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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data separates these two processors into distinct performance classes. Across 17 head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i5-14500T wins 16, while the Intel Core 3 304 takes only a single victory. That lone win comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core 3 304 scores 264 against 252 for the i5-14500T, a 4.8 percent advantage. This result indicates that the Core 3 304 holds a small edge in this particular legacy single-threaded workload, but the pattern does not repeat elsewhere.

In the more modern Cinebench R20 single-core test, the i5-14500T reverses the outcome. It scores 1154 versus 587 for the Core 3 304, a 49.1 percent lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core result narrows that gap somewhat, with the i5-14500T at 1838 and the Core 3 304 at 1765, a 4 percent difference. The PassMark single-thread test also favors the i5-14500T, scoring 3736 against 3614, a 3.3 percent margin. These figures suggest that the Core 3 304 can compete in older single-thread workloads, but the i5-14500T generally pulls ahead in newer tests.

Multi-core performance shows a far more lopsided comparison. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test has the i5-14500T at 2022 and the Core 3 304 at 849, a 58 percent deficit for the smaller chip. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 8177 for the i5-14500T versus 4160 for the Core 3 304, a 49.1 percent gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows with 11790 versus 5263, a 55.4 percent difference. These results consistently place the i5-14500T at roughly double the multi-threaded throughput of the Core 3 304.

The PassMark suite reinforces this multi-core dominance. Integer math scores 80922 for the i5-14500T against 24640 for the Core 3 304, the largest delta in the dataset at 69.6 percent. Floating-point math shows 58869 versus 29722, a 49.5 percent gap. Data compression scores 262417 versus 114775, a 56.3 percent difference. Multithread scoring gives 22910 to the i5-14500T and 11625 to the Core 3 304, a 49.3 percent margin. Data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, and random string sorting all favor the i5-14500T with deltas ranging from 16 percent to 52 percent.

The overall average benchmark score tells the same story. The i5-14500T records 28065, while the Core 3 304 records 13745. The i5-14500T sits at the 80th percentile among all CPUs in the database, whereas the Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i5-14500T include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE with a 0 percent delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G with a 0.1 percent delta, and the Intel Core i9-12900H with a 0.2 percent delta. The Core 3 304 sits near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at a 0.3 percent delta in the opposite direction, the Intel Core i7-8750H at 0.9 percent, and the Intel Core 5 120UL at 1.1 percent.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500T wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 3 304 wins only one, the Cinebench R15 single-core test.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap between the two?

A: The i5-14500T leads by 58 percent in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 49.1 percent in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 55.4 percent in Cinebench R23 multi-core. PassMark multithread shows a 49.3 percent gap.

Q: Is the Core 3 304 competitive in single-core workloads?

A: It wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 4.8 percent, but loses Cinebench R20 single-core by 49.1 percent, Cinebench R23 single-core by 4 percent, and PassMark single-thread by 3.3 percent. The data shows mixed results depending on the test.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i5-14500T has an average benchmark score of 28065, while the Core 3 304 has an average of 13745. The i5-14500T also records a higher percentile rank at 80 versus 68.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor according to the database?

A: For the Core i5-14500T, the nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE at a 0 percent delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655G at 0.1 percent, and the Intel Core i9-12900H at 0.2 percent. For the Core 3 304, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at a 0.3 percent delta, the Intel Core i7-8750H at 0.9 percent, and the Intel Core 5 120UL at 1.1 percent.

Q: Does the Core 3 304 have any benchmark where it outperforms the i5-14500T by a wide margin?

A: No. Its only win is the Cinebench R15 single-core test, and that margin is 4.8 percent. In every other recorded test, the i5-14500T leads, with the smallest margins being around 3.3 percent in PassMark single-thread tests.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core i5-14500T is the stronger processor in nearly every measured workload. Its multi-core results are roughly double those of the Intel Core 3 304 across Cinebench and PassMark tests, and its single-core results are consistently ahead in newer benchmarks. The average benchmark score of 28065 places it at the 80th percentile, while the Core 3 304 at 13745 sits at the 68th percentile.

For workloads that emphasize multi-threaded throughput, such as rendering, data compression, encryption, or physics calculations, the i5-14500T is the appropriate choice. The data shows margins of 49 to 70 percent in these categories, which represents a substantial practical difference in execution time. The i5-14500T also leads in integer and floating-point math, making it better suited for computational tasks that rely on these operations.

