Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i7-14700 Comparison
Intel Core 3 304
Core i7-14700
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i7-14700
The Verdict
The benchmark data presents an unambiguous hierarchy between these two Intel processors. The Intel Core i7-14700 wins every single recorded head-to-head benchmark, 17 out of 17 comparisons. The Core 3 304 does not claim a single victory in any tested workload. The margin is substantial across all categories, ranging from an 11.7% gap in Cinebench R15 single-core to an 84.1% deficit in PassMark integer math.
The Core i7-14700 sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 3 304 lands at the 68th percentile. The average benchmark score for the i7-14700 is 52,301, compared to 13,745 for the Core 3 304. That places the i7-14700 roughly 3.8 times higher in aggregate performance. The nearest rival to the Core 3 304 is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13,786, a 0.3% difference, while the i7-14700 sits alongside the Intel Xeon Gold 5320H at 52,431, a 0.2% delta.
For users whose workload requires maximum throughput, the data points squarely at the i7-14700. For constrained mobile environments where the Core 3 304's 15 W TDP and compact BGA 1516 socket fit the platform, the choice is dictated by the system design rather than raw performance. The data shows no scenario in which the Core 3 304 outperforms the i7-14700 in any measured metric.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel design lineages. The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process node. The i7-14700 is a Raptor Lake-R part, part of the Core 14th Gen series, fabricated on a 10 nm node. Both come from Intel's foundry, but the process gap is significant: 3 nm versus 10 nm.
Core counts differ sharply. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading is active. The i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration with both performance and efficiency cores. The Core 3 304's base clock is 1.50 GHz with a boost of 4.30 GHz. The i7-14700 starts at 2.10 GHz and boosts to 5.40 GHz.
Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-14700 presents per-core figures: 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3. The total L3 advantage for the i7-14700 is substantial, and its L2 design scales with the core count.
The Core 3 304 integrates Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core. The i7-14700 uses UHD Graphics 770. Memory support diverges as well: the Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-14700 supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is supported on the i7-14700 but not on the Core 3 304.
PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The Core 3 304 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The i7-14700 provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The market segments also differ: the Core 3 304 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1516, while the i7-14700 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The i7-14700 uses a larger die at 257 mm², whereas the Core 3 304 lists no die size. The Core 3 304 was released in 2026, while the i7-14700 appeared in 2024.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The largest single deficit for the Core 3 304 appears in PassMark integer math. The i7-14700 scores 154,535 against 24,640, a delta of 84.1%. That is the widest gap in the dataset. Cinebench R23 multi-core is close behind: the i7-14700 scores 28,398, while the Core 3 304 manages 5,263, an 81.5% difference. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 4,061 versus 849, a 79.1% gap.
Compression and encryption workloads also favor the i7-14700 heavily. PassMark data compression shows 498,198 against 114,775, a 77% difference. Data encryption shows 29,601 versus 8,501, a 71.3% gap. Random string sorting runs 54,340 against 13,659, a 74.9% deficit for the Core 3 304.
Floating-point math follows the same pattern. The i7-14700 reaches 106,716, while the Core 3 304 stops at 29,722, a 72.1% difference. PassMark multi-thread delivers 40,318 versus 11,625, a 71.2% gap. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 14,388 versus 4,160, a 71.1% difference. PassMark extended instructions run 28,388 against 9,686, a 65.9% gap.
The Core 3 304 narrows the gap in single-threaded tests, but still loses. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 2,031 versus 587, a 71.1% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core has the i7-14700 at 299 and the Core 3 304 at 264, only an 11.7% difference. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2,080 versus 1,765, a 15.1% gap. PassMark single-thread records 4,236 against 3,614, a 14.7% difference. PassMark physics runs 2,226 versus 868, a 61% gap. Prime number finding shows 164 versus 68, a 58.5% difference.
The data indicates that the i7-14700 dominates in all multi-threaded and throughput-oriented tests, while the single-core gap, although still in favor of the i7-14700, is comparatively modest at roughly 11.7% to 15.1% depending on the test.
FAQ
Q: Does the Core 3 304 win any benchmark against the i7-14700?
A: No. The head-to-head dataset records 17 comparisons, and the i7-14700 wins all 17. The Core 3 304 records zero wins.
Q: How close is the single-core performance between the two processors?
A: The closest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i7-14700 leads by 11.7%. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 15.1% gap, and PassMark single-thread shows a 14.7% gap. These are the smallest deltas in the dataset.
Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?
A: The widest delta is in PassMark integer math, where the i7-14700 leads by 84.1%. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows with an 81.5% gap.
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.
Q: Do the two processors use the same socket?
A: No. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, a mobile socket, while the i7-14700 uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktop platforms.
Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?
A: The i7-14700 supports ECC memory. The Core 3 304 does not list ECC support.
Where Each One Wins
The i7-14700 wins in every recorded benchmark category. For multi-threaded rendering workloads such as Cinebench R23 multi-core, its 28,398 score against 5,263 makes it the clear choice for CPU-heavy rendering tasks. The 81.5% lead reflects the combined effect of more cores, higher clocks, and larger cache.
For data compression, the i7-14700's 498,198 score versus 114,775 indicates a strong advantage in archiving and file-handling workloads. Encryption tasks show a similar picture at 29,601 versus 8,501, a 71.3% lead. Integer math, the largest gap at 84.1%, suggests the i7-14700 handles computation-heavy code with far greater efficiency.
Single-threaded tasks still favor the i7-14700, but by a smaller margin. The 11.7% to 15.1% range across Cinebench and PassMark single-thread tests means the Core 3 304 is comparatively closer in lightly threaded workloads. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock and 3 nm node help narrow the gap, but the i7-14700's 5.40 GHz boost still secures the win.
The Core 3 304 has no benchmark wins to claim. Its advantages are structural rather than performance-based. It operates at a 15 W TDP against the i7-14700's 65 W, it uses a mobile BGA socket, and it supports LPDDR5X memory. Those factors position it for compact, power-limited systems where the i7-14700's desktop platform cannot be used. The data does not show any workload where the Core 3 304 delivers higher scores.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ across every major specification field. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads; the i7-14700 has 20 cores and 28 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.30 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. TDP ratings are 15 W versus 65 W.
Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 304, Intel Socket 1700 for the i7-14700. Process nodes are 3 nm and 10 nm respectively. The i7-14700 uses the Raptor Lake architecture with a 257 mm² die, while the Core 3 304 uses Wildcat Lake with no listed die size.
Cache configurations are not directly comparable due to different reporting. The Core 3 304 lists 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The i7-14700 lists 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3.
Memory support differs: the Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-14700 supports DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with no listed bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the i7-14700.
PCIe capability differs: Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes on the Core 3 304, Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes on the i7-14700. Integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core versus UHD Graphics 770. Market segments are Mobile and Desktop. Release dates are 2026 for the Core 3 304 and 2024 for the i7-14700. Launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309, and for the i7-14700 it is $384. Both processors have locked multipliers.