ~3,180 | ~2,940 | ~2,850 |
Averages depend on each machine’s power limits and cooling; the N97 figures come from fewer systems.
Notebookcheck’s overall rating puts the N150 at about 98% of the average N100 and about 88% of the N97. In other words, on its database the newer N150 is not measurably faster than the N100 in multi-core work, and the N97 is the quickest of the three thanks to its higher power rating.
CNX Software’s comparison, run with the same tools on several mini PCs, tells the same story and shows where the N97 really pulls ahead:
| Test | N97 (Blackview MP80) | N100 (GEEKOM Mini Air12) | N100 fanless (MINIX Z100-0dB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 multi-core | 2,741 | 2,927 | 2,541 |
| Cinebench R23 single-core | 926 | 918 | 789 |
| Unigine Heaven (graphics, Linux) | 404 | 303 | 294 |
| Idle power (whole system) | 9–11W | 8–10W | 8.9–9.2W |
Two lessons: the N97’s graphics were about a third faster than the N100’s in Unigine Heaven, while its processor scores matched an actively cooled N100; and a fanless N100 lost some performance against a fan-cooled one. The box around the chip — cooling, power limits, memory — matters as much as the model number.
What that means in daily use
You won’t feel the processor difference in browsing, office work or streaming; you may notice the N97’s graphics in light games and emulation.
- Office, web, video calls, 4K streaming: all three handle them; 16GB of memory matters more than the chip. Quick Sync decodes 4K HEVC and AV1 video on all three.
- Home server (Home Assistant, Pi-hole, Plex, Docker): all three are popular for low-power 24/7 use. The network chip, the number of SSD slots and the memory size decide more than the CPU.
- Light games and retro emulation: the N97’s faster graphics give it an edge, but none of these chips is a gaming processor.
- Heavy multitasking, photo editing, virtual machines: all three hit their limits quickly. Look at an 8-core N300 / N355 box, or a Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 mini PC.
The memory limit nobody mentions
These chips use single-channel memory, which caps bandwidth and holds back the graphics. Intel’s official limit is 16GB, although many N150 mini PCs accept a 32GB module. If a listing promises “dual-channel” on one of these chips, treat the rest of the description with caution.
Above the N150: N300, N355 and Wildcat Lake
For more multi-core speed, the 8-core N300 / N355 roughly double the N100; for faster single-core speed and modern ports, Intel’s 2026 Wildcat Lake chips are the step up — at a higher price.
The Core i3-N300 and the newer Core 3 N350 / N355 use eight of the same efficiency cores. In CNX Software’s 7-Zip test an N300 system scored about twice the MINIX Z100-0dB (N100). They are the best choice for a silent box that runs many things at once; our fanless mini PC guide covers the MINIX models that use them.
Intel’s Wildcat Lake platform, built on its 18A process, reached mini PCs in 2026. The first models, such as Beelink’s EQi and EQ mini, use the Core 3 304: one performance core plus four low-power cores, a 15W rating and an NPU (Intel quotes 24 TOPS combined with the GPU, below the 40 TOPS Copilot+ requirement). In CNX Software’s review of the Beelink EQi 304, it scored 1,732 in Cinebench R23 single-core — far above any N-series chip — but only about 8% more than a Core i3-N305 in multi-core, and it idled around 6W. The first Wildcat Lake mini PCs also add 10GbE and USB4, but launch prices are well above N150 boxes.
Our take matches Starry Hope’s analysis: buy a Wildcat Lake box if you need 10GbE, USB4 or snappier single-threaded performance; otherwise an N150 box is still the value choice in late 2026.
Which one should you buy?
| Situation | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New budget mini PC, any use | N150 | Current chip, wide choice of models, same price as N100 boxes |
| Same price, light games or emulation | N97 | Faster integrated graphics |
| N100 box clearly cheaper (sale, refurbished) | N100 | Real-world difference with the N150 is small |
| Completely silent PC | N150 or N100 fanless | The 6W chips suit passive cooling best |
| Many apps or containers at once | N300 / N355, or Ryzen | Twice the cores or more |
| 10GbE, USB4, best single-core speed | Wildcat Lake (Core 3 304) | Newer platform, higher price |
Mini PCs we cover with these chips
- GMKtec G3 Plus (N150) — single 2.5GbE port and two M.2 slots. Our review · Check price
- Beelink EQ14 (N150) — internal power supply, dual LAN, 3-year warranty. Our review · Check price
- MINIX Z150-0dB (N150, fanless) — silent, 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 6. Check price
- KAMRUI Essenx E1 (N150) — a basic, compact office box. Check price
- MeLE Quieter 4C (N100 or N150, fanless) — 18mm thin, three 4K screens. Check price
- GMKtec G5 (N97) — the box this page used to cover; check the memory and SSD on the listing before buying. Check price
For complete buying guides, see our best mini PCs under $200 and best mini PCs under $300.
FAQ
Is the Intel N150 better than the N100?
Slightly. It has a 200MHz higher CPU clock and a faster graphics clock, which shows in single-core tests, but Notebookcheck’s averages put it level with the N100 overall. Since N150 boxes cost the same as N100 ones, choose the N150 for a new purchase; an N100 box is fine if it is clearly cheaper.
Is the N97 faster than the N150?
A little, in multi-core tests and especially in graphics. Its 12W rating lets it sustain higher speeds, and its graphics run up to 1.2GHz against 1.0GHz for the N150. In office work and streaming you won’t notice the difference.
Is the N97 really 40% faster than the N100?
No. In CNX Software’s same-bench comparison, the N97’s processor scores were in line with an N100 mini PC; only its graphics were about a third faster in Unigine Heaven. The 40% figure we published in 2025 was wrong.
Can these chips run Windows 11?
Yes. The N97, N100 and N150 are supported by Windows 11, and most mini PCs with them ship with Windows 11 Home or Pro. They are not Copilot+ PCs because they have no NPU.
Are they good for a home server?
Yes, for light services such as Home Assistant, Pi-hole, a VPN, a small file server or Plex with Quick Sync transcoding, at low power. For several virtual machines, choose an 8-core N300 / N355 or a Ryzen mini PC.
Should I wait for Wildcat Lake?
Only if you need 10GbE, USB4 or much faster single-core performance. Wildcat Lake mini PCs are on sale in 2026 but cost well above N150 models, and for office work, streaming and light home server use an N150 box is still the better value.
Related
- GMKtec G3 Plus review (N150)
- Beelink EQ14 review (N150)
- Best fanless mini PCs
- Best mini PCs under $200
- RAM crisis 2026: why mini PC prices went up
Sources
- Notebookcheck, Intel N100 vs N150 and N97 vs N150 benchmark comparisons
- CNX Software, Intel N95 vs N97 vs N100 vs Core i3-N305 benchmarks
- CNX Software, Beelink EQi (Core 3 304) review
- Starry Hope, Wildcat Lake mini PCs vs Intel N-series (Sept. 2026)
- CNX Software, MINIX NEO Z300-0dB (N300 vs N100 7-Zip figures)
- Intel, Processor N150 specifications