Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i3-14100F Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core 3 304 compare to the Intel Core i3-14100F in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100F has a higher average benchmark score of 18519, compared to 13745 for the Intel Core 3 304. The i3-14100F also sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 304 sits in the 68th percentile.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core Cinebench R15 performance?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 wins in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 264 against 186 for the Intel Core i3-14100F, a 41.9% advantage. This is the largest single-core victory for the Core 3 304 across all recorded tests.

Q: What is the difference in thread counts between these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. The i3-14100F supports Hyper-Threading style simultaneous multithreading, while the Core 3 304 does not.

Q: Which processor delivers better multi-core Cinebench R23 results?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100F is decisively ahead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 13084 versus 5263 for the Intel Core 3 304. This represents a 59.8% lead for the i3-14100F, the largest performance gap in the entire head-to-head comparison.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core 3 304 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe), while the Intel Core i3-14100F has no integrated graphics (N/A).

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel memory bus. The Intel Core i3-14100F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i3-14100F as the superior performer in nearly every workload category. It wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with only two wins for the Intel Core 3 304. The i3-14100F has a 34.7% higher average benchmark score (18519 versus 13745) and a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs (72nd versus 68th).

The Intel Core 3 304 is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, while the i3-14100F is a desktop processor with a 58 W TDP. The Core 3 304 uses a newer 3 nm process node, but its 5 cores and 5 threads limit its multi-threaded throughput. The i3-14100F counters with 4 cores and 8 threads, which gives it a substantial advantage in heavily threaded workloads like Cinebench R23 multi-core and PassMark integer math.

For users who need maximum multi-core compute, the Intel Core i3-14100F is the clear choice. Its 59.8% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 45.7% advantage in PassMark integer math are decisive. The Core 3 304 only leads in Cinebench R15 single-core (41.9% ahead) and PassMark prime number finding (11.5% ahead), which are narrow use cases.

The Intel Core 3 304 does offer integrated graphics and a lower TDP, which suits compact mobile systems. The i3-14100F requires a discrete GPU but delivers significantly higher performance across almost all measured tests. The recorded data does not support choosing the Core 3 304 for raw processing power; its wins are limited to two specific single-threaded or specialized tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i3-14100F dominates the multi-core landscape. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 13084 against 5263, a 59.8% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 35.6% gap (1318 versus 849), and Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 24.3% gap (5495 versus 4160). The PassMark multithread test confirms the pattern: 15420 versus 11625, a 24.6% advantage.

Integer math is another area of significant separation. The i3-14100F scores 45357 in PassMark integer math versus 24640 for the Core 3 304, a 45.7% lead. Data compression follows at 176106 versus 114775, a 34.8% gap. Random string sorting shows a 22.4% difference (17596 versus 13659). These results indicate the i3-14100F handles data processing tasks with far greater efficiency.

The Intel Core 3 304 claims its largest win in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 264 versus 186, a 41.9% advantage. It also wins PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 68 versus 61, an 11.5% lead. These are the only two tests where the Core 3 304 comes out ahead.

Several benchmarks are closer than the multi-core results. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i3-14100F ahead by just 4.4% (1847 versus 1765). PassMark single-thread shows a 4.3% difference (3778 versus 3614). Data encryption is a 4.7% gap (8922 versus 8501). These narrow margins suggest the two processors are more comparable in lightly threaded work, even though the i3-14100F still holds the edge.

The i3-14100F also wins in floating-point math (35370 versus 29722, a 16% gap), extended instructions (11984 versus 9686, a 19.2% gap), and physics (1077 versus 868, a 19.4% gap). The overall pattern is consistent: the i3-14100F delivers strong multi-threaded performance, while the Core 3 304 only manages to win in the older Cinebench R15 single-core test and prime number calculation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every physical and electrical specification. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Intel Core i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 304 versus 3.50 GHz for the i3-14100F. Boost clocks are 4.30 GHz and 4.70 GHz respectively.

Thermal design power separates the two clearly. The Core 3 304 is rated at 15 W, while the i3-14100F is rated at 58 W. The Core 3 304 uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket, and the i3-14100F uses Intel Socket 1700. The Core 3 304 is classified as a mobile part, and the i3-14100F is a desktop part.

Memory support differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-14100F supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel memory bus, with no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the i3-14100F but not on the Core 3 304.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The i3-14100F provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on the Core 3 304 (Intel Xe3 Graphics, 1 Xe) and absent on the i3-14100F.

Release dates differ by over two years. The Core 3 304 launched on 2026-04-15, and the i3-14100F launched on 2024-01-07. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309, and the launch MSRP for the i3-14100F is $109. The die size for the i3-14100F is 163 mm², with no die size recorded for the Core 3 304. Both processors have locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core i3-14100F uses a 10 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel. The Core 3 304 carries the codename Wildcat Lake and belongs to the Core 3 generation with that codename. The i3-14100F uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R, and belongs to the Core i3 generation labeled Raptor Lake Refresh.

Cache configurations differ in both size and organization. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-14100F has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-14100F offers double the total L3 cache.

The core topology is fundamentally different. The Core 3 304 uses 5 physical cores with no simultaneous multithreading, resulting in 5 threads. The i3-14100F uses 4 physical cores with simultaneous multithreading, resulting in 8 threads. This explains why the i3-14100F excels in multi-threaded benchmarks despite having fewer physical cores.

The i3-14100F has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 4.30 GHz). The 3 nm process of the Core 3 304 allows a much lower 15 W TDP, but the higher clocks and additional threads of the i3-14100F produce superior benchmark results.

The i3-14100F supports ECC memory, a feature common in workstation and server contexts. It also offers Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes, versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes on the Core 3 304. The Core 3 304 compensates with integrated graphics and a newer process node, but the recorded data shows these advantages do not translate into benchmark wins.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-14100F wins in all multi-threaded heavy workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all favor the i3-14100F by margins ranging from 24.3% to 59.8%. PassMark multithread, integer math, floating-point math, data compression, random string sorting, physics, extended instructions, and data encryption all go to the i3-14100F. This processor is the choice for rendering, encoding, compilation, and any workload that scales with thread count.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins in exactly two recorded tests: Cinebench R15 single-core and PassMark find prime numbers. The Cinebench R15 single-core win is substantial at 41.9%, but it is the only single-core test where the Core 3 304 leads. In newer single-core tests such as Cinebench R20 single-core, Cinebench R23 single-core, and PassMark single-thread, the i3-14100F holds the advantage.

The Core 3 304 also distinguishes itself through platform features rather than benchmark scores. It includes Intel Xe3 integrated graphics, which the i3-14100F lacks entirely. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained mobile designs, while the i3-14100F requires a desktop platform with a discrete GPU.

For users prioritizing light single-threaded legacy workloads, the Core 3 304 has a specific advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core. For prime number finding, the Core 3 304 leads by 11.5%. Beyond those two tests, the i3-14100F demonstrates superiority across the full range of recorded measurements. The data indicates that the i3-14100F is the better choice for general-purpose computing, with the Core 3 304 reserved for mobile deployments where integrated graphics and low power draw are the primary considerations.