AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. Across all 15 recorded head-to-head tests, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X wins every single matchup. The Intel Core 3 304 does not record a single victory in any shared benchmark. The scale of the advantage varies dramatically by workload type, with multi-threaded and math-heavy tests showing the largest gaps.

The most extreme difference appears in PassMark integer math. The Ryzen 9 9900X scores 181,056 against the Core 3 304's 24,640, a delta of 634.8%. This is the largest percentage advantage recorded in the comparison. Prime number finding shows a similar pattern, with the AMD part scoring 436 versus 68, a 541.2% lead. These two results indicate that raw computational throughput is overwhelmingly in favor of the 12-core Ryzen processor.

Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers the second-largest margin. The Ryzen 9 9900X posts 32,172 points compared to 5,263 for the Intel Core 3 304, representing a 511.3% difference. Cinebench R15 multi-core follows closely, with the AMD chip at 5,008 and the Intel chip at 849, a 489.9% gap. PassMark data compression also exceeds the 400% threshold, with scores of 683,579 versus 114,775, a 495.6% delta.

Extended instruction workloads show a 470.3% advantage, with the Ryzen 9 9900X scoring 55,243 against 9,686. Random string sorting produces a 427.2% difference (72,013 versus 13,659). PassMark multi-thread shows a 370% lead, with scores of 54,643 and 11,625. Floating point math, data encryption, and physics tests all fall in the 289% to 304% range. Specifically, floating point math shows 120,083 versus 29,722 (304%), data encryption shows 33,421 versus 8,501 (293.1%), and physics shows 3,381 versus 868 (289.5%).

Single-threaded performance tells a different story in terms of magnitude. The Ryzen 9 9900X still wins, but by much narrower margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 2,253 against 1,765, a 27.6% advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 33.7% lead (353 versus 264). PassMark single-thread results show a 29.3% gap, with 4,672 versus 3,614. These numbers suggest that while the Intel Core 3 304 is far behind in multi-core throughput, its single-core performance is comparatively closer, though still clearly inferior.

The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 9 9900X is 57,498, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 3 304 averages 13,745, which puts it in the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Ryzen 9 9900X include the AMD EPYC 9015 at an average score of 57,555 (0.1% ahead), the AMD EPYC 7313 at 57,399 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i9-14900 at 58,115 (1.1% ahead), and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M at 58,323 (1.4% ahead). For the Core 3 304, the nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13,786 (0.3% ahead), the Intel Core i7-8750H at 13,868 (0.9% ahead), the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13,594 (1.1% behind), and the AMD EPYC 7443 at 13,936 (1.4% ahead).

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation in intended use cases. The Ryzen 9 9900X is a desktop processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, a 4.40 GHz base clock, and a 5.60 GHz boost clock. The Core 3 304 is a mobile processor with 5 cores and 5 threads, a 1.50 GHz base clock, and a 4.30 GHz boost clock. These are fundamentally different product categories, and the benchmark results reflect that positioning.

For workloads that scale with core count, such as rendering, compilation, or scientific computing, the Ryzen 9 9900X is the only viable option between the two. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result of 32,172 versus 5,263 is not a marginal difference; it is a six-fold gap. For users running heavily parallel tasks, the choice is unambiguous.

For single-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 9 9900X remains ahead, but the margin shrinks to roughly 28% to 34% depending on the test. This means that for everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications, the Core 3 304 is comparatively less disadvantaged, though it still loses every recorded benchmark.

The Core 3 304's position in the database is notable. Its average score of 13,745 places it near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13,786) and the Intel Core i7-8750H (13,868). These are older or lower-power processors, and the comparison suggests the Core 3 304 occupies a modest performance tier. The Ryzen 9 9900X, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i9-14900 (58,115) and Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (58,323), which are high-end desktop and server parts respectively.

