Core i3-3220 vs Turion II Ultra M660
Core i3-3220
Turion II Ultra M660
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-3220 is positioned at rank 804 and the Turion II Ultra M660 is on rank 220, so the Turion II Ultra M660 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Per Dollar Turion II Ultra M660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Turion II Ultra M660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Turion II Ultra M660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-3220 and Turion II Ultra M660
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Turion II Ultra M660
The Turion II Ultra M660 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.7 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 2,278 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3220 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Turion II Ultra M660's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 versus 2.7 GHz on the Turion II Ultra M660 — a 20% clock advantage for the Core i3-3220. The Core i3-3220 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Turion II Ultra M660 uses Caspian (2009) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220 scores 2,276 against the Turion II Ultra M660's 2,278 — a 0.1% lead for the Turion II Ultra M660.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Turion II Ultra M660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+22% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Caspian (2009) |
| PassMark | 2,276 | 2,278 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 503 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3220 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Turion II Ultra M660 uses S1g3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3220 versus DDR2-800 on the Turion II Ultra M660 — the Core i3-3220 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3220 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-3220) vs 0 (Turion II Ultra M660) — the Core i3-3220 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Turion II Ultra M660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | S1g3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+300% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220) vs AMD-V (Turion II Ultra M660). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Turion II Ultra M660 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop, Turion II Ultra M660 targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Turion II Ultra M660 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Mobile |
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