AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 3 304, with no recorded wins for the Intel part. The margins are substantial across every workload category, ranging from a 24.8% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core to a massive 882.5% lead in PassMark integer math.

The largest deltas appear in heavily multithreaded and compute-intensive tasks. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 40,924 against 5,263 for the Core 3 304, a 677.6% difference. Cinebench R15 multicore tells a similar story: 6,335 versus 849, a 646.2% gap. PassMark integer math shows the widest spread at 882.5%, with the AMD part scoring 242,097 compared to 24,640.

Data compression and encryption workloads also favor the Ryzen 9 9950X decisively. The PassMark data compression test shows 896,544 for AMD versus 114,775 for Intel, a 681.1% delta. Data encryption delivers 44,366 against 8,501, a 421.9% lead. Extended instruction workloads produce a 638.8% margin, with scores of 71,564 and 9,686.

The single-threaded picture is closer but still favors AMD. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,202 versus 1,765, a 24.8% edge. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 344 against 264, a 30.3% lead. PassMark single-thread results show 4,737 versus 3,614, a 31.1% delta. These are the narrowest margins in the comparison, confirming that the Intel part is comparatively competitive in lightly threaded work, but still loses every matchup.

Other PassMark subtests reinforce the trend. Floating point math shows 159,063 versus 29,722, a 435.2% delta. Prime number finding shows 345 versus 68, a 407.4% lead. Physics simulation scores 3,279 against 868, a 277.8% edge. Random string sorting produces 94,368 versus 13,659, a 590.9% gap. The multithread aggregate score for PassMark is 66,030 versus 11,625, a 468% advantage.

The average benchmark score in the database places the Ryzen 9 9950X at 74,640, which sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs tracked. The Intel Core 3 304 averages 13,745, placing it in the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 at 74,761 (-0.2% delta), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 475 at 74,496 (+0.2%), the AMD EPYC 4545P at 75,373 (-1%), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 at 75,488 (-1.1%). For the Intel Core 3 304, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13,786 (-0.3%), the Intel Core i7-8750H at 13,868 (-0.9%), the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13,594 (+1.1%), and the AMD EPYC 7443 at 13,936 (-1.4%).

Architecture Differences

The two processors occupy opposite ends of the design spectrum. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is a desktop part from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC and fits the AMD Socket AM5. The Intel Core 3 304 is a mobile processor from the Core 3 generation, using the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process from Intel, with the Intel BGA 1516 socket.

Core and thread counts differ fundamentally. The Ryzen 9 9950X delivers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Core 3 304 provides 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading on the Intel side. Clock speeds reflect their different power envelopes: the AMD part has a 4.30 GHz base clock and a 5.70 GHz boost clock, while the Intel part runs at 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The thermal design power figures are 170 watts for AMD and 15 watts for Intel, indicating the mobile orientation of the Core 3 304.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently as well. The Ryzen 9 9950X uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support also diverges: AMD uses DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The Ryzen 9 9950X provides Gen 5 with 24 CPU lanes. The Core 3 304 uses Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both, with AMD using Radeon Graphics and Intel using Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core.

The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier and carries the part number 100-000001277. The Intel part has a locked multiplier and carries part number SAE3K. Release dates are also far apart: the Ryzen 9 9950X launched on 2024-08-14, while the Core 3 304 is dated 2026-04-15. Both parts are listed as active in production. The transistor count for the AMD chip is recorded as 16,630 million, with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². No transistor or die size data is recorded for the Intel part.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 9950X wins every recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of its advantages rather than by any Intel victories. The widest margins appear in integer math, data compression, extended instructions, and Cinebench multicore, where the AMD part leads by margins from 638.8% to 882.5%. These workloads are heavily parallel and benefit from the 16-core, 32-thread configuration, the larger 64 MB L3 cache, and the higher boost clock of 5.70 GHz.

Moderate but still large advantages show up in floating point math (435.2%), multithread aggregate scores (468%), data encryption (421.9%), and prime number finding (407.4%). These results indicate strong performance in scientific computing, cryptographic tasks, and general parallel computation. Physics simulation shows a 277.8% edge, which points to a meaningful lead in simulation and gaming physics workloads.

The closest competition appears in single-threaded tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 24.8% lead, Cinebench R15 single-core shows 30.3%, and PassMark single-thread shows 31.1%. These are still clear wins, but they represent the smallest deltas in the dataset. The Intel Core 3 304, with its higher 4.30 GHz boost clock relative to its power class, narrows the gap in lightly threaded tasks, though it remains behind.

The Core 3 304 does not win any category. Its recorded strengths are relative: it is closest in single-thread performance, and its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core 5 120UL at a +1.1% delta, meaning the Core 3 304 actually outperforms that part in average score. The same applies to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at -0.3% and the Intel Core i7-8750H at -0.9%. However, against the Ryzen 9 9950X, the data shows no workload where the Intel part takes the lead.

The Verdict

The data presents an unambiguous hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X outperforms the Intel Core 3 304 in every recorded benchmark, with a 94th percentile ranking versus a 68th percentile ranking. The average benchmark score of 74,640 for the AMD part is more than five times the 13,745 average of the Intel part. Buyers selecting for raw compute performance should choose the Ryzen 9 9950X based on the recorded measurements alone.

The Intel Core 3 304 is positioned for an entirely different use case. Its 15 watt TDP, mobile socket, and single-channel memory bus indicate a low-power mobile design. The data shows it competes closely in average score with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (-0.3%), the Intel Core i7-8750H (-0.9%), and the Intel Core 5 120UL (+1.1%). Within that peer group, it holds its own. Against the Ryzen 9 9950X, however, no benchmark suggests competitiveness.

The Ryzen 9 9950X also sits near the top of its own peer group. Its average score of 74,640 trails the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 (75,488) by 1.1% and the AMD EPYC 4545P (75,373) by 1%, while leading the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 475 (74,496) by 0.2%. The Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 (74,761) leads it by 0.2%. These are tight margins, placing the Ryzen 9 9950X in the upper tier of desktop processors. The launch MSRP for the AMD part is $649, and the Intel part has a launch MSRP of $309.

The verdict from the database is straightforward. The Ryzen 9 9950X is the appropriate choice for desktop workloads demanding maximum multithreaded throughput, large cache, and high clock speeds. The Core 3 304 is the appropriate choice for low-power mobile systems where the 15 watt envelope and integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics matter more than raw compute scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: The Ryzen 9 9950X leads by 24.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2,202 vs. 1,765), by 30.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core (344 vs. 264), and by 31.1% in PassMark single-thread (4,737 vs. 3,614).

Q: What is the difference in thermal design power?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has a TDP of 170 watts. The Intel Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 304 does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 9 9950X has an average benchmark score of 74,640, ranking in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 304 averages 13,745, ranking in the 68th percentile.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.