Intel Core i3 3220 2-core LGA 1155

The i3-3220 is a budget legend that still gets the job done for everyday computing. Grab one for under $60 and you'll be happy, just don't ask it to run Cyberpunk.

The 3.3GHz base clock and 3.6GHz boost surprised us. For a chip this old, the single-thread score of 2065 in PassMark puts it solidly in the middle of the pack, and the multi-thread 12251 is well above average for its class. It's not going to win any rendering contests, but for web browsing, office work, and streaming, it feels snappier than the specs suggest. The 55W TDP means it sips power while staying cool, and the included HD Graphics 2500 is fine for basic display duties, just don't expect to game on it without a dedicated GPU.

Against the AMD Ryzen 5 5500, this i3 gets absolutely demolished in multi-threaded workloads, but that's not a fair fight. The Ryzen is a modern 6-core chip that costs more and needs a newer motherboard. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is a more interesting comparison, it's another old chip but with server DNA, and it trades blows with the i3 in single-thread while pulling ahead in multi-thread. But the Xeon runs hotter and needs ECC memory. For a cheap desktop or media center, the i3-3220 is the simpler, cooler choice.

This is where the i3-3220 shines. Prices swing wildly from $49 to $92 in the US, and you can find it even cheaper on the used market. At the low end, it's a steal for a budget build or media PC. At the high end, you're better off looking at newer options. The best deal we're seeing is on Newegg's refurbished listings, where you can snag one for around $49. For that money, it's hard to beat.

The Core i3-3220 is the little engine that could from Intel's Ivy Bridge days. It's a dual-core chip with hyperthreading that still handles everyday computing, media centers, and even light gaming without breaking a sweat. The one thing to know? This is a budget workhorse that runs cool and quiet, but it's living on borrowed time for anything demanding.

If you're looking to build a gaming rig or do any serious content creation, this isn't it. Go grab a Ryzen 5 5500 or even a used Ryzen 3 3100 instead. The i3-3220 is for budget builds, media centers, and keeping old systems alive, not for pushing frames or rendering video.

If you're building a budget PC, a home theater box, or just need to breathe life into an old LGA 1155 system, the i3-3220 is a no-brainer at the right price. It's efficient, reliable, and surprisingly capable for everyday tasks. Just don't expect it to handle modern AAA games or heavy video editing. For under $60, it's one of the best bang-for-buck chips you can still find.