AMD Ryzen 5 7400 vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data separates these two processors into distinct roles. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 3 304 wins only 2. The AMD part is the clear choice for multi-threaded workloads, heavy productivity, and sustained compute tasks. The Intel Core 3 304 is a mobile chip with a different focus: it wins in single-threaded tests, which makes it better suited for bursty, lightly threaded applications. The Ryzen 5 7400 sits at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 3 304 lands at the 68th percentile. The AMD chip averages 42055 in benchmark score, roughly three times the Intel part's 13745 average. For desktop builders needing maximum throughput, the Ryzen 5 7400 is the data-backed pick. For thin-and-light mobile systems where single-core responsiveness matters more than raw multi-core output, the Core 3 304 has a narrower but real advantage.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 5 7400 uses AMD's Zen 4 architecture, built on a 5 nm process from TSMC. It contains 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The chip has a 65 W TDP and fits the AMD Socket AM5. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The design uses 6,570 million transistors across a 71 mm² die. Memory support is dual-channel DDR5 with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The PCIe interface is Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics come from Radeon Graphics. The multiplier is unlocked, and the part number is 100-000001900. It was released in September 2025.

The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process from Intel's own foundry. It has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. Base clock is 1.50 GHz, boost clock is 4.30 GHz, and TDP is 15 W, which is much lower than the AMD part. The socket is Intel BGA 1516, a mobile package. Cache totals are 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support includes DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but the bus is single-channel with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC is not supported. PCIe is Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The multiplier is locked, and the part number is SAE3K. Launch MSRP is $309. It was released in April 2026.

The architectural gap is wide. The AMD chip uses a desktop socket, has twice as many threads, double the L3 cache, more than double the memory bandwidth, and far more PCIe lanes. The Intel chip uses a mobile socket, a much smaller power envelope, and a newer 3 nm process. The single-channel memory bus is a notable constraint for the Intel part. The Ryzen 5 7400 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 304 does not. These differences explain why the AMD chip dominates multi-threaded benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 7400 wins every multi-core and compute-heavy test in the head-to-head set. In data compression, it scores 261749 against 114775, a 128.1% advantage. In integer math, the AMD chip scores 64733 against 24640, a 162.7% lead, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Multithread performance shows 21712 versus 11625, an 86.8% advantage. Floating point math goes to AMD at 40784 versus 29722, a 37.2% lead. Extended instructions show 19924 versus 9686, a 105.7% margin. Data encryption favors AMD at 14865 versus 8501, a 74.9% gap. Random string sorting shows 31110 versus 13659, a 127.8% advantage. Prime number finding is closer: 79 versus 68, a 16.2% lead. Physics simulation shows 1150 versus 868, a 32.5% margin.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins only the two single-threaded entries. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3614 against 3248, a 10.1% advantage. The same result appears in the duplicated singlethread test. This is a meaningful win for the Intel part: it indicates better per-core efficiency in lightly threaded scenarios, likely due to the newer 3 nm process and higher boost behavior. For applications that rely on a single core, such as legacy software, some web workloads, or certain interactive tasks, the Intel chip provides faster response.

The data suggests a clear split. The Ryzen 5 7400 is for compute-heavy, multi-threaded workloads: rendering, compiling, data processing, and encryption. The Core 3 304 is for single-thread-sensitive, low-power mobile use cases where battery life and portability matter, and where the workload does not scale across many threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD chip supports dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s. The Intel chip supports single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 304 support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC is not supported on the Intel chip. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 does support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread score?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 scores 3614 in PassMark single-thread, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 3248. The Intel part leads by 10.1%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 averages 42055, while the Intel Core 3 304 averages 13745.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has a 65 W TDP. The Intel Core 3 304 has a 15 W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 comes in integer math, where it scores 64733 versus the Intel chip's 24640, a 162.7% advantage. This indicates a massive difference in general arithmetic throughput, which affects many productivity applications. Data compression follows closely: AMD scores 261749 against 114775, a 128.1% lead. This is a workload that benefits from the AMD chip's 12 threads and larger L3 cache. Random string sorting shows a 127.8% margin in favor of AMD (31110 versus 13659), again pointing to multi-threaded memory access patterns that the dual-channel bus handles better. Extended instructions show a 105.7% gap (19924 versus 9686), which covers AVX-type workloads. Multithread performance is 86.8% higher on AMD (21712 versus 11625), confirming the core and thread count advantage. Data encryption shows a 74.9% margin (14865 versus 8501). Floating point math is 37.2% ahead on AMD (40784 versus 29722). Physics simulation shows a 32.5% lead (1150 versus 868). Prime number finding is the closest AMD win at 16.2% (79 versus 68).

The only two wins for the Intel Core 3 304 are the single-thread tests. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 3614, which is 10.1% higher than AMD's 3248. The same numbers appear in the singlethread test. This is a consistent result across both entries and indicates that the Intel chip has superior per-core performance for single-threaded code.

Overall, the head-to-head data shows that the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is the dominant processor in 9 of 11 tests. The margins range from a modest 16.2% to a huge 162.7%. The Intel Core 3 304's single-thread advantage is the only counterpoint, and it is a narrow one at 10.1%. The average benchmark score difference, 42055 versus 13745, reflects the overall performance tier gap. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (delta of -0.3%) and the Intel Core i7-8750H (delta of -0.9%), while the AMD chip sits near the Intel Core i9-12900K (delta of -0.7%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS (delta of 0.2%). These neighbor comparisons place the two chips in entirely different performance brackets.