Intel Core i3-N305 vs Apple M2

Processor comparisons   02-02-2023
   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i3-N305 vs Apple M2 tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, Blender, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, Handbrake, WPrime, 3DMark, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, Gears 5, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Apple M2 or Intel Core i3-N305.

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-N305

55%

59%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 6% better than Core i3-N305. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-N305

52%

55%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that 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. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Metro Exodus, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, Control, Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.1	97.4
Valorant	105.8	110.7
Cyberpunk 2077	59.3	62.0
Apex Legends	99.5	104.1
Call of Duty Warzone	79.4	83.0
Overwatch	85.7	89.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.0	76.4
DOOM Eternal	52.9	55.4
Warzone	82.5	86.4
Assassin's Creed	88.9	93.0
Valheim	87.8	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: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance 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-N305

501%

535%

To make a final choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M2 is more energy efficient than the Core i3-N305 as it consumes less power: 7W vs. 12W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has. 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. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-N305	Apple M2
Cinbench 15 Single-core	225	298
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1627	1586
Cinbench 20 Single-core	535	558
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3691	2699
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1250	2057
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12158	10520

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

	Intel Core i3-N305	Apple M2
Single-Core	2918	4095
Multi-Core	17887	29665

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

	Intel Core i3-N305	Apple M2
Single-Core	1054	1929
Multi-Core	5026	9243

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-N305	Apple M2
Announcement date	January 26, 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	1.8 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 48% better than Core i3-N305 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-N305 is better: 13
The number of parameters for which Apple M2 is better: 22
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i3-N305 and Apple M2 before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i3-N305 - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-N305 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.