AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X vs Intel Core 3 304 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two processors into completely different performance classes. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core 3 304. That is a clean sweep, but the magnitude of each win varies enormously, and that variance reveals where each chip is actually competitive.

The Threadripper 9970X dominates every multithreaded workload in the database. Its largest win comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 465378 against 24640, a delta of 1788.7%. Data compression shows a 1431.7% advantage with 1757998 versus 114775. Random string sorting is another massive gap at 1301.6%, with scores of 191445 and 13659. These are workloads that scale with core count, and the Threadripper has 32 cores against the Core 3's 5 cores, so the results align with the architectural disparity.

Extended instructions favor the Threadripper by 1369.6%, scoring 142342 against 9686. Floating point math shows a 942.1% edge, 309719 versus 29722. Data encryption is 920.6% ahead at 86765 versus 8501. Prime number finding, a workload that often responds to raw integer throughput, gives the Threadripper a 804.4% lead with 615 versus 68. The multithread benchmark itself shows 107399 against 11625, an 823.9% gap. Physics simulation scores 6835 versus 868, a 687.4% difference.

The one place the Intel Core 3 304 comes closest is single-thread performance. In PassMark single-thread, the Threadripper scores 4530 and the Core 3 scores 3614. That is still a Threadripper win, but the delta is only 25.3%. For a 32-core monster built around Zen 5, being only a quarter faster than a 5-core mobile chip in single-thread work is notable. The Core 3's single-thread score is respectable for a low-power part, and it shows that the Threadripper's advantage is primarily a function of parallel throughput, not per-core superiority.

The benchmark record also includes the Threadripper's percentileVsAllCpus of 99, meaning it sits above nearly every processor in the database. The Core 3 sits at percentile 68. The average benchmark scores reinforce the gap: the Threadripper averages 279778, while the Core 3 averages 13745. That is a roughly 20x difference in aggregate performance, consistent with the core count and thread count disparity.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion for heavy parallel workloads: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is in a different performance tier. Its nearest rivals in the database, the Intel Xeon 6780E, AMD EPYC 9565, Intel Xeon 696X, and AMD EPYC 9555P, all sit within 2.5% of its average score. The Core 3 304, by contrast, sits near workstation and server parts like the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and Intel Core i7-8750H, with deltas of -0.3% and -0.9% respectively. The Core 3 is a mobile processor, and its benchmark position reflects that.

For anyone selecting a chip strictly from the recorded data, the Threadripper 9970X is the choice for multithreaded rendering, simulation, encryption, compression, and integer-heavy compute. The Core 3 304 offers a valid single-thread score but falls behind even there. The Threadripper's 4530 single-thread score versus the Core 3's 3614 means the AMD part wins every single recorded test, including the ones that typically favor lower-core-count designs.

The Core 3 304 is not without its place. It carries an integrated GPU, the Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, which the Threadripper lacks entirely. It also runs on a 15 W TDP, which is a fraction of the Threadripper's 350 W TDP. The Core 3 uses a 3 nm Intel process, while the Threadripper uses TSMC's 4 nm node. These are characteristics that matter in different usage contexts, but in raw CPU benchmark terms, the Core 3 cannot challenge the Threadripper in any recorded test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the head-to-head data is PassMark integer math. The Threadripper 9970X posts 465378 against the Core 3's 24640, a 1788.7% delta. Integer math often scales with core count and clock speed, and the Threadripper has both advantages. Its boost clock reaches 5.40 GHz, and it has 64 threads to distribute work across.

Data compression is the second-largest margin. The Threadripper scores 1757998, the Core 3 scores 114775, and the delta is 1431.7%. Compression algorithms are heavily parallel and memory-bandwidth sensitive. The Threadripper's quad-channel DDR5 interface provides 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth against the Core 3's single-channel 59.7 GB/s. That bandwidth difference likely explains part of the compression gap.

Random string sorting shows a 1301.6% delta, with the Threadripper at 191445 and the Core 3 at 13659. Sorting is another parallel-friendly workload, but it also depends on cache behavior. The Threadripper has 128 MB of L3 cache and 1 MB of L2 per core. The Core 3 has 6 MB of shared L3 and 2.5 MB of L2. The cache hierarchy difference is substantial.

