Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i5-14600T Comparison

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core i5-14600T occupy very different positions in the database, and the benchmark data reflects a clear hierarchy. The i5-14600T holds a decisive performance advantage across every recorded workload, while the Core 3 304 counters with a far lower thermal envelope and a newer process node. The data shows a 138% higher average benchmark score for the i5-14600T, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs compared to the 68th percentile for the Core 3 304.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-14600T dominates every single benchmark in the comparison, but the magnitude of the victory varies significantly by workload type. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i5-14600T scores 22447 against 5263 for the Core 3 304, a 76.6% difference. This result indicates a massive multi-threaded advantage that scales directly with the i5-14600T's core and thread count.

Integer math shows a similar pattern. The i5-14600T delivers 95112 in PassMark integer math, while the Core 3 304 manages 24640, a 74.1% deficit. Data compression favors the i5-14600T by 62%, with scores of 301827 versus 114775. Random string sorting also goes heavily to the i5-14600T, which scores 34310 compared to 13659, a 60.2% gap.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows the i5-14600T at 9427 versus 4160 for the Core 3 304, a 55.9% difference. The same 55.9% delta appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-14600T scores 1330 and the Core 3 304 scores 587. Floating point math follows with a 54.1% gap, 64726 against 29722. PassMark multithread scores show a 56% difference at 26409 versus 11625, and physics tests show a 53.7% gap at 1873 versus 868.

Data encryption favors the i5-14600T by 53.4%, with scores of 18226 and 8501. Prime number finding shows a 43.8% gap, 121 versus 68. Extended instructions give the i5-14600T a 43% edge at 16985 versus 9686. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 62.5% gap, 2262 versus 849, while the R15 single-core test shows a 17.2% gap at 319 versus 264.

The closest result is PassMark single-thread, where the i5-14600T leads by only 3.5%, scoring 3744 against 3614. This narrow margin shows that while the i5-14600T wins every test, single-core performance is the area where the Core 3 304 is most competitive. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 44.3% gap at 3169 versus 1765, which is larger than the PassMark single-thread gap but still smaller than the multicore deltas.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in their underlying design. The Core 3 304 uses 5 cores and 5 threads, while the i5-14600T uses 14 cores and 20 threads. The i5-14600T combines performance and efficiency cores, which explains its 20 threads from 14 cores, whereas the Core 3 304 offers one thread per core.

Process technology separates the two by a wide margin. The Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm node, while the i5-14600T uses a 10 nm node. The Core 3 304 belongs to the Wildcat Lake family, and the i5-14600T is part of Raptor Lake-R under the Raptor Lake architecture. The i5-14600T has a die size of 257 mm², while the Core 3 304 has no recorded die size.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14600T has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 allocation on the i5-14600T directly supports its higher multicore throughput.

Memory support also distinguishes the two. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory through a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5-14600T supports DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus with no recorded bandwidth figure. The i5-14600T includes ECC memory support, while the Core 3 304 does not.

PCIe capabilities favor the i5-14600T. It provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, and the i5-14600T uses UHD Graphics 770.

Clock speeds show the i5-14600T at 1.80 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost, compared to 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost for the Core 3 304. Power draw is inverted relative to performance: the Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 watts, and the i5-14600T has a TDP of 35 watts. The i5-14600T targets the desktop segment on Socket 1700, while the Core 3 304 targets mobile on Intel BGA 1516.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a straightforward conclusion. The i5-14600T wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks in the database, including every Cinebench and PassMark test. Its average benchmark score of 32707 places it among CPUs like the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and AMD Ryzen 5 7400F, with deltas of 0% and -0.1% respectively. The Core 3 304 averages 13745, sitting near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX with a -0.3% delta.

The i5-14600T is the choice for workloads that scale with cores, threads, and cache. Its 14 cores, 20 threads, and 24 MB of L3 cache deliver 76.6% higher Cinebench R23 multicore scores and 74.1% higher integer math scores. The 3.5% single-thread lead in PassMark shows that the Core 3 304 is not far behind in lightly threaded tasks, but the i5-14600T still wins those tests.

The Core 3 304 has one clear advantage: power consumption. At 15 watts TDP versus 35 watts, it draws less than half the power of the i5-14600T. The database shows the Core 3 304 as a mobile part with a 3 nm node, which explains its efficiency profile. For systems where energy draw is the primary constraint, the Core 3 304 offers a 68th percentile performance standing at a fraction of the power envelope.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600T has an average benchmark score of 32707, compared to 13745 for the Intel Core 3 304. The i5-14600T sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 304 sits in the 68th percentile.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: The i5-14600T leads by 76.6% in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 22447 versus 5263. PassMark multithread shows a 56% gap at 26409 versus 11625.

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

A: The PassMark single-thread test shows only a 3.5% gap, with the i5-14600T scoring 3744 and the Core 3 304 scoring 3614. Other single-thread tests show larger gaps, including 44.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 watts, and the i5-14600T has a TDP of 35 watts. The Core 3 304 uses a 3 nm process node, while the i5-14600T uses a 10 nm node.

Q: Do the two CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-14600T supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600T supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 304 does not.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14600T wins every benchmark in the database, so the use-case split is not about workload type but about constraints. The i5-14600T wins in any scenario where CPU throughput matters: rendering, compilation, data compression, encryption, and physics calculations. Its 14 cores and 20 threads provide a 62% advantage in data compression and a 53.4% edge in encryption. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory bus support sustained multi-threaded operations.

The Core 3 304 wins in scenarios where power draw is the limiting factor. Its 15 watt TDP allows deployment in compact mobile systems where the 35 watt i5-14600T would not fit thermally. The 3 nm node gives the Core 3 304 a process advantage that offsets its lower core count. For single-threaded tasks, the Core 3 304 comes within 3.5% of the i5-14600T in PassMark, showing that its Wildcat Lake architecture is efficient at light loads.

The i5-14600T also wins on platform capability. It offers PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, ECC memory support, and a desktop socket with a 257 mm² die. The Core 3 304 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes and no ECC. The i5-14600T reaches a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, and the Core 3 304 reaches 4.30 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every recorded specification. Core count: 5 cores for the Core 3 304, 14 cores for the i5-14600T. Thread count: 5 versus 20. Base clock: 1.50 GHz versus 1.80 GHz. Boost clock: 4.30 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. TDP: 15 watts versus 35 watts. Socket: Intel BGA 1516 versus Intel Socket 1700. Process node: 3 nm versus 10 nm.

Cache: 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3 for the Core 3 304; 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3 for the i5-14600T. Memory: DDR5 and LPDDR5X single-channel with 59.7 GB/s for the Core 3 304; DDR4 and DDR5 dual-channel for the i5-14600T. ECC: unsupported on the Core 3 304, supported on the i5-14600T. PCIe: Gen 4 with 6 lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe versus UHD Graphics 770. Market segment: mobile versus desktop. Die size: not recorded for the Core 3 304, 257 mm² for the i5-14600T.