i3-3220 vs Apple M5 Max

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Aggregate performance score

Apple M5 Max
2026
18 cores / 18 threads
33.24
+2418%

M5 Max outperforms Core i3-3220 by a whopping 2418% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1682567
Place by popularitynot in top-10072
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.13
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
Seriesno dataIntel Core i3 (Desktop)
Power efficiencyno data1.00
DesignerAppleIntel
Manufacturerno dataIntel
Architecture codenameno dataIvy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release date3 March 2026 (less than a year ago)3 September 2012 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$117

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Performance to price scatter graph

Currently popular graphics cards are shown for comparison.

Detailed specifications

Basic parameters of M5 Max and Core i3-3220: number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores18 (Octadeca-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads184
Base clock speedno data3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.61 GHz3.3 GHz
Bus rateno data5 GT/s
L1 cacheno data64 KB (per core)
L2 cache32 MB256 KB (per core)
L3 cache24 MB3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nm22 nm
Die sizeno data94 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data67 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data65 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data-

Compatibility

Information on M5 Max and Core i3-3220 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1
Socketno dataFCLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)no data55 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by M5 Max and Core i3-3220. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data-
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
FDIno data+

Security technologies

M5 Max and Core i3-3220 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data-
Identity Protection-+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by M5 Max and Core i3-3220 are enumerated here.

VT-dno data-
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by M5 Max and Core i3-3220. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 2500
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.05 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of M5 Max and Core i3-3220 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by M5 Max and Core i3-3220.

PCIe versionno data2.0

Synthetic benchmarks

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating.

Apple M5 Max 33.24
+2418%
i3-3220 1.32

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance. Other than that, Passmark measures multi-core performance.

Apple M5 Max 57510
+2422%
Samples: 62
i3-3220 2280
Samples: 4704

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 33.24 1.32
Recency 3 March 2026 3 September 2012
Physical cores 18 2
Threads 18 4
Chip lithography 3 nm 22 nm

Apple M5 Max has a 2418% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 13 years, 800% more physical cores and 350% more threads, and a 633% more advanced lithography process.

The Apple M5 Max is our recommended choice as it beats the Intel Core i3-3220 in performance tests.

Be aware that Apple M5 Max is a notebook processor while Core i3-3220 is a desktop one.

Other comparisons

We've compiled a selection of CPU comparisons, ranging from closely matched processors to other comparisons that may be of interest.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


2.6 25 votes

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3.5 2671 votes

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Comments

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