CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7700K and Intel Core 3 304 represent two very different eras of Intel design, yet their benchmark portfolios overlap enough to make for a surprisingly competitive comparison. The 7700K is a desktop quad-core from the Kaby Lake generation, while the Core 3 304 is a mobile-focused five-core part built on Wildcat Lake. The data shows a clear split: the newer chip dominates in single-threaded and modern multi-threaded workloads, while the older desktop chip holds its ground in a few specific memory-latency-sensitive tasks. With 13 wins for the Core 3 304 against 4 for the i7-7700K, the overall picture is one of generational progress, but not without notable exceptions.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic single result in the dataset is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core 3 304 scores 264 against the i7-7700K’s 116. That is a 56.1% advantage for the newer chip, a massive leap that reflects not just clock speed but architectural efficiency. The gap narrows but remains decisive in Cinebench R20 single-core, with the Core 3 304 ahead by 17.4% (587 vs 485). Even in Cinebench R23 single-core, the lead is 34.5% (1765 vs 1156), confirming that the Core 3 304’s single-thread performance is its standout feature.

The multi-threaded results tell a more complex story. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-7700K wins outright with a score of 8189 against 5263, a 55.6% margin. This is the single biggest win for either chip in any test. However, in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Core 3 304 edges ahead with 849 vs 825, a slim 2.8% margin. The R20 multi-core result swings back to the Core 3 304 (4160 vs 3439, a 17.3% advantage), suggesting that the two chips respond very differently to workload scaling across Cinebench versions.

The PassMark suite offers a mixed bag. The i7-7700K wins big in data compression (136852 vs 114775, up 19.2%) and integer math (30553 vs 24640, up 24%). It also takes random string sorting by 26% (17208 vs 13659). But the Core 3 304 dominates in data encryption, posting 8501 against 3343, a 60.7% blowout. Floating point math also favors the newer chip by 36.9% (29722 vs 18741), and prime number finding shows a 54.4% advantage (68 vs 31). The Core 3 304 even wins the multithread PassMark test by 17.2% (11625 vs 9627), despite the i7-7700K’s superior thread count.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-7700K’s wins all involve workloads that heavily depend on cache hierarchy and memory bandwidth. Data compression, integer math, and random string sorting all benefit from the 8 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory interface, which offers 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result also indicates that the 7700K can sustain high throughput when all four cores and eight threads are fully loaded with a modern rendering workload, beating the newer chip by a wide margin.

The Core 3 304, by contrast, is a single-thread powerhouse. Its 264-point Cinebench R15 single-core score and 1765-point R23 single-core score dwarf the i7-7700K’s numbers. Encryption is another clear win, with a 60.7% advantage, likely due to newer instruction set support. Floating point math and prime number finding also heavily favor the Core 3 304, suggesting that its 3 nm process and newer microarchitecture deliver substantial per-clock improvements. The mobile chip also wins the PassMark multithread test, indicating it handles mixed parallel workloads well despite having only five threads.

For users prioritizing modern single-threaded responsiveness, encryption, or floating-point heavy tasks, the Core 3 304 is the clear choice. For those running older rendering workloads that scale well with thread count, or applications sensitive to memory bandwidth and cache size, the i7-7700K remains competitive and even superior in specific cases.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is generational. The i7-7700K is built on Intel’s 14 nm process and uses the Kaby Lake architecture, a refinement of the Skylake design. It features 4 cores with 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, a base clock of 4.20 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Core 3 304, on the other hand, is fabricated on a 3 nm process and uses the Wildcat Lake codename, with 5 cores and 5 threads (no simultaneous multi-threading). Its base clock is just 1.50 GHz, but it boosts to 4.30 GHz, which is close to the i7-7700K’s maximum.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i7-7700K has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of total L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The smaller L3 on the Core 3 304 may explain its weaker performance in data compression, but its newer architecture compensates elsewhere.

The foundry is the same (Intel) for both, but the process node is vastly different: 14 nm vs 3 nm. This explains the power and thermal characteristics, though the TDP figures are not directly comparable given the different market segments. The i7-7700K supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration, while the Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration, yet still achieves higher memory bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s vs 38.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is the socket. The i7-7700K uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516. The former is a desktop socket, the latter is a mobile BGA package, aligning with their respective desktop and mobile market segments. The i7-7700K has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. Base clocks differ dramatically: 4.20 GHz vs 1.50 GHz, though boost clocks are close at 4.50 GHz vs 4.30 GHz.

The TDP is another major differentiator: 91 W for the i7-7700K versus 15 W for the Core 3 304. This reflects the mobile nature of the newer chip. Memory support differs in type (DDR4 vs DDR5/LPDDR5X), channel configuration (dual vs single), and bandwidth (38.4 GB/s vs 59.7 GB/s). PCIe support also differs: Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the i7-7700K versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes on the Core 3 304. Integrated graphics differ as well: HD 630 on the i7-7700K versus Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) on the Core 3 304.

The i7-7700K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 304 is locked. The release dates are also far apart, with the i7-7700K launching in early 2017 and the Core 3 304 in mid-2026. The Core 3 304 carries a launch MSRP of $309, while the i7-7700K has no listed launch MSRP in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which chip has higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 is significantly faster in single-threaded benchmarks. It scores 264 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 116 for the i7-7700K, a 56.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 3 304 scores 1765 against 1156, a 34.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Core 3 304 win all multi-threaded tests?

A: No. The i7-7700K wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a wide margin (8189 vs 5263, a 55.6% lead), but the Core 3 304 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (849 vs 825) and R20 multi-core (4160 vs 3439), as well as the PassMark multithread test (11625 vs 9627).

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The i7-7700K has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. Despite having fewer threads, the Core 3 304 wins the PassMark multithread benchmark.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Core 3 304 has higher memory bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s, despite using a single-channel memory bus. The i7-7700K uses dual-channel DDR4 and achieves 38.4 GB/s.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The i7-7700K is manufactured on a 14 nm process, while the Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process. Both are fabricated by Intel.

Q: Are both chips unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The i7-7700K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 304 is locked.