AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core 3 305 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core 3 305: The database comparison shows two processors at opposite ends of the performance spectrum, with the AMD part delivering 15 benchmark wins out of 15 head-to-head tests. The Ryzen 9 9950X, a 16-core desktop flagship from the 9000 series, and the Intel Core 3 305, a 6-core mobile chip, diverge sharply in architecture, scope, and measured output. Their average benchmark scores differ by roughly 308%, a gap that stems from fundamentally different design targets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD part also has a much larger L3 cache at 64 MB compared to 6 MB shared on the Intel chip.

Q: How do their single-threaded performance scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 2202 versus 1852 for the Core 3 305, a delta of 18.9%. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD chip scores 4737 versus 3977, a 19.1% advantage.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between them?

A: The largest gap appears in PassMark integer math, where the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 242097 versus 32295, a 649.6% delta. The smallest gap is in Cinebench R23 single-core at 18.9%.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core 3 305 has a locked multiplier.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X supports DDR5 memory through a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X through a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Where does each processor rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X sits at the 94th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 74640. The Intel Core 3 305 sits at the 72nd percentile, with an average benchmark score of 18302.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process fabricated by Intel. The AMD chip integrates 16,630 million transistors across two 70.6 mm² dies, while the Intel part does not have listed transistor or die size data in the database.

Cache structures differ considerably. The Ryzen 9 9950X carries 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. This asymmetry explains much of the multi-threaded performance gap, as the AMD chip feeds 32 threads with far more aggregate cache capacity.

Connectivity and platform features also diverge. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM5 with PCIe Gen 5 and 24 CPU lanes, and includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics. The Intel chip uses Intel BGA 1516 with PCIe Gen 4 and 6 CPU lanes, and carries Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. The AMD processor is a desktop part with a 170 TDP, while the Intel chip is a mobile part with a 15 TDP.

Memory bandwidth differences are notable: the Ryzen 9 9950X delivers 89.6 GB/s over dual-channel DDR5, while the Core 3 305 delivers 59.7 GB/s over single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X. The AMD chip's boost clock reaches 5.70 GHz versus 4.30 GHz for the Intel chip, and its base clock sits at 4.30 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 9 9950X wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark in the database. Its 16 cores and 32 threads dominate multi-threaded workloads: Cinebench R23 multicore scores 40924 versus 13123, and PassMark multithread scores 66030 versus 15439. The AMD part also leads in integer math, floating point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, and random string sorting. The smallest wins come in single-threaded tests, where the architectural efficiency of Zen 5 still outpaces the Core 3 305 by roughly 19%.

The Intel Core 3 305 does not win any benchmark category. Its strengths are relative to its own class, not against the Ryzen 9 9950X. It sits near the Intel Core i3-14100 in the database, with a delta of -0.1% against that rival, and near the Intel Core 5 330 at -0.2%. For a 6-thread mobile processor, the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13123 and PassMark single-thread score of 3977 indicate a functional low-power part, but the data shows no workload where it overtakes the AMD flagship.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core 3 305 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.70 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 170 | 15 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (Intel) |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 192 KB total |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB total |

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC support | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) |

| Multiplier | Unlocked | Locked |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release date | 2024-08-14 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $649 | $309 |

The release dates place the AMD part first, with the Intel chip arriving later. The production status for both is Active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest delta in the entire comparison is PassMark integer math: the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 242097 versus 32295, a 649.6% advantage. This test measures raw ALU throughput, where 16 Zen 5 cores with high clock speeds overwhelm 6 Wildcat Lake cores. Data compression tells a similar story, with the AMD part at 896544 versus 146857, a 510.5% delta. Random string sorting shows a 435.5% gap, with scores of 94368 versus 17623.

Extended instructions deliver a 428.4% delta, 71564 versus 13543. PassMark multithread shows a 327.7% gap, 66030 versus 15439, and data encryption shows a 302.6% delta, 44366 versus 11019. Floating point math lands at a 276.2% delta, 159063 versus 42284. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 211.8% delta, 40924 versus 13123. Prime number finding shows a 200% delta, 345 versus 115. Physics shows a 165.9% delta, 3279 versus 1233. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 379.2% delta, 6335 versus 1322.

Single-threaded gaps are far narrower. Cinebench R23 single-core shows an 18.9% delta, 2202 versus 1852. PassMark single-thread shows a 19.1% delta, 4737 versus 3977. Cinebench R15 single-core shows an 84.9% delta, 344 versus 186, which is the largest single-thread gap recorded. The pattern is clear: the AMD processor's advantage grows with thread count and parallel workload intensity.

The Ryzen 9 9950X's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9745 at -0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 475 at 0.2%, the AMD EPYC 4545P at -1%, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 at -1.1%. The Intel Core 3 305's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100 at -0.1%, the Intel Core 5 330 at -0.2%, the Intel Core 7 360 at -0.4%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E at 0.4%. These groupings confirm that the two processors compete in entirely different tiers.

The Verdict

The data indicates a decisive victory for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X across every recorded benchmark. For workloads that scale with cores, threads, cache, and memory bandwidth, the AMD part is the clear choice: its 16 cores, 32 threads, 64 MB L3, and dual-channel 89.6 GB/s memory bus produce multi-threaded scores that are 211.8% to 649.6% higher than the Intel chip. The single-threaded wins, while smaller at roughly 19%, still favor the AMD processor.

The Intel Core 3 305 is a mobile processor with a 15 TDP, locked multiplier, and single-channel memory. Its 6 cores and 6 threads place it near the Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core 5 330 in the database, not near the Ryzen 9 9950X. The recorded data shows no benchmark where the Intel chip leads. The AMD processor also carries an unlocked multiplier, ECC support, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity, all absent from the Intel part.

For users requiring maximum multi-threaded throughput, the Ryzen 9 9950X delivers the higher scores. For users constrained by a mobile form factor and 15 TDP envelope, the Intel Core 3 305 exists in a different class, and the benchmark data does not place it in competition with the AMD flagship. The average benchmark score of 74640 for the AMD part versus 18302 for the Intel part summarizes the hierarchy: the Ryzen 9 9950X operates at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 305 operates at the 72nd percentile. The choice depends on workload scale and platform requirements, and the data is unambiguous about which processor leads in every measured category.