AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a decisive outcome across every recorded benchmark. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D wins all 15 head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core 3 304, with no benchmark where the Intel part takes the lead. The average benchmark scores tell the same story: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D records 39768, while the Intel Core 3 304 records 13745, placing the AMD part at the 87th percentile of all CPUs and the Intel part at the 68th percentile.

The nearest rival data reinforces this separation. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D sits within 0.8% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, and within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450. These are close competitors in the same performance class. The Intel Core 3 304, by contrast, sits within 1.4% of the AMD EPYC 7443 and the Intel Core i7-8750H, a much lower performance tier. The two processors are not competing for the same workloads.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a desktop processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, a 120 TDP, and a launch MSRP of $479. The Intel Core 3 304 is a mobile processor with 5 cores and 5 threads, a 15 TDP, and a launch MSRP of $309. The data shows the AMD part is intended for high-throughput desktop tasks, while the Intel part targets low-power mobile systems. Buyers choosing between them should recognize that the Intel part cannot match the AMD part in any measured workload, but it consumes far less power and targets a different form factor.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is built on AMD's Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. It houses 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process from Intel's own foundry. The database does not record transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Core configuration differs sharply. The AMD processor provides 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel processor provides 5 cores and 5 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The AMD part has no simultaneous multithreading advantage in this comparison; the Intel part has none at all, so the thread count difference is purely 16 versus 5.

Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 304 offers 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's L3 cache is 16 times larger, which directly benefits workloads that fit working sets into cache.

Memory support highlights the platform split. The AMD processor uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Intel processor uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC support. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD part provides Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes, while the Intel part provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on both. The AMD part uses Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The multiplier is unlocked on the AMD processor, but locked on the Intel processor. The AMD part fits Socket AM5, while the Intel part uses BGA 1516, confirming the desktop versus mobile split. The release dates are recorded as 2024-11-06 for the AMD part and 2026-04-15 for the Intel part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin appears in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ryzen 7 9800X3D scores 423 versus 68 for the Intel Core 3 304, a 522.1% advantage. This test is highly sensitive to clock speed and core count, both of which favor the AMD part heavily.

Cinebench multi-core results show the same dominance. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD part scores 23230 against 5263, a 341.4% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 3647 against 849, a 329.6% lead. These are the largest multi-threaded gaps in the recorded data, reflecting the 8-core, 16-thread configuration versus the 5-core, 5-thread configuration.

Integer math shows a 373.7% advantage, with the AMD part scoring 116709 versus 24640. Physics testing shows a 370.4% advantage, with scores of 4083 versus 868. Data compression shows a 307.8% advantage, with 468017 versus 114775. Extended instructions show a 300.7% advantage, with 38808 versus 9686.

The smallest margins still favor AMD. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 17.8% lead, with 2080 versus 1765. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 24.2% lead, with 328 versus 264. PassMark single-thread shows a 22.6% lead, with 4430 versus 3614. These single-thread results indicate that even without the multi-core advantage, the AMD architecture delivers higher per-thread performance.

Mid-range gaps include floating-point math at 167.3% (79456 versus 29722), data encryption at 160.7% (22158 versus 8501), random string sorting at 255.3% (48526 versus 13659), and PassMark multi-thread at 244.2% (40009 versus 11625). Across all 15 head-to-head benchmarks, the AMD part wins every one, with the smallest advantage being 17.8% and the largest being 522.1%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 304 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports DDR5 with dual-channel memory and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with single-channel memory and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core 3 304 has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D leads by 522.1%, scoring 423 versus 68.

Q: What is the smallest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D leads by 17.8%, scoring 2080 versus 1765.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D wins every recorded benchmark, so the win distribution is one-sided. The performance profile suits desktop workloads that demand high multi-threaded throughput. Cinebench R23 multi-core at 23230, PassMark multi-thread at 40009, and integer math at 116709 all indicate strong sustained compute for rendering, compilation, simulation, and data processing. The 96 MB L3 cache and dual-channel 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth support workloads with large working sets and high data movement.

The single-thread results also favor the AMD part, with Cinebench R23 single-core at 2080 and PassMark single-thread at 4430. This means the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is not only a multi-core specialist; it also leads in per-thread responsiveness. The unlocked multiplier and Socket AM5 platform indicate overclocking potential, which could extend these margins further, though the database does not record overclocked results.

The Intel Core 3 304 has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its recorded advantages are structural rather than performance-based. The 15 TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power mobile designs, and the BGA 1516 socket confirms it is soldered into compact systems. The single-channel memory and Gen 4 PCIe with 6 lanes align with lightweight mobile use cases. The 3 nm Intel process node indicates a modern manufacturing technology, but the recorded benchmarks show that this does not translate into competitive performance against the AMD desktop part.

The nearest rival data clarifies where each part sits in the broader market. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D competes with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, and AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, all within 0.8%. The Intel Core 3 304 competes with the AMD EPYC 7443, Intel Core i7-8750H, and Intel Core 5 120UL, all within 1.4%. The Intel part's performance class is roughly one-third of the AMD part's average score, which is consistent with the head-to-head deltas observed across individual tests.