CPU Comparison

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core i7-1250U are two mobile processors with contrasting designs and benchmark profiles. The data shows a clear split: the Core 3 304 wins the majority of head-to-head tests, but the i7-1250U takes decisive victories in specific workloads. The Core 3 304 is the newer silicon, fabricated on a 3 nm node, and posts a higher average benchmark score of 13745 compared to the i7-1250U's 13351. Both processors land in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, indicating similar overall standing, yet their performance characteristics diverge sharply depending on the task.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant win for the Intel Core i7-1250U comes in the PassMark integer math test, where it scores 40328 against the Core 3 304's 24640, a 38.9% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across all tests. The i7-1250U also dominates in Cinebench R23 multicore, scoring 7069 versus 5263, a 25.5% lead, and in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 1172.94 against 849, a 27.6% margin. These results indicate a strong sustained multi-threaded capability that the Core 3 304 cannot match.

However, the Intel Core 3 304 counters with a commanding 49.1% lead in PassMark extended instructions, scoring 9686 against the i7-1250U's 6497. It also wins the single-thread battle decisively: in PassMark single thread, it scores 3614 versus 2703, a 33.7% advantage. The Core 3 304 also wins Cinebench R23 singlecore (1765 vs 1574, a 12.1% lead) and Cinebench R15 singlecore (264 vs 226, a 16.8% lead). The Core 3 304 takes Cinebench R20 multicore (4160 vs 3983, a 4.4% win) and R20 singlecore (587 vs 562, a 4.4% win), showing it can also hold its own in some multi-threaded scenarios.

The Core 3 304 wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head tests. Its other victories include PassMark data encryption (8501 vs 7642, an 11.2% lead), find prime numbers (68 vs 58, a 17.2% lead), floating point math (29722 vs 26625, an 11.6% lead), multithread (11625 vs 11329, a 2.6% lead), and random string sorting (13659 vs 13593, a narrow 0.5% lead). The i7-1250U wins 5 tests, including PassMark data compression (119280 vs 114775, a 3.8% lead) and physics (881 vs 868, a 1.5% lead). The overall pattern is clear: the Core 3 304 is a superior single-thread performer with strong efficiency in specific instruction sets, while the i7-1250U excels in integer-heavy multi-threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is fabricated on a 3 nm process node at Intel's foundry. It features 5 cores and 5 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-1250U, by contrast, is based on the Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-U codename, using a 10 nm process node. It has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1100.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache is larger: 80 KB per core of L1, 1.25 MB per core of L2, and 12 MB of shared L3.

Memory support also differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The i7-1250U supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, though no bandwidth figure is listed. The Core 3 304 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-1250U also uses PCIe Gen 4 but without a lane count specified. Integrated graphics differ: the Core 3 304 has Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe), while the i7-1250U has Iris Xe 96EU. The Core 3 304 is rated at a 15 W TDP, whereas the i7-1250U is rated at 9 W, indicating the latter is designed for lower power envelopes. The Core 3 304 uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket, while the i7-1250U uses Intel BGA 1781.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 wins all single-core tests in the data. It leads in PassMark single thread (3614 vs 2703, a 33.7% advantage), Cinebench R23 singlecore (1765 vs 1574, a 12.1% lead), and Cinebench R15 singlecore (264 vs 226, a 16.8% lead).

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U wins the two most demanding multi-threaded tests: Cinebench R23 multicore (7069 vs 5263, a 25.5% lead) and Cinebench R15 multicore (1172.94 vs 849, a 27.6% lead). However, the Core 3 304 wins Cinebench R20 multicore (4160 vs 3983) and PassMark multithread (11625 vs 11329).

Q: How do the two processors compare in PassMark integer math?

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U is dramatically ahead, scoring 40328 versus the Core 3 304's 24640, a 38.9% advantage. This is the largest performance gap in the entire benchmark set.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 has a higher average benchmark score of 13745, while the Intel Core i7-1250U averages 13351. Both processors sit at the 68th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a newer manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-1250U uses a 10 nm node. The Core 3 304 also has a later release date of 2026-04-15, compared to the i7-1250U's 2022-02-22.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-1250U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the Core 3 304 wins the majority of head-to-head tests.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core 3 304 as the better overall performer, with 12 wins out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks and a higher average score of 13745. Its dominance in single-thread tests and extended instructions makes it the stronger choice for responsiveness and software that relies on a few fast cores. The i7-1250U, while losing the overall count, is not without merit. Its 38.9% lead in integer math and 25.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore show exceptional strength in specific multi-threaded scenarios.

For users prioritizing single-thread performance, the Core 3 304 is the clear pick. For workloads that are heavily integer-based and scale across many cores, such as certain compilation or data processing tasks, the i7-1250U is superior. The Core 3 304's 3 nm node and higher TDP of 15 W (versus 9 W) suggest a design aimed at sustained performance, while the i7-1250U's lower TDP and dual-channel memory may suit more power-conscious or memory-bandwidth-sensitive applications. The i7-1250U also offers double the shared L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB), which can benefit certain workloads. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether the user needs the Core 3 304's broad all-around speed or the i7-1250U's specialized multi-threaded punch.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core i7-1250U |

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

| Cores | 5 | 10 |

| Threads | 5 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 9 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 1781 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Alder Lake-U |

| Architecture | Not specified | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | Iris Xe 96EU |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2022-02-22 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not specified |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 304 wins in all single-threaded and most general-purpose benchmarks. It is the preferred processor for tasks that are latency-sensitive or run on one or two cores, such as typical office applications, web browsing, and light productivity. Its 33.7% lead in PassMark single thread and 49.1% lead in extended instructions make it particularly strong for software that leverages SIMD or other specialized instruction sets. It also wins in data encryption (11.2% lead) and find prime numbers (17.2% lead), suggesting a slight edge in security-related and mathematical workloads.

The Intel Core i7-1250U wins in integer math by a huge margin (38.9%) and takes Cinebench R23 and R15 multicore by over 25%. These wins indicate a clear advantage in heavily multi-threaded, integer-heavy applications like video encoding, 3D rendering in certain engines, and data compression (where it leads by 3.8% in PassMark data compression). Its dual-channel memory support and 12 MB of L3 cache, versus the Core 3 304's single-channel bus and 6 MB L3, also suggest a structural benefit for memory-hungry multi-threaded workloads. The i7-1250U also edges out the Core 3 304 in PassMark physics (881 vs 868), which could translate to a small advantage in physics simulation tasks.