Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i5-14500HX Comparison

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core i5-14500HX occupy different tiers of the mobile processor market, and the benchmark data reflects a clear performance hierarchy. The Core i5-14500HX wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded, while the Core 3 304 achieves a 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to the Core i5-14500HX’s 84th percentile. The Core 3 304 posts an average benchmark score of 13745, placing it near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13786, -0.3%) and the Intel Core 5 120UL (13594, 1.1%). The Core i5-14500HX, with an average score of 35094, sits alongside the Intel Core i9-12900HX (35003, 0.3%) and the Intel Core i7-12700K (35287, -0.5%). The average score gap between the two processors is substantial, with the Core i5-14500HX delivering roughly 2.55 times the average benchmark score of the Core 3 304.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core i5-14500HX across all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Core 3 304 does not win a single test. This makes the use-case split straightforward: the Core i5-14500HX is the stronger processor for every workload category represented in the database, including multi-core rendering, single-core tasks, data compression, encryption, and mathematical operations.

The Core 3 304’s closest contest appears in single-threaded PassMark testing, where it scores 3614 against the Core i5-14500HX’s 3629, a delta of only -0.4%. This near parity in single-thread performance means the Core 3 304 remains competitive for lightly threaded applications. However, the gap widens dramatically in multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core i5-14500HX scores 24234 versus 5263 for the Core 3 304, a -78.3% delta. Data compression shows a similar pattern, with the Core i5-14500HX reaching 333851 against 114775, a -65.6% delta.

The Core i5-14500HX also leads in integer math by a wide margin, scoring 95584 versus 24640, a -74.2% delta. Floating-point math follows with 69442 versus 29722, a -57.2% delta. The Core 3 304 does offer a lower power envelope, with a 15 W TDP versus the Core i5-14500HX’s 55 W TDP, which positions it for thermally constrained designs, but the performance data consistently favors the Core i5-14500HX.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core i5-14500HX is built on Raptor Lake-HX architecture using a 10 nm process node. The Core 3 304 belongs to the Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) generation, whereas the Core i5-14500HX is part of the Core 14th Gen series in the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh generation.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, indicating no hyper-threading, while the Core i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, reflecting a hybrid configuration with performance and efficiency cores. Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-14500HX lists 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i5-14500HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus, and its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The Core 3 304 does not support ECC memory, while the Core i5-14500HX does.

PCIe capabilities also vary. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core i5-14500HX provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 3 304 featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) and the Core i5-14500HX featuring UHD Graphics 770. The Core i5-14500HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 304 does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest performance gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Core i5-14500HX scores 24234, while the Core 3 304 scores 5263, a delta of -78.3%. This indicates the Core i5-14500HX delivers more than 4.6 times the multi-core rendering performance of the Core 3 304. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar trend: 10178 versus 4160, a -59.1% delta. Cinebench R15 multi-core records 2442 versus 849, a -65.2% delta.

Single-core Cinebench results favor the Core i5-14500HX by smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i5-14500HX scores 3421 versus 1765, a -48.4% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1436 versus 587, a -59.1% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core records 344 versus 264, a -23.3% delta.

PassMark integer math shows a large divergence: 95584 for the Core i5-14500HX versus 24640 for the Core 3 304, a -74.2% delta. Data compression follows with 333851 versus 114775, a -65.6% delta. Random string sorting records 36219 versus 13659, a -62.3% delta. Multithread performance shows 28508 versus 11625, a -59.2% delta. Floating-point math records 69442 versus 29722, a -57.2% delta. Data encryption shows 19502 versus 8501, a -56.4% delta. Physics scores 1911 versus 868, a -54.6% delta. Extended instructions record 20019 versus 9686, a -51.6% delta. Find prime numbers shows 130 versus 68, a -47.7% delta.

The narrowest margin appears in PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, where the Core i5-14500HX scores 3629 versus 3614, a delta of only -0.4%. This near tie indicates that for single-threaded workloads, the Core 3 304 is nearly equivalent to the Core i5-14500HX.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several recorded specifications. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Core i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 304 and 2.60 GHz for the Core i5-14500HX. Boost clocks are 4.30 GHz and 4.90 GHz, respectively. TDP is 15 W for the Core 3 304 and 55 W for the Core i5-14500HX.

The Core 3 304 uses an Intel BGA 1516 socket, while the Core i5-14500HX uses an Intel BGA 1964 socket. Process nodes differ, with the Core 3 304 at 3 nm and the Core i5-14500HX at 10 nm. The Core i5-14500HX has a recorded die size of 257 mm², while the Core 3 304 has no recorded die size. The Core 3 304 carries the part number SAE3K, and the Core i5-14500HX carries SRMXJ.

Memory support differs, with the Core 3 304 supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus, and the Core i5-14500HX supporting DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is supported only on the Core i5-14500HX. PCIe is Gen 4 with 6 lanes on the Core 3 304, versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the Core i5-14500HX. The Core 3 304 has an integrated graphics unit of Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe), while the Core i5-14500HX has UHD Graphics 770. The Core i5-14500HX has an unlocked multiplier, which the Core 3 304 lacks. The Core 3 304 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core i5-14500HX has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 24234 versus 5263 for the Core 3 304, a -78.3% delta. PassMark multithread shows 28508 versus 11625, a -59.2% delta.

Q: How close is single-threaded performance between the two?

A: The PassMark single-thread test shows the Core i5-14500HX at 3629 and the Core 3 304 at 3614, a delta of only -0.4%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger gap at -48.4%, with 3421 versus 1765.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. The Core i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Do the processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus. The Core i5-14500HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is supported only on the Core i5-14500HX.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Core i5-14500HX has a TDP of 55 W.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the database’s overall ranking?

A: The Core 3 304 ranks at the 68th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 13745. The Core i5-14500HX ranks at the 84th percentile with an average benchmark score of 35094.