A new benchmark from PassMark has revealed the performance of the Intel Core 5 320, part of the new Wildcat Lake processors (Intel Core Series 3). These CPUs are designed by Intel to compete with Apple’s MacBook Neo and its A19 chip. It’s important to note that the MacBook Neo’s success in the low-cost laptop market stems from its use of a mobile chip originally intended for the iPhone 17 Pro, coupled with an highly optimized operating system that runs smoothly with just 8GB of RAM.
In response, Intel developed its own budget-friendly x86-based chip to support its partners. We can expect to see at least 70 different laptops featuring Intel Wildcat Lake processors, all priced similarly to the MacBook Neo. The goal is not just to compete on price but to ensure that Windows or Linux laptops are more powerful or faster than the MacBook Neo.
Intel Core 5 320 Even Surpasses Apple A19 and Apple M1: MacBook Neo Falls Behind
The Intel Core 5 320 is not even the top-tier processor in its series; higher-end options include the 330 and the Intel Core 7 350 and 360. The primary differences lie in the clock speeds of the CPU and iGPU, as all these chips share the same number of CPU and iGPU cores. Specifically, this processor features 6 cores (2x P-Core + 4x LP E-Core) running at a frequency of 4.60 GHz, paired with an Intel Arc iGPU with 2 Xe-Cores at 2.50 GHz. This chip can be configured with up to 48GB of LPDDR5X memory at 7,467 MT/s or 64GB of DDR5 memory at 6,400 MT/s. It has a base TDP of 15W, capable of reaching 35W at maximum performance.
Thanks to its appearance on PassMark, we know this processor achieved a score of 15,222 points. This makes the Apple A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo 15.5% less powerful, having scored 12,860 points. It even outperforms the Apple A19 Pro found in the iPhone 18 Pro, which, with 14,838 points, is 2.5% slower. In single-core performance, both processors are neck-and-neck, with Intel scoring 4,047 points and Apple scoring 4,091 points. However, the Apple A19 Pro takes a clear lead in multi-core performance with a score of 5,177 points, making it 28% faster in single-core tasks. This Intel Core 5 320 also surpasses the Apple M1, with Intel’s CPU scoring 4,047 points compared to Apple’s SoC 3,654 points in single-core. In multi-core performance, the Intel chip scores 15,222 points against the Apple SoC’s 14,131 points, giving Intel a slight advantage of 8%.
Intel Laptops’ Strength: No RAM Limitations
Indeed, the weak point of the MacBook Neo is its 8GB of RAM, even with an optimized operating system. In multitasking or when running demanding applications, 8GB of RAM significantly limits the user experience. While a MacBook Neo is suitable for basic office or multimedia tasks, its limitations become apparent when pushed further. These limitations will not be an issue for laptops equipped with processors like the Intel Core 5 320, which not only offers superior performance but also avoids RAM bottlenecks with configurations starting at a minimum of 16GB of RAM.
This allows these laptops to age better and adapt more readily to demanding tasks. Therefore, if the price is comparable or slightly higher, it is justified not only by a more powerful processor but also by more RAM, enabling better overall performance. It is rumored that the MacBook Neo 2 might jump to 12GB of RAM to bridge this gap without cannibalizing sales of higher-tier models that start at 16GB of RAM. The 12GB would serve as a strategic dividing line between different product tiers.
