Intel Arc G3 EXTREME vs Intel Core 5 220H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a decisive overall advantage for the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME, which claims 16 wins across the head-to-head tests while the Intel Core 5 220H manages a single victory. The most dramatic margin appears in the PassMark prime number finding test, where the Arc G3 EXTREME scores 248 against the Core 5 220H's 82, a delta of 202.4%. This indicates a substantial difference in handling integer-heavy, single-threaded workloads that depend on rapid iteration and branch prediction.

Multi-threaded rendering tests reinforce the same narrative. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Arc G3 EXTREME posts 10945 versus 7812 for the Core 5 220H, a 40.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 multicore result shows 14655 against 11198, a 30.9% advantage. Even in the older Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Arc G3 EXTREME leads with 2192 over 1835, a 19.5% margin. These results suggest that the Arc G3 EXTREME's 14 cores, even without hyper-threading, outperform the Core 5 220H's 12 cores with 16 threads in sustained all-core workloads.

The single-core picture is more nuanced. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Arc G3 EXTREME wins narrowly with 267 against 262, a 1.9% edge. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a much larger gap: 1545 versus 1102, a 40.2% lead for the Arc G3 EXTREME. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the difference shrinks to just 0.5%, with scores of 1862 and 1853. This inconsistency across Cinebench versions suggests that the Arc G3 EXTREME's advantage in single-threaded performance depends heavily on the specific instruction mix and workload characteristics of each test.

PassMark's single-thread test delivers a clearer verdict: the Arc G3 EXTREME scores 4293 against 3405, a 26.1% improvement. The same delta appears in the duplicate PassMark singlethread entry, confirming consistency within the database.

The Arc G3 EXTREME also dominates in specialized math and encryption workloads. PassMark extended instructions shows 24017 versus 14642, a 64% lead. Data encryption yields 23881 versus 15216, a 56.9% delta. Floating point math scores 86929 against 51671, a 68.2% advantage. Physics simulation, which often relies on floating-point throughput, shows 2515 versus 1478, a 70.2% lead for the Arc G3 EXTREME.

Data compression favors the Arc G3 EXTREME with 307094 against 247921, a 23.9% margin. Random string sorting, a memory-latency-sensitive test, goes to the Arc G3 EXTREME at 37331 versus 28438, a 31.3% lead. The only benchmark where the Core 5 220H wins is PassMark integer math, scoring 73555 against 71164, a 3.3% advantage. This is a narrow but real reversal, indicating that the Core 5 220H's higher thread count and different core topology can occasionally outperform the Arc G3 EXTREME in pure integer arithmetic.

Overall, the Arc G3 EXTREME's average benchmark score stands at 36699, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 220H averages 28574, putting it in the 80th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Arc G3 EXTREME include the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 (0.6% lower) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at 36945 (0.7% lower), showing that the Arc G3 EXTREME sits just below those parts. The Core 5 220H's closest competitor is the AMD EPYC 7203P at 28583 (0% delta), indicating it aligns closely with that server-class chip in average performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Arc G3 EXTREME is the clear winner for rendering, encryption, floating-point math, and any workload that benefits from high per-core instruction throughput. Its 14 cores and 14 threads, combined with a 3 nm process node, deliver substantial leads in Cinebench multicore tests and PassMark physics. The 68.2% lead in floating-point math suggests it handles scientific computing, simulation, and 3D rendering tasks with considerably more headroom than the Core 5 220H.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the Arc G3 EXTREME also holds the edge in most tests, particularly PassMark single-thread and Cinebench R20 single-core. However, the near-tie in Cinebench R23 single-core (0.5% delta) indicates that the Core 5 220H can nearly match it in certain short-duration, low-complexity tasks. The Arc G3 EXTREME's higher base clock of 1.90 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for the Core 5 220H does not tell the full story; the boost clocks are closer, with 4.70 GHz versus 4.90 GHz.

