AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Core 3 305 Comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Core 3 305
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Core 3 305
The Verdict
The recorded data leaves no ambiguity: the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 3 305. The AMD part sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Intel chip ranks at the 72nd percentile. The average benchmark score for the AMD processor is 75,779, versus 18,302 for the Intel part, a gap of roughly 4.1 times. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a desktop flagship with 16 cores, 32 threads, and a 170 W TDP; the Core 3 305 is a mobile processor with 6 cores, 6 threads, and a 15 W TDP. Any workload that can use multiple cores will favor the AMD part by a wide margin. The Intel part's only close calls are in single-threaded tests, where the delta narrows to 19.1% in PassMark single-thread and 22% in Cinebench R23 single-core. For users constrained to a low-power mobile platform, the Core 3 305 offers a functional baseline, but the data does not support any scenario where it outperforms the Ryzen part.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different design philosophies and target entirely different sockets. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture on the Granite Ridge codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 16,630 million transistors across a dual-chiplet design with a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel, with no transistor or die size data recorded in the database. AMD's part is a desktop chip on AMD Socket AM5; Intel's part is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 1516.
Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD processor provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel processor provides 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support also diverges: the AMD chip uses DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s. AMD enables ECC memory; Intel does not. PCIe connectivity favors AMD with Gen 5 and 24 lanes (CPU only), versus Intel's Gen 4 and 6 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD includes Radeon Graphics, while Intel includes Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe). The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part is locked. AMD's release date is January 5, 2025; Intel's is April 15, 2026. The AMD part's launch MSRP is $699, and the Intel part's launch MSRP is $309.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.
Q: How do their base and boost clocks compare?
A: The AMD part runs at a base clock of 4.30 GHz and boosts to 5.70 GHz. The Intel part runs at a base clock of 1.50 GHz and boosts to 4.30 GHz.
Q: What is the power draw difference?
A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has a TDP of 170 W, while the Intel Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 W.
Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?
A: Only the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 305 does not.
Q: What memory types do they support?
A: The AMD part supports DDR5 only, over a dual-channel bus. The Intel part supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, over a single-channel bus.
Q: What is the largest single benchmark win for the AMD part?
A: The largest delta in the head-to-head data is PassMark integer math, where the AMD part scores 243,209 versus 32,295, a 653.1% advantage.
Specification Differences
The two CPUs differ in nearly every recorded specification field. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 4.30 GHz versus 1.50 GHz; boost clocks are 5.70 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. TDP is 170 W versus 15 W. Sockets are AMD Socket AM5 versus Intel BGA 1516. Process nodes are 4 nm (TSMC) versus 3 nm (Intel). Foundries are TSMC versus Intel. The AMD part's cache includes 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 128 MB L3; the Intel part has 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 dual-channel with 89.6 GB/s versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X single-channel with 59.7 GB/s. ECC is supported on AMD only. PCIe is Gen 5 with 24 lanes versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics versus Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe). Market segments are Desktop versus Mobile. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; Intel's is locked. The AMD part's release date is January 5, 2025; Intel's is April 15, 2026. The AMD part's launch MSRP is $699; Intel's is $309. The AMD part has a part number of 100-000000719; Intel's is SAE3L. Intel has no recorded series, architecture, transistors, or die size fields; AMD has a series (9000 series), architecture (Zen 5), transistors (16,630 million), and die size (2x 70.6 mm²).
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head data covers 15 tests, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins every one. The most lopsided result is PassMark integer math: the AMD part scores 243,209 against Intel's 32,295, a 653.1% advantage. PassMark data compression shows a 518.6% delta, with AMD at 908,421 and Intel at 146,857. PassMark random string sorting shows a 441.5% delta, with AMD at 95,423 and Intel at 17,623. PassMark extended instructions show a 439.1% delta, with AMD at 73,011 and Intel at 13,543. PassMark find prime numbers shows a 433% delta, with AMD at 613 and Intel at 115. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 394.4% delta, with AMD at 6,536 and Intel at 1,322. PassMark physics shows a 359.9% delta, with AMD at 5,670 and Intel at 1,233. PassMark multithread shows a 355% delta, with AMD at 70,255 and Intel at 15,439. PassMark data encryption shows a 304.2% delta, with AMD at 44,536 and Intel at 11,019. PassMark floating point math shows a 277.7% delta, with AMD at 159,724 and Intel at 42,284. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 220.2% delta, with AMD at 42,018 and Intel at 13,123.
Single-threaded gaps are far smaller. Cinebench R15 single-core has AMD at 350 and Intel at 186, a 88.2% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core has AMD at 2,259 and Intel at 1,852, a 22% delta. PassMark single-thread (and the duplicate singlethread entry) has AMD at 4,737 and Intel at 3,977, a 19.1% delta. The 3DMark tests appear only in the AMD benchmark list, not in the head-to-head set, so they do not factor into the direct comparison. The AMD part's overall benchmark data also includes Geekbench multicore at 26,736, Geekbench single-core at 3,064, and 3DMark scores ranging from 1,292 (single-thread) to 17,184 (max threads). Intel's own benchmark list includes Cinebench R20 multicore at 5,511 and single-core at 777, but those are not in the head-to-head comparison.
Where Each One Wins
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins in every measured category. Multi-threaded workloads are its strongest domain: Cinebench R23 multicore at 42,018 versus 13,123, PassMark multithread at 70,255 versus 15,439, and PassMark physics at 5,670 versus 1,233 all confirm a massive advantage for heavily parallel tasks. Data-heavy operations also favor AMD overwhelmingly: data compression at 908,421 versus 146,857, integer math at 243,209 versus 32,295, and random string sorting at 95,423 versus 17,623. Encryption and extended instruction workloads show similar patterns, with AMD leading by 304.2% and 439.1% respectively. Floating point math gives AMD a 277.7% edge. Prime number finding shows a 433% lead. Even in single-threaded tests, where the Intel part is relatively strongest, AMD still leads by 19.1% to 22% depending on the benchmark.
The Intel Core 3 305's only advantage in the recorded data is its much lower TDP of 15 W versus 170 W, which makes it suitable for mobile platforms with tight power budgets. Its single-channel memory and 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes reflect that mobile positioning. The Intel part also supports LPDDR5X memory, which AMD does not, and it uses a 3 nm process, one step ahead of AMD's 4 nm node. None of those architectural traits translate into a benchmark win, however. The data shows the AMD part as the clear choice for any performance-oriented task. The Intel part can serve as a low-power entry point, but the benchmark record offers no test where it beats the Ryzen 9 9950X3D.