Intel Arc G3 EXTREME vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME dominates the head-to-head comparison, winning 15 of 17 recorded benchmark runs. The largest single margin comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Arc G3 EXTREME scores 14,655 against the Core 5 320's 6,197, a 136.5% advantage. That gap is even wider than the 108% delta in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2,192 versus 1,054) and the 100.4% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core (10,945 versus 5,462). The multi-threaded PassMark test shows a 98.4% edge (30,659 versus 15,450), while integer math delivers 120.2% (71,164 versus 32,323). Floating-point math runs 104.8% ahead (86,929 versus 42,440), and prime number finding posts a 125.5% improvement (248 versus 110).

Encryption workloads favor the Arc G3 EXTREME by 117.4% (23,881 versus 10,984), and data compression shows a 106.4% lead (307,094 versus 148,779). Random string sorting comes in at 107% (37,331 versus 18,038), while physics simulation scores 106% higher (2,515 versus 1,221). Extended instruction throughput is 81.1% ahead (24,017 versus 13,262). Even in single-threaded PassMark, the Arc G3 EXTREME wins by 6.1% (4,293 versus 4,045), a narrower but consistent margin.

The Core 5 320 takes only two wins, both in Cinebench single-core tests. In R15 single-core it scores 276 versus 267, a 3.3% edge. In R23 single-core it posts 1,926 versus 1,862, again 3.3% higher. These are modest wins, and the Arc G3 EXTREME's PassMark single-thread victory shows that the Core 5 320's single-core advantage is workload-specific rather than universal.

Where Each One Wins

The Arc G3 EXTREME is the clear choice for heavily parallel workloads. Its 14 cores versus 6 cores translate into massive multi-core advantages across every Cinebench iteration and all PassMark multi-threaded tests. The data shows the highest deltas in prime number finding (125.5%) and encryption (117.4%), suggesting the Arc G3 EXTREME handles algorithmic and cryptographic workloads with particular efficiency. Content creation tasks that scale across cores, such as rendering, compression, and physics simulation, all show triple-digit percentage leads.

The Core 5 320 wins in specific single-core scenarios. Its Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core scores are both 3.3% higher, which could matter for lightly threaded applications where per-core performance dominates. However, the PassMark single-thread result contradicts this, showing the Arc G3 EXTREME 6.1% ahead. The Core 5 320's wins appear limited to Cinebench's particular single-core workload, not a general pattern.

For mixed usage, the Arc G3 EXTREME's average benchmark score of 36,699 places it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 320's 18,023 average sits in the 72nd percentile. The Arc G3 EXTREME also has a higher boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz), which helps explain its PassMark single-thread edge despite the Core 5 320's Cinebench wins.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use Intel's 3 nm process and are built by Intel's own foundry, but they belong to different families. The Arc G3 EXTREME uses the Panther Lake codename with the Arc G3 (Panther Lake) generation, while the Core 5 320 uses Wildcat Lake with the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The core counts diverge sharply: 14 cores and 14 threads for the Arc G3 EXTREME, versus 6 cores and 6 threads for the Core 5 320. Neither supports simultaneous multithreading, so threads equal cores on both.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Arc G3 EXTREME lists L1 at 192 KB per core and L2 at 2.5 MB per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 320 lists 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2 without the "per core" qualifier, and only 6 MB of shared L3. The Arc G3 EXTREME's larger L3 pool aligns with its higher core count and likely contributes to multi-core scaling.

Memory support separates the two clearly. The Arc G3 EXTREME supports only LPDDR5X with a dual-channel bus and 136.5 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core 5 320 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s, less than half the bandwidth. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Arc G3 EXTREME provides Gen 5 with 4 lanes, while the Core 5 320 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The Arc G3 EXTREME uses the Intel BGA 2540 socket, the Core 5 320 uses Intel BGA 1516.

Integrated graphics follow the arc naming. The Arc G3 EXTREME includes Arc B390 graphics, while the Core 5 320 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Both are mobile parts, both are currently active in production, and both have locked multipliers. The Core 5 320 was released on 2026-04-15, and the Arc G3 EXTREME followed on 2026-05-27.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Arc G3 EXTREME wins 15 of 17 recorded tests, with the Intel Core 5 320 taking only 2.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the biggest delta at 136.5%, with the Arc G3 EXTREME scoring 14,655 versus 6,197.

Q: Does the Core 5 320 ever outperform the Arc G3 EXTREME?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R15 single-core (276 versus 267, 3.3% higher) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1,926 versus 1,862, 3.3% higher).

Q: How do their memory configurations compare?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME uses dual-channel LPDDR5X with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 5 320 uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME has 14 cores and 14 threads, the Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither has SMT.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Arc G3 EXTREME boosts to 4.70 GHz, the Core 5 320 boosts to 4.60 GHz. Base clocks are 1.90 GHz and 1.50 GHz respectively.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Arc G3 EXTREME | Intel Core 5 320 |

|----------------|---------------------|------------------|

| Cores | 14 | 6 |

| Threads | 14 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 1.90 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 25 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2540 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Codename | Panther Lake | Wildcat Lake |

| Generation | Arc G3 (Panther Lake) | Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5X | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 136.5 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Arc B390 | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Release Date | 2026-05-27 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $340 |

| Part Number | SA4R3 | SAE3H |

The Arc G3 EXTREME also holds a higher percentile rank at 85 versus 72, and its average benchmark score of 36,699 nearly doubles the Core 5 320's 18,023. The nearest rival data confirms the separation: the Arc G3 EXTREME's closest competitor is the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36,938 (0.6% higher), while the Core 5 320's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 at 17,994 (0.2% higher). Both processors share the same foundry and process node, but the Arc G3 EXTREME's larger core count, bigger L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and higher clocks define its performance advantage across nearly every recorded workload.