Extended instructions favor the Threadripper by 1369.6%, 142342 versus 9686. This test often uses newer instruction sets, and the Threadripper's Zen 5 architecture supports the full modern extension set. The Core 3's Wildcat Lake architecture is new as well, but the core count disparity dominates.

Floating point math shows a 942.1% delta, 309719 versus 29722. The Threadripper's 32 cores each carry their own floating-point units, so this is expected. Data encryption is 920.6% ahead, 86765 versus 8501. The Threadripper's AVX-512 support on Zen 5 likely contributes here.

The multithread benchmark gives the Threadripper 107399 against 11625, an 823.9% delta. Physics simulation is 687.4% ahead, 6835 versus 868. Prime number finding is 804.4% ahead, 615 versus 68. Single-thread is the closest, 4530 versus 3614, a 25.3% delta. Even in the Core 3's best relative showing, the Threadripper still wins.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins all 11 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 3 304 wins none.

Q: What is the single-thread performance gap between the two?

A: The Threadripper 9970X scores 4530 in PassMark single-thread, while the Core 3 scores 3614. The Threadripper leads by 25.3%.

Q: How does the average benchmark score compare?

A: The Threadripper 9970X has an average benchmark score of 279778, while the Core 3 has an average of 13745.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each CPU in the database?

A: The Threadripper's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon 6780E with an average score of 280438, a -0.2% delta. The Core 3's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX with an average score of 13786, a -0.3% delta.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 304 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe. The Threadripper 9970X has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each CPU support?

A: The Threadripper supports quad-channel DDR5 with 204.8 GB/s. The Core 3 supports single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturers, different nodes, and different design philosophies. The Threadripper 9970X uses AMD's Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Shimada Peak, built on a 4 nm TSMC process. The Core 3 304 uses Intel's Wildcat Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm Intel process. The transistor counts differ dramatically: the Threadripper packs 33,260 million transistors across a die size of 4x 70.6 mm². The Core 3's transistor count and die size are not recorded.

Core and thread counts are the most obvious architectural split. The Threadripper has 32 cores and 64 threads. The Core 3 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The Threadripper's base clock is 4.00 GHz and its boost clock is 5.40 GHz. The Core 3 runs at 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The Threadripper's multiplier is unlocked; the Core 3's is locked.

Cache hierarchies are also fundamentally different. The Threadripper uses a per-core L1 of 64 KB and per-core L2 of 1 MB, with 128 MB of L3. The Core 3 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper's cache is designed for high-core-count scaling, while the Core 3's smaller cache suits a low-power mobile part.

Memory support differs at the bus level. The Threadripper uses quad-channel DDR5 with 204.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core 3 uses single-channel DDR5 and LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the Threadripper but not on the Core 3.

PCIe connectivity is another major split. The Threadripper offers Gen 5 with 80 lanes from the CPU. The Core 3 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics are present only on the Core 3, with Intel Xe3 Graphics using 1 Xe execution unit. The Threadripper has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

The socket and platform targets are entirely different. The Threadripper 9970X uses AMD Socket sTR5, a desktop workstation socket. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, a soldered mobile package. The Threadripper's market segment is Desktop, while the Core 3's is Mobile.

Power requirements differ by an order of magnitude. The Threadripper has a 350 W TDP. The Core 3 has a 15 W TDP. The Threadripper's release date is 2025-07-29, and the Core 3's is 2026-04-15. Both are listed as Active in production status.

Memory support shows the Threadripper supporting only DDR5, while the Core 3 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Threadripper has ECC memory support, the Core 3 does not. The Threadripper's PCIe is Gen 5 with 80 lanes, the Core 3's is Gen 4 with 6 lanes.

The launch MSRP for the Threadripper 9970X is $2499. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309. The part numbers are 100-000001594 for the Threadripper and SAE3K for the Core 3. The Threadripper belongs to AMD's 9000 series; the Core 3 has no series designation recorded.