AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX vs Intel Core 3 305 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and Intel Core 3 305 occupy opposite ends of the mobile processing spectrum. The Ryzen 9 8945HX delivers overwhelming multi-threaded dominance, winning 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, while the Core 3 305 claims a narrow but real single-thread victory in the PassMark suite. The database shows a 95th percentile ranking for the AMD part against all CPUs, versus the 72nd percentile for the Intel part, a gap that reflects their distinct design targets.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the clear choice for any workload that scales with core count and thread count. Its 16 cores and 32 threads produce a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 42713, which is 225.5% ahead of the Intel Core 3 305's 13123. This translates directly to rendering, video encoding, compilation, and scientific computation. The PassMark multithread score of 51405 versus 15439, a 233% advantage, confirms the same story across a broader set of parallel tasks. Data compression shows a 361.5% lead, and integer math shows a 504.4% lead, the largest single delta in the comparison.

The Intel Core 3 305 wins exactly one meaningful category: single-thread performance in PassMark. It scores 3977 in PassMark single-thread, which is 1.8% higher than the AMD part's 3907. This is a narrow margin, but it indicates that for lightly threaded, latency-sensitive applications like basic office work, web browsing, or simple scripting, the Intel chip can keep pace or slightly edge ahead. However, this advantage does not extend to Cinebench single-core tests, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX leads by 225.6% in R15 and 225.9% in R20. The Intel part also wins the PassMark singlethread variant, which appears to be the same test, with the same 1.8% margin.

For everyday productivity that does not stress all cores, the Intel Core 3 305's efficiency profile matters more than its raw performance. Its 15 W TDP and single-channel memory support suggest a platform built for battery life and low heat, not for sustained heavy loads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It packs 13,140 million transistors across a dual-die design with a combined die size of 2x 71 mm². The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, fabricated on a 3 nm process by Intel, with no transistor or die size data recorded.

Core counts diverge sharply. The AMD part offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel part offers 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The Ryzen 9 8945HX has a 2.50 GHz base clock and a 5.40 GHz boost clock, versus the Core 3 305's 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The AMD chip's higher base clock alone is a massive advantage for sustained multi-threaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies reflect the different roles. The AMD part provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3. The Intel part provides 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's 64 MB L3 is more than ten times the Intel part's 6 MB, which helps with data-heavy workloads and large working sets.

Memory support also differs. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX uses dual-channel DDR5 with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Intel Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only on a single-channel bus, with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. PCIe connectivity shows the same gap: the AMD part offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes, while the Intel part offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Neither supports ECC memory.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD part uses Radeon 610M, while the Intel part uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The AMD part's multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Intel part's multiplier is locked. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1516.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 305 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3977, which is 1.8% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX's 3907. It also wins the duplicate PassMark singlethread test with the same margin.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 195180 versus 32295 for the Intel Core 3 305, a 504.4% difference.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX scores 42713, which is 225.5% higher than the Intel Core 3 305's 13123.

Q: What are their thermal design power ratings?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is rated at 55 W TDP, while the Intel Core 3 305 is rated at 15 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX has 83.2 GB/s with dual-channel DDR5, while the Intel Core 3 305 has 59.7 GB/s with single-channel memory.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX | Intel Core 3 305 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not listed |

| Codename | Dragon Range | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 13,140 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 2x 71 mm² | Not listed |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes | Gen 4, 6 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2025-04-22 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $309 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent and overwhelming lead for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 4305 against 1322, a 225.6% advantage. In R15 single-core, the score is 607 versus 186, a 226.3% lead. Cinebench R20 continues the pattern: 17939 versus 5511 in multi-core (225.5%) and 2532 versus 777 in single-core (225.9%). Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 42713 versus 13123 (225.5%), and single-core shows 6030 versus 1852 (225.6%). The consistency across all three Cinebench versions, with deltas hovering around 225%, indicates a fixed architectural advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

PassMark tests reveal even larger gaps in specific workloads. Data compression shows 677755 versus 146857, a 361.5% lead for the AMD part. Data encryption shows 40836 versus 11019, a 270.6% lead. Extended instructions show 49823 versus 13543, a 267.9% lead. Floating point math shows 117453 versus 42284, a 177.8% lead. Integer math shows 195180 versus 32295, a 504.4% lead, which is the largest delta in the entire comparison. Random string sorting shows 78781 versus 17623, a 347% lead. Physics shows 2168 versus 1233, a 75.8% lead, the smallest AMD advantage in the PassMark suite.

The PassMark multithread test shows 51405 versus 15439, a 233% lead. The only Intel victory comes in PassMark single-thread, where the Core 3 305 scores 3977 against 3907, a 1.8% margin. This is the sole test where the Intel part outperforms the AMD part, and it is the only category where the Intel part's higher per-core efficiency in a light workload shows through. The find prime numbers test shows 262 versus 115, a 127.8% lead for AMD.

The Verdict

The data leaves no ambiguity for users who need raw compute. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX is the superior processor for multi-threaded workloads, rendering, data compression, encryption, and any task that can use more than six threads. Its 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, and dual-channel memory bandwidth produce leads of 225% to 504% across the benchmark suite. It ranks in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, placing it alongside processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, which scores within 0.1% of its average.

The Intel Core 3 305 is a different class of product. Its 15 W TDP, 6 cores, and single-channel memory indicate a low-power mobile design intended for light, battery-conscious use. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3977, which edges the AMD part by 1.8%, shows that it can handle basic single-threaded tasks competitively. However, it ranks in the 72nd percentile and its average benchmark score of 18302 is roughly a quarter of the AMD part's 76212.

For a user choosing between these two, the decision is based on workload and power envelope. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX delivers near-desktop-class multi-threaded performance in a mobile package, at a 55 W TDP. The Intel Core 3 305 offers a much lower power draw and a small single-thread edge, but it cannot compete in any multi-core or data-intensive scenario. The AMD part is the choice for heavy compute; the Intel part is the choice for basic tasks where power efficiency is the priority. The launch MSRP of the Intel Core 3 305 is $309, while the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.