Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i5-14401E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i5-14401E dominates the multi-threaded workloads, while the Intel Core 3 304 secures a narrow victory in one single-thread test. The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i5-14401E scores 18161 against the Core 3's 5263, a delta of -71%. This is the single largest gap recorded across all head-to-head tests and reflects the fundamental difference in thread count and power envelope between the two parts.

In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-14401E again leads with 7627 points versus 4160 for the Core 3, a -45.5% delta. The R15 multicore test shows a similar pattern: 1830 for the i5-14401E and 849 for the Core 3, a -53.6% delta. These results indicate that the i5-14401E delivers roughly double the multi-core throughput in the R15 test and nearly double in R20, while the R23 gap is even larger in percentage terms due to the scaling of that workload.

Single-core results tell a more nuanced story. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Core 3 304 wins narrowly with 264 points versus 258, a 2.3% advantage. This is the only head-to-head test where the Core 3 comes out ahead, and the margin is small enough to be within typical run-to-run variation. However, the R20 singlecore test flips decisively in favor of the i5-14401E: 1076 versus 587, a -45.4% delta. The R23 singlecore test also favors the i5-14401E at 2564 versus 1765, a -31.2% delta.

The odd pattern here is the R15 singlecore result. The Core 3's 264 point score is close to the i5-14401E's 258, but the R20 and R23 single-core scores are far apart. This suggests that the R15 single-threaded workload may not scale the same way with the i5-14401E's higher boost clock, or that the Core 3's Wildcat Lake architecture handles that particular instruction mix more efficiently. Regardless, the overall benchmark record shows 5 wins for the i5-14401E and 1 win for the Core 3.

Looking at the aggregate average benchmark scores, the Core 3 304 records 13745, which places it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs tracked in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13786 (-0.3%) and the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13594 (1.1%). The i5-14401E, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 5253, placing it in the 60th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 at 5259 (-0.1%) and the Intel Core i9-10850K at 5240 (0.2%). The discrepancy between the average scores and the head-to-head Cinebench results is striking. The Core 3's average is inflated by its Passmark results, which include data compression at 114775, floating point math at 29722, and integer math at 24640. The i5-14401E has no Passmark entries in the database, so its average is based solely on the six Cinebench tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel manufacturing nodes and design families. The Core 3 304 uses Wildcat Lake architecture built on a 3 nm process, while the i5-14401E uses Raptor Lake-R architecture on a 10 nm process. The process node difference is significant: the Core 3 uses a newer, denser fabrication method, which explains its much lower 15 W TDP compared to the i5-14401E's 65 W TDP.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading is present. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, doubling the thread count via hyper-threading. This explains the large multi-core performance gap in the Cinebench tests. Clock speeds also favor the i5-14401E, with a 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.70 GHz boost clock, versus 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost for the Core 3.

Cache configurations reflect the different design philosophies. The Core 3 304 carries 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14401E provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. In aggregate, the i5-14401E has more total cache, particularly at the L3 level, which benefits workloads with larger working sets. The Core 3's smaller L3 is consistent with its lower power target and mobile orientation.

Memory support also differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, though the database does not list its bandwidth figure. The i5-14401E also supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 does not. PCIe connectivity is another differentiator: the Core 3 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the i5-14401E offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 3 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core 3's socket is Intel BGA 1516, indicating a soldered mobile package, while the i5-14401E uses the desktop LGA 1700 socket. The die size also differs: the i5-14401E is listed at 215 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Core 3.

The release dates place these parts in different market generations. The Core 3 304 has a release date of April 2026, while the i5-14401E was released in June 2024. The Core 3 has a launch MSRP of $309, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-14401E. The Core 3 targets the mobile segment, while the i5-14401E targets desktop.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-14401E wins decisively with a score of 18161 versus 5263 for the Core 3 304, a -71% delta. This is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head results.

Q: Does the Core 3 304 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Core 3 304 wins Cinebench R15 singlecore with 264 points versus 258 for the i5-14401E, a 2.3% margin. This is its only head-to-head win.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. The i5-14401E has 6 cores and 12 threads, using hyper-threading to double its thread count.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 W, while the i5-14401E has a TDP of 65 W. This reflects the Core 3's mobile design and the i5-14401E's desktop orientation.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The i5-14401E supports ECC memory. The Core 3 304 does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: What process nodes do these processors use?