The Core 5 220H's only meaningful win is in PassMark integer math, where its 3.3% edge could translate to better performance in database indexing, checksum calculations, or other integer-bound operations. This is a narrow niche, and the rest of the data shows the Core 5 220H trailing by double-digit margins in most categories. Its 16 threads versus the Arc G3 EXTREME's 14 threads do not compensate for the lower per-core efficiency in the majority of tests.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Arc G3 EXTREME for users prioritizing multi-threaded productivity, encryption, and floating-point workloads. Its 40.1% lead in Cinebench R20 multicore and 56.9% lead in data encryption make it the stronger choice for content creation, data analysis, and security-related tasks. The 85th percentile ranking versus the 80th percentile for the Core 5 220H reinforces this position.

Users who specifically need maximum integer math throughput might consider the Core 5 220H, given its 3.3% advantage in that single test. However, that niche win does not offset the Arc G3 EXTREME's dominance across 16 of 17 benchmarks. The Core 5 220H's 45 W TDP versus 25 W for the Arc G3 EXTREME suggests it draws more power while delivering less overall performance, which is a notable efficiency gap in the recorded data.

For mobile systems where battery life and thermal headroom matter, the Arc G3 EXTREME's lower TDP and superior benchmark scores make it the more compelling option. The Core 5 220H remains viable for integer-heavy legacy applications, but the benchmark record indicates that the Arc G3 EXTREME is the superior processor for the vast majority of use cases.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher Cinebench R20 multicore score?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME scores 10945, which is 40.1% higher than the Intel Core 5 220H's 7812.

Q: How large is the gap in PassMark data encryption performance?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME scores 23881, while the Core 5 220H scores 15216, giving the Arc G3 EXTREME a 56.9% lead.

Q: Does the Core 5 220H win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the Core 5 220H wins PassMark integer math with 73555 against 71164, a 3.3% margin.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME averages 36699, while the Core 5 220H averages 28574, a difference of 8125 points.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded PassMark performance?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME scores 4293, which is 26.1% higher than the Core 5 220H's 3405.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the Arc G3 EXTREME boosts to 4.70 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME uses the Panther Lake codename with a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core 5 220H uses the Raptor Lake-H codename with a 10 nm process node. This process difference likely contributes to the Arc G3 EXTREME's higher performance density and lower TDP of 25 W versus 45 W for the Core 5 220H.

The Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores and 14 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, whereas the Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads, indicating that four of its cores support hyper-threading. The cache hierarchy also differs: the Arc G3 EXTREME has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Core 5 220H has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core. Both share 18 MB of L3 cache.

Memory support diverges significantly. The Arc G3 EXTREME supports LPDDR5X memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. The Core 5 220H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. The Arc G3 EXTREME's integrated graphics are Arc B390, while the Core 5 220H uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

The PCIe lane configuration also differs: the Arc G3 EXTREME provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes, while the Core 5 220H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes. This means the Core 5 220H has more direct PCIe bandwidth for discrete GPUs or NVMe storage, though the Arc G3 EXTREME's lower TDP and smaller process node offer other advantages.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count, thread count, base clock, boost clock, TDP, socket, process node, cache sizes, memory support, PCIe lanes, integrated graphics, release date, part number, and launch MSRP.

The Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores and 14 threads, a base clock of 1.90 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core 5 220H has 12 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Arc G3 EXTREME has a TDP of 25 W, while the Core 5 220H has a TDP of 45 W.

The sockets are different: Intel BGA 2540 for the Arc G3 EXTREME and Intel BGA 1744 for the Core 5 220H. The process nodes are 3 nm versus 10 nm, respectively. The L1 cache per core is 192 KB for the Arc G3 EXTREME and 80 KB for the Core 5 220H; L2 cache per core is 2.5 MB versus 2 MB. Both share 18 MB of L3.

Memory support: the Arc G3 EXTREME uses LPDDR5X, while the Core 5 220H supports DDR4 and DDR5. The memory bus is dual-channel for both, but only the Arc G3 EXTREME has a recorded bandwidth of 136.5 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 4 for the Arc G3 EXTREME and 8 for the Core 5 220H, both Gen 5. Integrated graphics are Arc B390 versus Iris Xe Graphics 80EU.

Release dates differ: the Arc G3 EXTREME was released on 2026-05-27, while the Core 5 220H was released on 2024-12-17. The part numbers are SA4R3 and SRQ6SQ5MM, respectively. The Core 5 220H has a launch MSRP of $342, while the Arc G3 EXTREME has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory.