CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core i5-9500 represent two very different eras of Intel design, one a modern low-power mobile part built on a 3 nm node and the other a legacy 14 nm desktop processor. While both CPUs occupy the same performance percentile tier, their benchmark profiles diverge sharply depending on the workload. The data shows a clear split: the Core 3 304 dominates in single-threaded and encryption tasks, while the i5-9500 fights back in sustained multi-core rendering and specific memory-sensitive operations.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation occurs in single-threaded performance. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 3 304 scores 264 against the i5-9500’s 109, a massive 142.2% advantage. This gap narrows in newer tests but remains decisive: Cinebench R23 single-core shows the Core 3 304 at 1765 versus 1087, a 62.4% lead. PassMark single-thread results reinforce this, with the Core 3 304 scoring 3614 compared to 2565, a 40.9% delta. The architectural efficiency of the Wildcat Lake core is evident; it sustains a 4.30 GHz boost clock just like the i5-9500, but delivers far more work per cycle.

Multi-core results are more nuanced. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Core 3 304 wins with 4160 against 3236, a 28.6% margin, and in R15 multicore it takes 849 versus 776 (9.4% ahead). However, the i5-9500 flips the script in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 7705 versus 5263, a 31.7% victory. This inversion is notable because the 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the 9500 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The longer R23 workload appears to favor the 9500’s extra physical core and larger shared L3 cache, allowing it to sustain output where the 304’s single-thread advantage fades.

The PassMark suite shows a similar pattern of workload-dependent wins. The Core 3 304 dominates in data encryption (8501 vs 3125, a 172% lead), prime number finding (68 vs 36, 88.9% ahead), physics (868 vs 619, 40.2% ahead), and floating-point math (29722 vs 23788, 24.9% ahead). It also wins PassMark multithread overall (11625 vs 9826, 18.3% ahead). Conversely, the i5-9500 takes data compression (136283 vs 114775, 15.8% ahead), extended instructions (12088 vs 9686, 19.9% ahead), integer math (27574 vs 24640, 10.6% ahead), and random string sorting (16894 vs 13659, 19.1% ahead). The final tally is 12 wins for the Core 3 304 versus 5 for the i5-9500, but the 9500’s wins are in throughput-heavy, data-movement-bound tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process node, fabricated by Intel itself. It is a mobile-market part with a 15 W TDP and an Intel BGA 1516 socket. The i5-9500, by contrast, is a Coffee Lake Refresh part on a 14 nm node, also Intel-made, but designed for the desktop segment with a 65 W TDP and Intel Socket 1151. This process gap explains much of the performance delta: the 304 achieves a 1.50 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost, while the 9500 runs a 3.00 GHz base and the same 4.30 GHz boost, but burns over four times the power to do so.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-9500 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. With six cores, the 9500 effectively has more aggregate L1 and L2 (384 KB and 1.5 MB respectively), plus 50% more L3. This larger cache pool likely contributes to its wins in data compression and random string sorting, which are cache-resident workloads. The 304’s smaller cache, shared across fewer cores, still delivers superior single-thread performance due to its newer microarchitecture.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The i5-9500 uses DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, providing 42.7 GB/s. Despite the 304’s higher theoretical bandwidth, the 9500’s dual-channel configuration may offer lower latency in certain access patterns, explaining its edge in integer math and extended instructions. PCIe connectivity also differs: the 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the 9500 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, making the older part more flexible for desktop expansion.

Integrated graphics are distinct as well. The Core 3 304 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, a modern architecture. The i5-9500 uses the older UHD 630. Neither is a gaming powerhouse, but the Xe3 architecture in the 304 is several generations newer. Notably, the 304 is an active production part released in April 2026, while the 9500 is end-of-life, released in late 2018.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 wins all single-thread benchmarks by a wide margin. It leads by 142.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 62.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 40.9% in PassMark single-thread.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: Results are mixed. The Core 3 304 wins Cinebench R20 multicore by 28.6% (4160 vs 3236) and PassMark multithread by 18.3% (11625 vs 9826), but the i5-9500 wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 31.7% (7705 vs 5263).

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth?

A: The Core 3 304 has higher peak bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s using DDR5/LPDDR5X, compared to the i5-9500’s 42.7 GB/s with DDR4. However, the 9500 uses a dual-channel bus while the 304 is single-channel.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. The i5-9500 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Neither supports Hyper-Threading, so threads equal cores in both cases.

Q: Which chip is more power-efficient?

A: The Core 3 304 has a 15 W TDP versus the i5-9500’s 65 W TDP. The 304 achieves higher or comparable performance in most benchmarks while consuming significantly less power, per the TDP ratings.

Q: Is one better for encryption workloads?

A: The Core 3 304 is overwhelmingly better, scoring 8501 in PassMark data encryption versus the i5-9500’s 3125, a 172% advantage. Its modern microarchitecture clearly accelerates cryptographic instructions.

The Verdict

The data points to different optimal use cases for each processor. The Intel Core 3 304 is the clear choice for any workload that prioritizes single-thread responsiveness, encryption, or power efficiency. Its 15 W TDP, combined with 40.9% higher PassMark single-thread scores and a 172% encryption advantage, makes it ideal for mobile or compact systems where thermals are constrained. It also wins the majority of benchmark comparisons (12 of 17), including all Cinebench R15 and R20 tests.

The Intel Core i5-9500 remains competitive in specific multi-threaded and data-intensive scenarios. Its 31.7% win in Cinebench R23 multicore suggests it can sustain longer rendering tasks better, likely due to its extra core and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. It also leads in data compression (15.8%), extended instructions (19.9%), integer math (10.6%), and random string sorting (19.1%), making it suitable for number-crunching or database-style workloads. However, its 65 W TDP and end-of-life status are significant drawbacks.

From a pure benchmark average, the two are nearly tied: the Core 3 304 averages 13745 versus the i5-9500’s 13452, a difference of roughly 2%. Both sit at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the 304 include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (0.3% higher average) and Intel Core 5 120UL (1.1% lower), while the 9500’s closest competitors are the Intel Core 3 N355 and Core i3-12100F, both within 0.3% of its average score. Buyers should choose the 304 for modern efficiency and single-thread dominance, or the 9500 if sustained multi-core throughput in legacy desktop platforms is the priority.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core i5-9500 |

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

| Cores | 5 | 6 |

| Threads | 5 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 9 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | UHD 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2018-10-18 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 |, |