A: The Core 3 304 uses a 3 nm process, while the i5-14401E uses a 10 nm process. Both are fabricated by Intel.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i5-14401E is the stronger processor for multi-threaded workloads by a wide margin. Its 12 threads, higher clock speeds, larger L3 cache, and dual-channel memory support deliver 53.6% to 71% higher scores across the multi-core Cinebench tests. For users running rendering, compilation, or other parallel workloads, the i5-14401E is the clear choice based on the recorded benchmarks.

The Core 3 304, however, is not without merit. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained mobile systems, and its single-core R15 win suggests that its Wildcat Lake architecture is competitive in lightly threaded legacy workloads. The 3 nm process node and integrated Xe3 Graphics indicate a modern, efficient design. The Core 3's average benchmark score of 13745 places it in the 68th percentile, while the i5-14401E sits in the 60th percentile, but this comparison is skewed by the different benchmark sets recorded for each part.

The i5-14401E's average score of 5253 is dragged down by the absence of Passmark results, which are some of the highest-scoring tests in the database. The Core 3's average benefits from Passmark data compression (114775), floating point math (29722), and integer math (24640) results. In the head-to-head Cinebench tests, the i5-14401E wins 5 of 6, and the only loss is by a narrow 2.3% margin. The verdict is straightforward: the i5-14401E delivers far more compute throughput, while the Core 3 offers efficiency and a newer fabrication process.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: Core 3 304 has 5 cores, i5-14401E has 6 cores
• Threads: Core 3 304 has 5 threads, i5-14401E has 12 threads
• Base clock: Core 3 304 runs at 1.50 GHz, i5-14401E at 2.50 GHz
• Boost clock: Core 3 304 reaches 4.30 GHz, i5-14401E reaches 4.70 GHz
• TDP: Core 3 304 is rated at 15 W, i5-14401E at 65 W
• Socket: Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, i5-14401E uses Intel Socket 1700
• Codename: Core 3 304 is Wildcat Lake, i5-14401E is Raptor Lake-R
• Process node: Core 3 304 uses 3 nm, i5-14401E uses 10 nm
• Die size: i5-14401E is 215 mm², no die size recorded for Core 3 304
• L1 cache: Core 3 304 has 192 KB total, i5-14401E has 80 KB per core
• L2 cache: Core 3 304 has 2.5 MB total, i5-14401E has 1.25 MB per core
• L3 cache: Core 3 304 has 6 MB shared, i5-14401E has 20 MB shared
• Memory support: Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, i5-14401E supports DDR4 and DDR5
• Memory bus: Core 3 304 is single-channel, i5-14401E is dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: Core 3 304 is rated at 59.7 GB/s, no figure recorded for i5-14401E
• ECC memory: Core 3 304 does not support it, i5-14401E supports it
• PCIe: Core 3 304 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes, i5-14401E offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe), i5-14401E uses UHD Graphics 730
• Market segment: Core 3 304 is mobile, i5-14401E is desktop
• Release date: Core 3 304 released April 2026, i5-14401E released June 2024
• Launch MSRP: Core 3 304 is $309, no MSRP recorded for i5-14401E

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14401E wins in all multi-threaded Cinebench tests, including R15 multicore (1830 versus 849), R20 multicore (7627 versus 4160), and R23 multicore (18161 versus 5263). It also wins in R20 singlecore (1076 versus 587) and R23 singlecore (2564 versus 1765). The i5-14401E is the processor to choose for multi-threaded rendering, video encoding, software compilation, and any workload that scales with thread count. Its 12 threads and 20 MB of L3 cache provide a substantial advantage in parallel processing.

The Core 3 304 wins only in Cinebench R15 singlecore (264 versus 258). This narrow victory suggests that its Wildcat Lake architecture, built on the 3 nm process, handles the R15 single-threaded instruction mix efficiently despite its lower clock speeds. The Core 3's 15 W TDP and mobile socket make it suitable for laptops and compact systems where power draw and thermals are constrained. Its single-channel memory and 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes limit expansion and memory bandwidth, but for light productivity tasks and legacy single-threaded applications, the Core 3 holds its own.

The i5-14401E also offers ECC memory support, which the Core 3 lacks, making it the better fit for workstation or reliability-focused builds. The Core 3's integrated Xe3 Graphics may provide better iGPU performance than the UHD Graphics 730, but no benchmark data is recorded in the database to confirm this. For users who need raw compute performance and desktop expandability, the i5-14401E is the documented winner. For users who prioritize low power consumption and a modern fabrication node in a mobile form factor, the Core 3 304 is the only choice between the two, as the i5-14401E is a desktop part.