Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core 5 221E Comparison

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core 5 221E represent two distinct design philosophies from Intel, with the former built for extreme efficiency in a compact mobile package and the latter oriented toward sustained multi-threaded performance on the desktop. The recorded benchmark data shows a complete sweep for the Core 5 221E across all 17 head-to-head tests, but the magnitude of those wins varies dramatically from a modest single-thread edge to a massive multi-core blowout. The average benchmark score of the Core 5 221E is 40144, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 304 scores 13745 on average, in the 68th percentile. This places the two processors in entirely different performance strata, with the Core 5 221E competing directly with processors like the AMD Ryzen 7 7700, against which it shows a 0.2% delta, while the Core 3 304 is within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and 1.1% of the Intel Core 5 120UL.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result in the entire comparison is in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, where the Core 5 221E scores 25933 against the Core 3 304's 5263, a delta of -79.7%. This is the single largest percentage gap recorded, and it reflects the fundamental difference in core and thread counts: the Core 5 221E offers 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Core 3 304 offers 5 cores and 5 threads. The same pattern appears in PassMark integer math, where the Core 5 221E scores 117813 versus 24640, a -79.1% delta, confirming that the multi-core advantage is not limited to a single benchmark suite.

The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows the Core 5 221E at 10891 against 4160, a -61.8% delta, and the R15 multi-core test shows 2613 versus 849, a -67.5% delta. The PassMark multi-thread score follows suit, with the Core 5 221E at 30510 and the Core 3 304 at 11625, a -61.9% delta. Data compression results show the Core 5 221E at 324285 versus 114775, a -64.6% delta, and floating-point math shows 79028 versus 29722, a -62.4% delta. Random string sorting delivers 37686 versus 13659, a -63.8% delta, and the physics test shows 2230 versus 868, a -61.1% delta.

The single-threaded tests are closer but still favor the Core 5 221E. The PassMark single-thread score is 4147 for the Core 5 221E versus 3614 for the Core 3 304, a -12.9% delta, which is the narrowest gap in the entire dataset. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3661 versus 1765, a -51.8% delta, while R20 single-core shows 1537 versus 587, a -61.8% delta, and R15 single-core shows 368 versus 264, a -28.3% delta. The extended instructions test shows 18216 versus 9686, a -46.8% delta, and data encryption shows 19205 versus 8501, a -55.7% delta.

The Core 3 304 does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but its performance profile is not without merit. Its boost clock of 4.30 GHz is respectable for a 15 W part, and its single-thread PassMark score of 3614 is within 12.9% of a desktop processor with a 5.20 GHz boost clock. The Core 3 304 also delivers a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1765, which is more than half of the Core 5 221E's 3661 despite the massive core count disparity.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core 5 221E is the superior processor for any workload that can utilize multiple threads or benefits from higher clock speeds. Its 14 cores and 20 threads, combined with a 5.20 GHz boost clock, deliver a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25933, which is 4.9 times higher than the Core 3 304's 5263. The Core 5 221E also leads in every PassMark subtest, from data compression at 324285 versus 114775 to integer math at 117813 versus 24640. Its average benchmark score of 40144 places it in the 87th percentile, matching the performance class of the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, both of which show a 0.2% delta.

The Core 3 304, by contrast, has a 68th percentile ranking and an average score of 13745. It is closest to the Intel Core 5 120UL, which scores 13594 and shows a 1.1% delta, and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which scores 13786 and shows a -0.3% delta. The Core 3 304's performance is adequate for basic tasks, but its 5 cores and 5 threads limit it to light workloads. Its single-thread PassMark score of 3614 is competitive for a mobile chip, but its multi-thread score of 11625 is less than half of the Core 5 221E's 30510.

The launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309, while the Core 5 221E has a launch MSRP of $232. The Core 5 221E is also the newer release, appearing on 2025-01-12, while the Core 3 304 is dated 2026-04-15. For users who need sustained multi-core performance for content creation, compilation, or simulation, the Core 5 221E is the clear choice based on the recorded data. The Core 3 304 is a viable option only for scenarios where its 15 W TDP is a hard constraint and single-threaded responsiveness is the priority.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 221E wins across every benchmark category, but the use cases where its advantage is most pronounced are those that scale with core count. Cinebench R23 multi-core, integer math, and data compression all show deltas between -64.6% and -79.7%, indicating workloads that can use all 14 cores and 20 threads will see dramatic improvements. The Core 5 221E is also the choice for memory-intensive tasks, as it supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, compared to the Core 3 304's single-channel memory at 59.7 GB/s.

The Core 3 304 shows its best relative performance in single-threaded tests. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3614 is within 12.9% of the Core 5 221E, which is a narrow margin for processors with such different core counts. The Core 3 304's boost clock of 4.30 GHz is lower than the Core 5 221E's 5.20 GHz, but its Wildcat Lake architecture with a 3 nm process node allows it to achieve respectable single-thread performance while consuming only 15 W. The Core 3 304 also has a smaller cache footprint, with 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3, compared to the Core 5 221E's 80 KB per core L1, 2 MB per core L2, and 24 MB shared L3.

For workloads that are latency-sensitive and cannot use multiple cores, such as certain legacy applications or lightly threaded games, the Core 3 304's single-thread performance may be sufficient. However, the data shows that even in the best case, the Core 5 221E wins, and the Core 3 304's only advantage is its power consumption and compact form factor with Intel BGA 1516 socket. The Core 5 221E uses Intel Socket 1700, which is a desktop platform, and its 65 W TDP is more than four times higher than the Core 3 304's 15 W.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E scores 25933 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core 3 304 scores 5263. The Core 5 221E also leads in PassMark multi-thread with 30510 versus 11625.

Q: Is the Intel Core 3 304 competitive in single-threaded performance?

A: The Core 3 304 scores 3614 in PassMark single-thread, which is 12.9% behind the Core 5 221E's 4147. This is the smallest gap in the comparison, but the Core 5 221E still wins.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Intel Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Core 5 221E supports dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 3 304 uses single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core 5 221E supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 3 304 does not.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process, while the Intel Core 5 221E uses a 10 nm process. The Core 5 221E has a die size of 257 mm², while the Core 3 304's die size is not recorded.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake microarchitecture on a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core 5 221E uses the Bartlett Lake microarchitecture on a 10 nm process node. The Core 3 304 is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP and an Intel BGA 1516 socket, while the Core 5 221E is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP and an Intel Socket 1700.

The core topology differs significantly. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, indicating no hyper-threading, while the Core 5 221E has 14 cores and 20 threads, suggesting a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores. The cache hierarchy reflects this: the Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3, while the Core 5 221E has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3.

Memory support varies as well. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus, while the Core 5 221E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s for the Core 3 304 and 89.6 GB/s for the Core 5 221E. The Core 5 221E also supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 304 does not.

PCIe connectivity differs, with the Core 3 304 offering Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only) and the Core 5 221E offering Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core 5 221E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core 5 221E has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to the Core 3 304's 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost.

The release dates show the Core 5 221E shipped on 2025-01-12, while the Core 3 304 is dated 2026-04-15. The production status for both is Active. The Core 5 221E has a part number of SRQDVQ659, and the Core 3 304 has a part number of SAE3K. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and the Core 3 304 lacks a defined series. The Core 5 221E is listed as a desktop market segment, while the Core 3 304 is listed as mobile.