Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i5-14400T Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data separates these two processors cleanly by workload type. The Intel Core 3 304 wins in single-threaded tasks, showing an 8.2% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core over the Intel Core i5-14400T (264 vs 244) and a 2.9% lead in Passmark single-thread (3614 vs 3512). The Core i5-14400T dominates everything else, winning 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The Core 3 304 is the choice for lightweight, single-thread-oriented mobile work, while the Core i5-14400T is the choice for multi-core workloads, desktop builds, and any task that scales across threads.

The Core i5-14400T sits at the 79th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 3 304 lands at the 68th percentile. The average benchmark score difference is substantial: 27166 for the Core i5-14400T versus 13745 for the Core 3 304. The Core i5-14400T's nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-9900K, trails by only 0.3%, which places it in established high-end desktop territory. The Core 3 304's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, is 0.3% ahead, meaning the Core 3 304 performs around workstation-class levels in aggregate despite its mobile positioning.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 304 wins only single-thread tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 264 against 244, a 8.2% advantage. In Passmark single-thread, it scores 3614 against 3512, a 2.9% advantage. These wins indicate that the Core 3 304 has the higher peak per-core performance of the two, likely due to its newer architecture and higher efficiency node.

The Core i5-14400T wins in every other measured category. The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 17189 against 5263, a 69.4% advantage. Passmark integer math shows a 62.5% lead (65667 vs 24640). Passmark data compression shows a 51.3% lead (235636 vs 114775). Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 51% lead (1732 vs 849). These results confirm that the Core i5-14400T is the clear choice for rendering, compilation, compression, encryption, and any workload that uses more than a few threads.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 304 uses Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node, fabricated by Intel. It has 5 cores and 5 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its cache layout includes 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. It does not support ECC memory. The integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The socket is Intel BGA 1516, and the market segment is mobile. The thermal design power is 15 W. The production status is active, with a release date of April 15, 2026.

The Core i5-14400T uses Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-R) on a 10 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel. It has 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The die size is 215 mm². Cache includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. It supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730. The socket is Intel Socket 1700, and the market segment is desktop. The thermal design power is 35 W. The production status is active, with a release date of January 7, 2024.

The process node difference is significant: 3 nm versus 10 nm. The Core 3 304 achieves higher single-thread scores despite having fewer cores and a lower boost clock (4.30 GHz vs 4.50 GHz), which points to the newer node's efficiency gains. The Core i5-14400T compensates with double the cores and more than triple the threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Core 3 304. It wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.2% (264 vs 244) and Passmark single-thread by 2.9% (3614 vs 3512).

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-thread performance?

A: The Core i5-14400T. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 69.4% (17189 vs 5263), Cinebench R20 multi-core by 42.4% (7219 vs 4160), and Passmark multithread by 42.5% (20223 vs 11625).

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. The Core i5-14400T has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core i5-14400T supports DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core 3 304 does not support ECC memory. The Core i5-14400T does support ECC memory.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The Core 3 304 is rated at 15 W. The Core i5-14400T is rated at 35 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i5-14400T's biggest win is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 17189 against 5263, a 69.4% lead. Passmark integer math shows a similar story: 65667 versus 24640, a 62.5% lead. The Core i5-14400T also leads by 51.3% in Passmark data compression (235636 vs 114775) and by 51% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1732 vs 849). Passmark random string sorting shows a 45.8% lead (25181 vs 13659), while Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 42.4% lead (7219 vs 4160). Passmark multithread shows a 42.5% lead (20223 vs 11625). Passmark floating point math shows a 39.5% lead (49139 vs 29722). Passmark data encryption shows a 35.8% lead (13244 vs 8501). Passmark extended instructions shows a 33.5% lead (14562 vs 9686). Passmark physics shows a 30.2% lead (1244 vs 868). Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 27.2% lead (2426 vs 1765). Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 42.3% lead (1018 vs 587). Passmark find prime numbers shows a 6.8% lead (73 vs 68).

The Core 3 304 wins only in Cinebench R15 single-core (264 vs 244, a 8.2% lead) and the two Passmark single-thread entries, both scoring 3614 versus 3512, a 2.9% lead. These wins are narrow compared to the Core i5-14400T's margins, but they matter for workloads that depend on a single core's peak speed.

The pattern is clear: the Core 3 304 has the better per-core architecture, but the Core i5-14400T's additional cores and threads overwhelm that advantage in every multi-threaded test. The Core i5-14400T's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17189 is more than three times the Core 3 304's 5263, which is a decisive margin for render workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads; the Core i5-14400T has 10 cores and 16 threads. Boost clocks differ: 4.30 GHz for the Core 3 304, 4.50 GHz for the Core i5-14400T. Base clocks match at 1.50 GHz.

Thermal design power differs substantially: 15 W for the Core 3 304, 35 W for the Core i5-14400T. This reflects the mobile versus desktop market split.

Process nodes differ: 3 nm for the Core 3 304, 10 nm for the Core i5-14400T. The Core i5-14400T has a die size of 215 mm²; the Core 3 304 has no recorded die size.

Cache configurations differ. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core i5-14400T has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3.

Memory support differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i5-14400T supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with no recorded bandwidth figure. ECC support differs: the Core 3 304 lacks it, the Core i5-14400T has it.

PCIe capabilities differ. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The Core i5-14400T provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Core i5-14400T uses UHD Graphics 730.

Sockets and segments differ. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516 and targets mobile. The Core i5-14400T uses Intel Socket 1700 and targets desktop.

Release dates differ. The Core 3 304 released on April 15, 2026. The Core i5-14400T released on January 7, 2024. The Core 3 304 has a launch MSRP of $309. The Core i5-14400T has a launch MSRP of $221.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 3 304 part number is SAE3K. The Core i5-14400T part number is SRN3N.