Intel Core i3-N300 vs Apple M2

Processor comparisons 02-02-2023

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i3-N300 vs Apple M2 tests and see which is better for games or normal use for rendering, programming, streaming, video editing, machine learning. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like UserBenchmark, AIDA64, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, Furmark, PassMark, Blender, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, Blender, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Gears 5, 7zip, 3DMark, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Fortnite
DOOM: Eternal
Fallout 76
Valheim
Red Dead Redemption 2
Last Man Standing
Cyberpunk 2077
Apex Legends
Overwatch
Halo Infinite
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Valorant
Watch Dogs Legion
Grand Theft Auto V
Rainbow Six Siege
Death Stranding
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Borderlands 3

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Apple M2 or Intel Core i3-N300.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-N300

54%

59%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 8% better than Core i3-N300. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-N300

52%

55%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.1	97.4
Valorant	104.7	110.7
Cyberpunk 2077	58.6	62.0
Apex Legends	98.4	104.1
Call of Duty Warzone	78.5	83.0
Overwatch	84.8	89.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.2	76.4
DOOM Eternal	52.4	55.4
Warzone	81.7	86.4
Assassin's Creed	88.0	93.0
Valheim	86.9	91.9

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-N300

498%

535%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M2 is more energy efficient than the Core i3-N300 as it consumes less power: 7W vs. 12W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-N300	Apple M2
Cinbench 15 Single-core	201	298
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1403	1586
Cinbench 20 Single-core	467	558
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3172	2699
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1079	2057
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10430	10520

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-N300	Apple M2
Single-Core	2510	4095
Multi-Core	15340	29665

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-N300	Apple M2
Single-Core	1047	1929
Multi-Core	4058	9243

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i3-N300	Apple M2
Announcement date	January 25, 2023	October 18, 2022
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1264	M2
Core name	Alder Lake-N	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard
Architecture	x86	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	13	2
Turbo Frequency	3.8 MHz
Frequency	1.74 MHz	3.49 MHz
Cores	8	8
Threads	8	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	20000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	7 W	12 W
Memory type	DDR4 3200 MT/s DDR5 4800 MT/s LPDDR5 4800 MT/s	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz
Max. Memory	16 Gb
Memory Frequency		2400
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache	384KB	2MB
L2 cache	2MB	12MB
L3 cache	6 MB	16MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here M2 is 50% better than Core i3-N300 in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-N300 is better: 11
The number of parameters for which Apple M2 is better: 24
However, it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i3-N300 and Apple M2 before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i3-N300 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-N300 specs and review.

Apple M2 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Apple M2 specs and review.