AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a one-sided comparison. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with the Intel Core 3 304 failing to claim a single victory. The margins, however, vary substantially across workload types, revealing where the two processors diverge most sharply.

The largest single gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 against the Intel Core 3 304's 5,263. That is a delta of 711.6%, the biggest percentage advantage in the entire comparison. The AMD chip also dominates PassMark integer math, scoring 195,180 versus 24,640, a 692.1% lead. These two results point to a fundamental difference in raw multi-threaded throughput capacity.

Data compression follows closely, with the AMD part scoring 677,755 compared to 114,775, a 490.5% advantage. Random string sorting shows a similar pattern: 78,781 versus 13,659, a 476.8% gap. Extended instruction throughput lands at 49,823 versus 9,686, a 414.4% lead for the AMD processor.

The gap narrows considerably in single-threaded tests. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 3,907 against 3,614 for the Intel Core 3 304, a modest 8.1% edge. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a wider margin of 129.9% (607 versus 264), but the PassMark result indicates that per-core performance is far closer than the multi-core numbers suggest.

Other multi-thread workloads sit between these extremes. Cinebench R20 multi-core gives the AMD chip a 331.2% lead (17,939 versus 4,160), while Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 407.1% (4,305 versus 849). PassMark multi-thread records 51,405 versus 11,625, a 342.2% gap. Data encryption shows 40,836 versus 8,501, a 380.4% lead. Floating-point math delivers 117,453 versus 29,722, a 295.2% advantage. Prime number finding results in 262 versus 68, a 285.3% gap, while physics simulation scores 2,168 versus 868, a 149.8% advantage.

The average benchmark score reinforces the overall picture. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX averages 76,212 across the database, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 304 averages 13,745, sitting in the 68th percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (76,155, delta 0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (75,779, delta 0.6%). The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8750H (13,868, delta -0.9%) and the AMD EPYC 7443 (13,936, delta -1.4%). These comparisons show that the AMD processor competes at the top tier of mobile silicon, while the Intel chip aligns with mid-range parts from several generations earlier.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42,713 versus 5,263 for the Intel Core 3 304, a delta of 711.6%. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap is 331.2% (17,939 versus 4,160).

Q: Is the Intel Core 3 304 competitive in single-threaded tasks?

A: Partially. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel Core 3 304 scores 3,614 against 3,907 for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, a gap of only 8.1%. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part leads by 241.6% (6,030 versus 1,765), so the result depends on the specific workload.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by 711.6%. PassMark integer math shows the second-largest gap at 692.1% (195,180 versus 24,640).

Q: How do the two processors compare in data-related workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by 490.5% in data compression (677,755 versus 114,775), by 380.4% in data encryption (40,836 versus 8,501), and by 476.8% in random string sorting (78,781 versus 13,659).

Q: What do the average benchmark scores indicate about overall positioning?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX averages 76,212 and sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 304 averages 13,745 and sits in the 68th percentile. The AMD processor's nearest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (76,155, delta 0.1%), while the Intel part's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-8750H (13,868, delta -0.9%).

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 304 win any benchmark categories?

A: No. The recorded data shows 17 wins for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and 0 wins for the Intel Core 3 304 across all head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation in use cases. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the processor for workloads that scale with core count and thread count. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 95th percentile average score, place it among the top mobile processors in the database. The Intel Core 3 304, with 5 cores and 5 threads, targets a different segment entirely, as its 68th percentile ranking and nearest rivals (Core i7-8750H, EPYC 7443) indicate.

For users running render jobs, compilation tasks, data compression, or any heavily parallel workload, the AMD part delivers margins between 149.8% and 711.6% depending on the specific test. The single-threaded PassMark result of 8.1% shows that the Intel chip can at least approach the AMD part in lightly threaded scenarios, but even that metric favors the AMD processor.

The Intel Core 3 304 does offer a significantly lower thermal envelope. Its TDP of 15 watts versus 55 watts for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX means it draws far less power under load. For systems where battery life and cooling capacity take priority over peak performance, the Intel part has a role. The AMD processor, however, dominates every recorded benchmark, and the magnitude of those wins makes the choice straightforward for performance-oriented mobile workstations.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 uses 5 cores and 5 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the AMD part and 1.50 GHz for the Intel part, with boost clocks of 5.40 GHz and 4.30 GHz respectively. Thermal design power sits at 55 watts for the AMD chip and 15 watts for the Intel chip.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX supports DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the Intel Core 3 304 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration. Memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s for the AMD part and 59.7 GB/s for the Intel part. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD part offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel processor does not. The Intel Core 3 304 has a listed launch MSRP of $309; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is built on TSMC's 5 nm process with 13,140 million transistors across a die size of 2x 71 mm². It uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Dragon Range codename and fits the AMD Socket FL1. Cache is organized as 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. Integrated graphics come from a Radeon 610M GPU.

The Intel Core 3 304 uses Intel's 3 nm process with no recorded transistor count or die size. It runs the Wildcat Lake codename and fits the Intel BGA 1516 socket. Cache is structured as 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. Integrated graphics come from Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core.

The core architectures are fundamentally different in design philosophy. Zen 4 with 16 large cores targets maximum throughput, while Wildcat Lake with 5 cores targets efficiency and low power. The AMD part's 64 MB of L3 cache is more than ten times the Intel part's 6 MB shared L3. The process nodes differ as well, with Intel using a 3 nm node versus AMD's 5 nm node. The Intel part's smaller node does not translate into a performance advantage in the recorded benchmarks. The AMD processor also supports Gen 5 PCIe and a dual-channel memory bus, while the Intel part is limited to Gen 4 and single-channel memory.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX wins in every recorded category, but the magnitude of the win dictates where each processor makes sense. The AMD part dominates in multi-threaded rendering, shown by the 711.6% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 331.2% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core. These results suit 3D artists, video editors, and software developers compiling large codebases.

The AMD part also wins decisively in data-heavy workloads. Data compression shows a 490.5% lead, random string sorting shows 476.8%, and data encryption shows 380.4%. These tasks benefit from the 16-core configuration and the 64 MB L3 cache, making the AMD processor suitable for database work, archival operations, and server-like mobile workloads.

The Intel Core 3 304's closest result is the 8.1% gap in PassMark single-thread. In lightly threaded daily tasks, the difference is small enough that the Intel part's 15-watt TDP becomes the deciding factor. Systems built around the Intel chip can use smaller batteries, simpler cooling, and lighter chassis designs. The Intel part also supports LPDDR5X memory, which enables low-power memory configurations that the AMD part's DDR5-only support does not allow.

The physics simulation result shows a 149.8% lead for the AMD part, the smallest multi-threaded gap in the data. Even here, however, the AMD processor holds a comfortable edge. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice for any workload that can use more than a few threads. The Intel Core 3 304 is the choice for power-limited designs where 15 watts of thermal headroom matters more than benchmark scores, acknowledging that it trails in every recorded test.