Intel N100 vs N150 for a Home Server
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Version/date: Specs from Intel's official product pages for the N100 and N150. Last checked: 2026-10-28.
On paper, the N150 is a slightly faster N100. Both have 4 cores and 4 threads, 6 MB cache, a 6 W rating, 24 GPU execution units with Quick Sync Video, single-channel memory and a 16 GB memory limit. The N150 raises the maximum turbo clock from 3.4 to 3.6 GHz and the GPU's maximum frequency from 750 MHz to 1 GHz. For a home server running Jellyfin, Immich and a few containers, both chips cover the same jobs. Choose on the mini PC's price, RAM, storage and ports rather than the chip.
Spec comparison (Intel's spec pages)
| Intel N100 | Intel N150 | |
|---|---|---|
| Code name | Alder Lake-N | Twin Lake |
| Launch | Q1 2023 | Q1 2025 |
| Cores / threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Max turbo frequency | 3.40 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| Cache | 6 MB | 6 MB |
| Power rating | TDP 6 W | Processor Base Power 6 W |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics | Intel Graphics |
| Graphics max dynamic frequency | 750 MHz | 1 GHz |
| GPU execution units | 24 | 24 |
| Intel Quick Sync Video | Yes | Yes |
| Max memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory types | DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800 | DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800 |
| Memory channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC memory | No | No |
| PCIe lanes | 9 (Gen 3) | 9 (Gen 3) |
| VT-x / VT-d | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
Intel labels the 6 W figure as "TDP" on the N100 page and "Processor Base Power" on the N150 page. Neither number tells you what a whole mini PC draws from the wall. To estimate running costs, use your own measured or listed watts in the power cost calculator.
What the differences mean for a home server
CPU clock (3.4 → 3.6 GHz). Same core count, same cache, slightly higher maximum turbo. Intel publishes no base clock for either chip on these pages, so we don't compare one.
GPU clock (750 MHz → 1 GHz). Both have 24 execution units and Quick Sync Video, which is what Jellyfin uses for hardware transcoding. Video decode and encode support comes from the GPU generation, not the clock speed, so a Jellyfin setup is the same on either chip. See Jellyfin Quick Sync in Docker.
Memory (identical). Both chips support up to 16 GB in a single channel. Immich's documented minimum is 6 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended), so either chip with 16 GB leaves room for other containers. A mini PC sold with 8 GB uses half of that ceiling.
Virtualisation (identical). Both support VT-x and VT-d, so either can run Proxmox. See installing Proxmox on a mini PC.
Which to buy
- Same price, same RAM and storage: take the N150. It's the newer chip with higher maximum CPU and GPU clocks.
- The N100 box is cheaper or has more RAM, a better SSD or 2.5 GbE: take the N100. The chip difference is small next to those.
- You need more than 16 GB of RAM, more cores or ECC: neither fits. Compare the N305 and a used ThinkCentre Tiny in N100 vs N305 vs ThinkCentre Tiny.
Check current prices on each mini PC maker's official store page. Prices change too often to list here.
To match a chip to the apps you plan to run, use the homelab hardware sizing tool. For finished picks, see best mini PCs for Jellyfin.
Related: N100 vs N305 vs ThinkCentre Tiny · best mini PC for Jellyfin · power cost calculator · homelab hardware sizing tool · install Immich with Docker Compose
Sources
- Intel, Intel Processor N100 specifications: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/231803/intel-processor-n100-6m-cache-up-to-3-40-ghz/specifications.html (checked 2026-10-28)
- Intel, Intel Processor N150 specifications: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/241636/intel-processor-n150-6m-cache-up-to-3-60-ghz/specifications.html (checked 2026-10-28)
- Immich docs, Requirements (RAM): https://docs.immich.app/install/requirements (checked 2026-10-28)