Core i3-N300 vs M1

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-N300

2023

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $309 MSRP, while M1 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

M1

2020

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,207 vs 8,283).

Core i3-N300

2023

M1

2020

Why buy it

✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $309 MSRP, while M1 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,207 vs 8,283).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-N300 better than M1?

Yes. Core i3-N300 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-N300 is the better fit because it leads the single-thread side of the matchup with 18.7% higher max boost clock.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-N300 is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-N300 is the smarter buy today. Core i3-N300 is at an unclear MSRP at $309 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 0.9% higher PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (26.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-N300 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FCBGA1264 and DDR5 instead of the older platform, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/8. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-N300 Benchmark Check

M1 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-N300	M1
1080p
low	177 FPS	173 FPS
medium	142 FPS	137 FPS
high	114 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	140 FPS
medium	115 FPS	109 FPS
high	91 FPS	86 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	68 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	65 FPS
medium	57 FPS	55 FPS
high	45 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i3-N300 Open M1

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-N300	M1
1080p
low	157 FPS	163 FPS
medium	135 FPS	143 FPS
high	122 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	140 FPS
medium	118 FPS	127 FPS
high	108 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	106 FPS	99 FPS
medium	97 FPS	93 FPS
high	89 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	64 FPS

Open Core i3-N300 Open M1

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-N300	M1
1080p
low	207 FPS	205 FPS
medium	207 FPS	205 FPS
high	207 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	205 FPS
1440p
low	207 FPS	205 FPS
medium	207 FPS	205 FPS
high	207 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	205 FPS
4K
low	207 FPS	205 FPS
medium	207 FPS	205 FPS
high	207 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	205 FPS

Open Core i3-N300 Open M1

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-N300	M1
1080p
low	207 FPS	205 FPS
medium	207 FPS	205 FPS
high	207 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	205 FPS
1440p
low	207 FPS	205 FPS
medium	207 FPS	205 FPS
high	207 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	205 FPS
4K
low	207 FPS	205 FPS
medium	207 FPS	205 FPS
high	207 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	207 FPS	205 FPS

Open Core i3-N300 Open M1

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-N300 and M1

Core i3-N300

The Core i3-N300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 0.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 7 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 8,283 points. Launch price was $309.

M1

The M1 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 November 2020 (5 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Passmark benchmark score: 8,207 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-N300 and M1 share an identical 8-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i3-N300 versus 3.2 GHz on the M1 — a 17.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-N300 (base: 0.1 GHz vs 2.064 GHz). The Core i3-N300 is built on the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i3-N300 scores 8,283 against the M1's 8,207 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-N300. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-N300 vs 16 MB on the M1.

Feature	Core i3-N300	M1
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 8
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+19%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	0.1 GHz	2.064 GHz+1964%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	16 MB+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per module)	16 MB+700%
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-N (2023)	—
PassMark	8,283	8,207