The Core 3 304 is the better option only if the workload specifically matches its Cinebench R15 single-core strength. That single result, however, does not generalize to other single-threaded tests. The i5-14500T wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 49.1 percent, Cinebench R23 single-core by 4 percent, and PassMark single-thread by 3.3 percent. The Core 3 304's advantage is confined to one legacy benchmark.

The i5-14500T also holds a higher rank among all CPUs in the database, 80th percentile versus 68th. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE and the Intel Core i9-12900H, which places it in a competitive performance tier. The Core 3 304's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and the Intel Core i7-8750H, indicating a lower overall performance class.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several fundamental specifications. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Intel Core i5-14500T has 14 cores and 20 threads. This thread count difference explains much of the multi-core benchmark gap. The Core 3 304 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The i5-14500T has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Both clocks are higher on the i5-14500T, contributing to its advantage in single-threaded tests.

Thermal design power differs as well. The Core 3 304 is rated at 15 watts, while the i5-14500T is rated at 35 watts. The higher power envelope of the i5-14500T supports its additional cores and higher clock speeds.

The socket and form factor are distinct. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, a soldered mobile socket, while the i5-14500T uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop LGA socket. The Core 3 304 is classified as a mobile processor, while the i5-14500T is classified as a desktop processor.

Memory support also differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i5-14500T supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus. The i5-14500T also supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 304 does not.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU. The i5-14500T provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the i5-14500T uses UHD Graphics 770.

The i5-14500T has a launch MSRP of $232. The Core 3 304 has a launch MSRP of $309.

Architecture Differences

The architecture of these two processors reflects different design generations and process nodes. The Intel Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process node and uses the Wildcat Lake codename. Its generation is listed as Core 3 (Wildcat Lake). The Intel Core i5-14500T uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-R, and its generation is Core i5 (Raptor Lake Refresh). The process node for the i5-14500T is 10 nm.

The cache configurations are notably different. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14500T has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14500T's larger shared L3 cache provides substantially more on-chip storage for frequently accessed data.

The die size is recorded only for the i5-14500T at 215 mm². No die size figure is available for the Core 3 304 in the database. Both processors are manufactured by Intel, and both have active production status.

The release dates differ by more than two years. The i5-14500T was released on 2024-01-07, while the Core 3 304 was released on 2026-04-15. The part numbers are SRN3P for the i5-14500T and SAE3K for the Core 3 304. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14500T is the dominant choice for multi-threaded workloads. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests all show leads between 49.1 percent and 58 percent. PassMark multithread confirms this with a 49.3 percent advantage. Integer math shows the largest gap at 69.6 percent, indicating that the i5-14500T is particularly strong in compute-heavy integer operations. Floating-point math follows with a 49.5 percent lead.

Data compression and encryption workloads favor the i5-14500T substantially. Data compression scores 262417 versus 114775, a 56.3 percent difference. Data encryption scores 15410 versus 8501, a 44.8 percent difference. These results indicate that the i5-14500T handles file archiving, database workloads, and cryptographic operations with significantly higher throughput.

Physics calculations and extended instruction workloads also favor the i5-14500T. Physics scores 1288 versus 868, a 32.6 percent lead. Extended instructions score 16043 versus 9686, a 39.6 percent lead. Random string sorting shows 28462 versus 13659, a 52 percent lead. Prime number finding is closer, with 81 versus 68, a 16 percent lead.

The Intel Core 3 304 wins only in Cinebench R15 single-core, scoring 264 versus 252 for the i5-14500T. This 4.8 percent margin is the sole benchmark where the Core 3 304 leads. In all other single-threaded tests, the i5-14500T wins, with margins from 3.3 percent in PassMark single-thread to 49.1 percent in Cinebench R20 single-core.

Given the data, the i5-14500T is suited for desktop systems running rendering, compilation, data analysis, or any workload that can use 20 threads. The Core 3 304 is suited for mobile systems where the 15-watt thermal envelope and single-channel memory are acceptable, but its performance ceiling is markedly lower. The benchmark record does not identify any workload category where the Core 3 304 consistently outperforms the i5-14500T beyond the single Cinebench R15 result.