The thermal design power figures reinforce the product positioning. The Ryzen 9 9900X has a TDP of 120 watts, while the Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 watts. The Core 3 304 is designed for power-constrained mobile environments, while the Ryzen 9 9900X is designed for performance-oriented desktop systems. The benchmark results are consistent with these design goals.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core 3 304 records zero wins.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the Ryzen 9 9900X scores 181,056 versus 24,640, a 634.8% difference.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X leads in all single-threaded tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 27.6% advantage (2,253 versus 1,765), Cinebench R15 single-core shows 33.7% (353 versus 264), and PassMark single-thread shows 29.3% (4,672 versus 3,614).

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X has an average benchmark score of 57,498, placing it in the 92nd percentile. The Core 3 304 has an average score of 13,745, placing it in the 68th percentile.

Q: Which processors are the nearest rivals for each?

A: The Ryzen 9 9900X's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9015 (57,555 average score), AMD EPYC 7313 (57,399), Intel Core i9-14900 (58,115), and Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (58,323). The Core 3 304's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13,786), Intel Core i7-8750H (13,868), Intel Core 5 120UL (13,594), and AMD EPYC 7443 (13,936).

Q: Is the Core 3 304 competitive in any benchmark category?

A: The Core 3 304 is comparatively closest in single-threaded tests, where the Ryzen 9 9900X leads by roughly 28% to 34%. However, the Core 3 304 does not win any recorded benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The Ryzen 9 9900X offers 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Core 3 304 offers 5 cores and 5 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 4.40 GHz for the AMD part versus 1.50 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks are 5.60 GHz and 4.30 GHz respectively.

Thermal design power shows a major divergence. The Ryzen 9 9900X is rated at 120 watts, while the Core 3 304 is rated at 15 watts. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 1516. The Ryzen 9 9900X supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

ECC memory support also differs. The Ryzen 9 9900X supports ECC memory; the Core 3 304 does not. PCIe connectivity favors the AMD part, which offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The Ryzen 9 9900X has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 3 304 does not.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 9 9900X includes Radeon Graphics, while the Core 3 304 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe). The market segments are different: the Ryzen 9 9900X is a desktop processor, and the Core 3 304 is a mobile processor. Release dates are also distinct, with the AMD part launching on 2024-08-14 and the Intel part on 2026-04-15.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Ryzen 9 9900X uses AMD's Zen 5 architecture under the Granite Ridge codename. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with 16,630 million transistors across a dual-chiplet design measuring 2x 70.6 mm². The Core 3 304 uses Intel's Wildcat Lake architecture and is built on a 3 nm process at Intel. The database does not record transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

Cache organization differs significantly. The Ryzen 9 9900X provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Core 3 304 provides 192 KB of L1 cache total, 2.5 MB of L2 cache total, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache difference is particularly notable: 64 MB versus 6 MB.

The Ryzen 9 9900X belongs to the Ryzen 9 generation within the Zen 5 (Granite Ridge) family. The Core 3 304 belongs to the Core 3 generation within the Wildcat Lake family. The manufacturing approaches also differ: TSMC fabricates the AMD chip, while Intel fabricates its own chip.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 9900X wins every benchmark category recorded in the head-to-head comparison. Its advantages are most pronounced in integer math, prime number finding, Cinebench R23 multi-core, and data compression, all of which show deltas above 490%. These workloads benefit directly from the combination of 12 cores, 24 threads, and 64 MB of L3 cache.

The Core 3 304 does not win any recorded benchmark. Its closest relative performance comes in single-threaded tests, where the Ryzen 9 9900X leads by 27.6% to 33.7%. For users constrained by power budgets, the 15-watt TDP of the Core 3 304 represents a meaningful advantage in energy consumption, though the database does not provide direct efficiency metrics for comparison.

The percentile data contextualizes each processor within the broader market. The Ryzen 9 9900X sits at the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, placing it among high-end desktop and entry-level server parts. The Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile, placing it in the mid-range mobile tier. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8750H, a mobile processor from an earlier generation, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, a workstation part with comparable average scores.

The Ryzen 9 9900X is positioned for desktop workloads that demand high multi-threaded throughput, such as rendering, simulation, and content creation. The Core 3 304 is positioned for mobile devices where the 15-watt TDP and single-channel memory configuration indicate a focus on power efficiency rather than peak performance. The benchmark results confirm that these are different classes of processors with different design objectives.