Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison
Intel Core 3 304
Core i5-14500
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i5-14500
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark data presents an unusually one-sided picture. Across the seventeen head-to-head comparisons recorded in the database, the Intel Core i5-14500 takes every single win. The Intel Core 3 304 does not claim a single benchmark victory, whether in single-threaded, multi-threaded, or specialized workload tests. This is not a case of two processors trading blows in different scenarios; the i5-14500 dominates across the entire test suite.
The closest margins appear in single-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5-14500 leads by only 3.3%, scoring 273 against 264. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a 7.9% gap, with 1917 versus 1765. PassMark's single-thread test shows an 8.6% advantage for the i5-14500, scoring 3952 against 3614. These results indicate that the Core 3 304 has competitive single-thread performance, though it still trails in every recorded instance.
The multi-threaded gap is far more pronounced. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the i5-14500 at 15012 against 5263, a 64.9% deficit for the Core 3 304. PassMark multi-thread tells a similar story: 30777 versus 11625, a 62.2% gap. The largest single delta appears in PassMark integer math, where the i5-14500 scores 108124 against 24640, a 77.2% difference. The data indicates the Core 3 304 is best understood as a low-power mobile part, while the i5-14500 functions as a desktop workhorse.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process node. The Intel Core i5-14500 uses Raptor Lake-R, the Raptor Lake refresh architecture, and is manufactured on a 10 nm node. The process node difference is substantial, with the Core 3 304 using a much more advanced manufacturing process.
Core counts diverge sharply. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading or similar technology is enabled. The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement with performance and efficiency cores. Cache configurations reflect this disparity. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-14500 lists L1 as 80 KB per core, L2 as 1.25 MB per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The total L3 capacity is four times larger on the i5-14500.
Memory support differs in both type and channel configuration. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus; no specific bandwidth figure is recorded for it. ECC memory support exists on the i5-14500 but not on the Core 3 304.
PCIe capabilities favor the desktop part. The i5-14500 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core 3 304 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the i5-14500 uses UHD Graphics 770. The Core 3 304 is a mobile-market part on Intel BGA 1516, while the i5-14500 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. Clock speeds show the i5-14500 with a 2.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost, compared with 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost for the Core 3 304. Thermal design power is 15 W for the Core 3 304 and 65 W for the i5-14500.
The Verdict
The recorded data points to a clear segmentation. The Intel Core i5-14500 is the superior processor in every benchmark category measured. Its percentile ranking of 86 against all CPUs exceeds the Core 3 304's 68. The average benchmark score of 38531 for the i5-14500 dwarfs the 13745 average of the Core 3 304. The i5-14500's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T at a 0.1% delta, the Intel Xeon w3-2525 at 0.4%, the Intel Core 9 270H at 0.5%, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H at 0.6%. The Core 3 304 sits near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 0.3% delta, the Intel Core i7-8750H at 0.9%, the Intel Core 5 120UL at 1.1%, and the AMD EPYC 7443 at 1.4%.
The i5-14500 targets desktop workloads where multi-threaded performance matters. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, dual-channel memory, and Gen 5 PCIe support align with productivity, content creation, and compute-heavy tasks. The Core 3 304 targets mobile platforms where power efficiency and compact footprint matter. Its 15 W TDP, 3 nm process, and single-channel memory suit thin-and-light devices. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309. The launch MSRP for the i5-14500 is $232. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.
Users on a desktop platform with Socket 1700 support should choose the i5-14500 based on the data. Users constrained to BGA 1516 mobile platforms have the Core 3 304 as the option, with the understanding that its multi-threaded throughput is considerably lower.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?
A: The Intel Core i5-14500 scores 1917 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core 3 304 scores 1765. The i5-14500 leads by 7.9%.
Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R20?
A: The i5-14500 scores 10985 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, against 4160 for the Core 3 304. This is a 62.1% advantage for the i5-14500.
Q: What memory types does each processor support?
A: The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus.
Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?
A: The i5-14500 supports ECC memory. The Core 3 304 does not.
Q: What is the difference in process node?
A: The Core 3 304 uses a 3 nm process node. The i5-14500 uses a 10 nm process node.
Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?
A: The i5-14500 provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest margin in the entire comparison belongs to PassMark integer math. The i5-14500 scores 108124, while the Core 3 304 scores 24640. That is a 77.2% deficit for the Core 3 304. This test measures integer arithmetic throughput, and the 14-core desktop part simply overwhelms the 5-core mobile chip.
PassMark data compression shows a 69.1% gap. The i5-14500 scores 371294 against 114775 for the Core 3 304. The i5-14500 also leads PassMark random string sorting by 66.7%, scoring 40980 versus 13659. Floating-point math shows a 62.6% advantage for the i5-14500, with 79576 against 29722.
Cinebench tests follow a similar pattern. The R15 multi-core test has the i5-14500 at 2435 and the Core 3 304 at 849, a 65.1% gap. The R20 multi-core test shows 10985 against 4160, a 62.1% gap. The R23 multi-core test shows 15012 against 5263, a 64.9% gap. The single-core versions of these tests show much smaller gaps: 3.3% in R15, 62.1% in R20 single-core (the same percentage as the R20 multi-core result), and 7.9% in R23. The R20 single-core result of 1550 against 587 stands out as an anomaly relative to the other single-core tests, which show much narrower margins.
PassMark encryption shows the i5-14500 at 21457 against 8501, a 60.4% gap. Extended instructions show 22473 against 9686, a 56.9% gap. Prime number finding shows 106 against 68, a 35.8% gap. Physics simulation shows 1746 against 868, a 50.3% gap. The PassMark multi-thread test shows 30777 against 11625, a 62.2% gap. The PassMark single-thread test shows 3952 against 3614, an 8.6% gap.
The narrowest margins throughout the data are in single-threaded tests. The R15 single-core gap of 3.3% and the R23 single-core gap of 7.9% indicate that the Core 3 304's single-core performance is respectable. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock on a 3 nm process delivers competitive per-thread throughput. The i5-14500 still wins, but not by the overwhelming margins seen in multi-threaded tests. This suggests that for lightly threaded workloads, the Core 3 304 is a credible performer. For any workload that scales across cores, the i5-14500's advantage is decisive.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count: the Core 3 304 has 5 cores, the i5-14500 has 14. Thread count: 5 versus 20. Base clock: 1.50 GHz versus 2.60 GHz. Boost clock: 4.30 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP: 15 W versus 65 W. Socket: Intel BGA 1516 versus Intel Socket 1700. Codename: Wildcat Lake versus Raptor Lake-R. Process node: 3 nm versus 10 nm. Die size: no recorded value for the Core 3 304, 215 mm² for the i5-14500.
Cache: L1 is 192 KB total for the Core 3 304, while the i5-14500 lists 80 KB per core. L2 is 2.5 MB for the Core 3 304, while the i5-14500 lists 1.25 MB per core. L3 is 6 MB shared for the Core 3 304, 24 MB shared for the i5-14500. Memory: DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 3 304; DDR4 and DDR5 for the i5-14500. Memory bus: single-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s for the Core 3 304, none recorded for the i5-14500. ECC: false for the Core 3 304, true for the i5-14500. PCIe: Gen 4 with 6 lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) versus UHD Graphics 770. Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop. Release date: 2026-04-15 for the Core 3 304, 2024-01-07 for the i5-14500. Launch MSRP: $309 for the Core 3 304, $232 for the i5-14500. Multiplier unlocked: false for both.