AMD Ryzen 5 230 vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 230, which wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 3 304 takes only 4 wins, and those are concentrated in narrow single-threaded and specialized integer workloads. The scale of the AMD advantage is substantial, particularly in multi-threaded rendering and math-heavy tasks.

The most dramatic separation appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ryzen 5 230 scores 17857 against the Core 3 304's 5263, a 239.3 percent lead. That result is the largest delta in the entire comparison and reflects the AMD part's superior thread count and core configuration. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 230 posts 1799 versus 849, a 111.9 percent advantage. The R20 multi-core test shows a smaller but still commanding 80.3 percent lead, with scores of 7499 and 4160 respectively.

Single-threaded results tell a more nuanced story. The Intel Core 3 304 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by a narrow margin: 264 versus 253, a 4.2 percent difference. PassMark single-thread also goes to Intel, with 3614 against 3558, a 1.5 percent edge. However, the Ryzen 5 230 reverses this in the newer Cinebench R23 single-core test, scoring 2521 versus 1765, a 42.8 percent lead, and in R20 single-core with 1058 versus 587, an 80.2 percent advantage. The pattern suggests the AMD architecture scales better as the workload becomes more demanding, while the Intel part holds a slight edge only in the lightest single-threaded tests.

In PassMark workloads, the Ryzen 5 230 dominates integer math with 67257 versus 24640, a 173 percent lead. Data compression shows a 90.4 percent gap (218588 versus 114775), and random string sorting is nearly as lopsided at 90.5 percent (26019 versus 13659). Floating-point math favors AMD by 31.2 percent (38993 versus 29722), extended instructions by 61.2 percent (15618 versus 9686), and data encryption by 56.2 percent (13280 versus 8501). The PassMark multithread score gives AMD a 67 percent advantage (19411 versus 11625), while physics shows a modest 10.4 percent lead (958 versus 868).

The only Intel wins beyond single-thread are in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core 3 304 scores 68 against 66, a 2.9 percent margin. That result is an outlier given the broader pattern, but it does indicate the Intel part handles that specific integer loop efficiently relative to its core count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 230 uses 6 cores and 12 threads built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Hawk Point codename. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 304 uses 5 cores and 5 threads with no simultaneous multithreading, based on the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel with no transistor or die size figures recorded.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The Ryzen 5 230 provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Core 3 304 offers 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's larger L3 cache is a significant factor in its multi-threaded and compression wins.

Memory support also diverges. The Ryzen 5 230 uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but operates on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. That bandwidth deficit helps explain the AMD advantage in data-heavy workloads like compression and random string sorting.

PCIe lanes are another differentiator. The AMD part provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ as well: the Ryzen 5 230 uses a Radeon 760M, while the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both are locked multipliers.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP8 for the Ryzen 5 230, Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 304. The Ryzen 5 230 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz, while the Core 3 304 runs at 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The AMD part carries a 28 W TDP, the Intel part 15 W.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 230 is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. Cinebench R23 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R15 multi-core all show leads of at least 80 percent, with the R23 gap exceeding 239 percent. PassMark multithread, integer math, data compression, and random string sorting all favor AMD by wide margins. Users working with rendering, video encoding, scientific computation, or database workloads would see the largest benefit from the Ryzen part's 12 threads and dual-channel memory bandwidth.

The Core 3 304 holds advantages only in the lightest single-threaded tasks and one specific integer test. Its Cinebench R15 single-core win (264 versus 253) and PassMark single-thread win (3614 versus 3558) are both under 5 percent. The PassMark find prime numbers result (68 versus 66) is similarly narrow. These wins indicate that for very short, low-complexity single-threaded operations, the Intel part is marginally faster, but the margin is small enough that most users would not perceive a difference.

For mixed workloads, the Ryzen 5 230 also leads in floating-point math, extended instructions, data encryption, and physics. The only benchmark category where Intel shows any consistent strength is the oldest Cinebench R15 single-thread test, which is a legacy workload and not representative of modern applications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 scores 17857, which is 239.3 percent higher than the Intel Core 3 304's 5263.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 304 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins 4 of 17 comparisons: Cinebench R15 single-core, PassMark single-thread (both listed as single_thread and singlethread), and PassMark find prime numbers. All wins are below 5 percent except the find prime numbers result, which is a 2.9 percent margin.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 provides 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The Intel Core 3 304 provides 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus that supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no multithreading capability.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has an average benchmark score of 25782, while the Intel Core 3 304 has an average score of 13745. The AMD part sits at the 78th percentile of all CPUs, the Intel part at the 68th.

Q: What is the TDP for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 230 has a 28 W TDP. The Intel Core 3 304 has a 15 W TDP.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 5 230 is the superior processor for almost every measured workload. Its 13 wins out of 17 comparisons include the most demanding tests, and the margins in multi-core rendering and math are enormous. The Ryzen part also carries a higher average benchmark score (25782 versus 13745) and a higher percentile ranking (78 versus 68). Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-11700K and AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, both within about 1 percent of its average score, which places it in solid company.

The Intel Core 3 304 is not without merit. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8750H and AMD EPYC 7443, and it posts a 1.1 percent advantage over the Intel Core 5 120UL. For users prioritizing the lowest power draw, the 15 W TDP is attractive, and the single-thread wins, while narrow, are real. However, the Core 3 304's single-channel memory and lack of multithreading cap its performance in any parallel workload.

A buyer choosing between these two should base the decision on workload. For rendering, compiling, data processing, or any task that uses multiple cores, the Ryzen 5 230 delivers between 67 percent and 239 percent more performance depending on the test. For single-threaded legacy applications or extremely power-constrained designs, the Core 3 304 is competitive but only by single-digit margins. The recorded data does not show any workload category where the Intel part leads by a meaningful amount.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 230 | Intel Core 3 304 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 5 |

| Threads | 12 | 5 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (total) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (total) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 760M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $309 |

| Part Number | 100-000001726 | SAE3K |