Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core 3 304 and the Intel Core i5-14490F is strikingly one-sided. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Core i5-14490F takes every single win. The Core 3 304 records zero victories in the measured database entries. This is not a close contest by any metric; the deltas range from a modest 6.7% single-thread gap to a crushing 77.1% deficit in multi-core rendering.

The most dramatic separation appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Core i5-14490F scores 23000, while the Core 3 304 manages 5263. That is a 77.1% advantage for the desktop part. The gap narrows somewhat in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i5-14490F posts 9660 versus 4160, a 56.9% lead. Even the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the same pattern: 2318 for the i5-14490F against 849 for the Core 3 304, a 63.4% difference.

Single-core performance tells a different story in terms of scale, though the winner remains unchanged. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-14490F scores 3247 versus 1765, a 45.6% lead. The PassMark single-thread test shows a much tighter race: 3873 against 3614, only 6.7% apart. That narrow margin suggests the Core 3 304's architecture has competitive per-thread efficiency, but it cannot overcome the i5-14490F's higher boost clock and larger core configuration.

Integer math is another area where the i5-14490F runs away. PassMark integer math scores 87844 for the i5-14490F and 24640 for the Core 3 304, a 72% deficit. Floating-point math shows a 55.3% gap: 66558 versus 29722. Data compression follows with 340026 against 114775, a 66.2% difference. Data encryption shows 18225 versus 8501, a 53.4% lead for the i5-14490F. Extended instructions land at 21731 versus 9686, a 55.4% gap.

The multithread PassMark score reinforces the pattern: 28662 for the i5-14490F, 11625 for the Core 3 304, a 59.4% difference. Physics simulation scores 2093 against 868, a 58.5% gap. Random string sorting shows 35608 versus 13659, a 61.6% deficit. Prime number finding is the closest compute test at 122 versus 68, still a 44.3% advantage for the i5-14490F.

The average benchmark score tells the overall story. The Core i5-14490F sits at 38149, while the Core 3 304 averages 13745. The i5-14490F also ranks in the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database, compared to the 68th percentile for the Core 3 304. The nearest rivals for each part underline their respective neighborhoods: the Core 3 304 trades nearly evenly with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13786 (0.3% difference) and the Intel Core i7-8750H at 13868 (0.9% difference). The i5-14490F sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T and within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 250.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-14490F wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set. No recorded test favors the Core 3 304. The i5-14490F delivers a 77.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and a 72% lead in PassMark integer math, both enormous margins for processors in the same manufacturer lineup. The only narrow result is PassMark single-thread, where the i5-14490F leads by 6.7%, which still counts as a win.

The Core 3 304 is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, designed for efficiency in compact systems. The i5-14490F is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, built for sustained throughput. The benchmark data reflects that positioning. Anyone selecting between these two based purely on recorded performance should choose the i5-14490F, as it dominates in every measured category. The Core 3 304 does not offer a single category where it outperforms its rival, so the database offers no evidence for preferring it on performance grounds.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i5-14490F wins in every recorded workload category. Multi-threaded rendering, single-thread responsiveness, integer and floating-point math, encryption, compression, physics simulation, and sorting all go to the desktop part. The largest margins appear in heavily parallel workloads: Cinebench R23 multi-core at 77.1% and integer math at 72%. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread at 6.7%, which still favors the i5-14490F.

The Core 3 304 wins nowhere in the recorded benchmarks. Its closest result is the PassMark single-thread test, where it trails by only 6.7%, indicating that its single-core architecture is relatively strong for a mobile chip. But that is a close loss, not a win. In all other tests, the gap is at least 19.3% (Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i5-14490F scores 327 versus 264) and frequently exceeds 55%. The Core 3 304's integrated Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) is a feature the i5-14490F lacks entirely, since the desktop part has no integrated graphics, but that does not appear in the benchmark scores.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 23000 versus 5263 for the Core 3 304, a 77.1% lead. The PassMark multithread score is 28662 versus 11625, a 59.4% lead.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap as large as the multi-core gap?

A: No. The single-thread gap is much smaller. PassMark single-thread shows 3873 for the i5-14490F and 3614 for the Core 3 304, only 6.7% apart. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger 45.6% gap: 3247 versus 1765.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-14490F averages 38149, while the Core 3 304 averages 13745. The i5-14490F sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 68th percentile for the Core 3 304.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus. The i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The Core 3 304 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe). The i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, listed as N/A.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families and target different physical formats. The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process node. It is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1516 socket. The i5-14490F belongs to the Raptor Lake family, specifically Raptor Lake-R, built on a 10 nm process node and mounted on Intel Socket 1700 for desktop systems.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Core 3 304 provides 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i5-14490F provides 10 cores and 16 threads, indicating a mix of performance and efficiency cores plus hyper-threading support. The i5-14490F's die size is listed at 215 mm², while the Core 3 304 has no recorded die size.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-14490F has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. The i5-14490F's larger shared L3 cache aligns with its higher core count and desktop positioning.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus; no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. PCIe connectivity differs: the Core 3 304 uses Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the i5-14490F uses Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

The Core 3 304 includes integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe), a feature absent from the i5-14490F, which lists integrated graphics as N/A. The i5-14490F also carries a part number SRN35, while the Core 3 304 carries SAE3K. Both processors have locked multipliers. The Core 3 304's launch MSRP is $309; the i5-14490F has no launch MSRP recorded.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ in the database.

| Field | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core i5-14490F |

|-------|------------------|----------------------|

| Series | None | Core 14th Gen |

| Cores | 5 | 10 |

| Threads | 5 | 16 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | None | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Raptor Lake-R |

| Generation | Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh) |

| Process node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Die size | None | 215 mm² |

| L1 cache | 192 KB | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | None |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | N/A |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2026-04-15 | 2023-12-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | None |

| Part number | SAE3K | SRN35 |

| Average benchmark score | 13745 | 38149 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 68 | 86 |

The release dates place the Core 3 304 as a newer product, arriving in April 2026, while the i5-14490F launched in December 2023. The process node advantage goes to the Core 3 304 at 3 nm versus 10 nm, which helps explain its lower 15 W TDP. The i5-14490F counters with higher clocks, more cores, more cache, and a dual-channel memory interface. The benchmark data shows that the older, larger, higher-power desktop part wins every measured test.