Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E records an average benchmark score of 37911, while the Intel Core 3 304 records 13745. The i9-14901E sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance, and by how much?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E wins every single-thread benchmark. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3635 versus 1765, a delta of -51.4% for the Core 3 304. In PassMark single-thread, the i9-14901E scores 4354 versus 3614, a -17% delta.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two in any benchmark?

A: The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the i9-14901E scores 25753 against 5263 for the Core 3 304, a -79.6% delta. The second largest is PassMark integer math at -78.1% (112736 versus 24640).

Q: Does the Core 3 304 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. Across all 17 recorded benchmark comparisons, the Intel Core i9-14901E wins every test. The Core 3 304 records zero wins, while the i9-14901E records 17 wins.

Q: How close are the two in their nearest rival comparisons?

A: The Core 3 304's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, scores 13786, a -0.3% delta from the Core 3 304's 13745. The i9-14901E's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, scores 37904, a 0% delta from the i9-14901E's 37911.

Q: What are the memory and platform differences between the two?

A: The Core 3 304 uses single-channel memory, supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, and has no ECC support. The i9-14901E uses dual-channel memory, supports DDR4 and DDR5, and includes ECC support. The Core 3 304 provides 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth; the i9-14901E has no recorded bandwidth figure.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a decisive split. The Intel Core i9-14901E dominates the Core 3 304 in every recorded test, with deltas ranging from -17% in PassMark single-thread to -79.6% in Cinebench R23 multicore. The i9-14901E belongs to the desktop segment, uses 8 cores with 16 threads, boosts to 5.60 GHz, and carries a 65 TDP. It is the processor for workloads that demand heavy multithreading, integer math, compression, and physics simulation. Its 86th percentile standing among all CPUs confirms that it competes near the top of the database.

The Intel Core 3 304 is a mobile part with 5 cores and 5 threads, a 1.50 GHz base clock, a 4.30 GHz boost clock, and a 15 TDP. It targets efficiency-constrained environments rather than raw throughput. Its single-thread scores, while lower, are not catastrophic: the PassMark single-thread score of 3614 trails the i9-14901E by only 17%, which is the smallest delta in the entire comparison. For a low-power mobile chip on a 3 nm process, that single-thread showing is the closest point of parity in the data. The i9-14901E leads by 51.4% in Cinebench R23 single-core, however, so even that relative strength remains clearly behind.

The data indicates that the i9-14901E should be selected for desktop builds where compute density matters. The Core 3 304 should be selected for mobile systems where the 15 TDP and integrated Xe3 Graphics matter more than peak performance. There is no benchmark category in the record where the Core 3 304 offers an advantage. The i9-14901E is the correct choice for any workload that can use its 16 threads and dual-channel memory path.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i9-14901E wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The most lopsided result is Cinebench R23 multicore: 25753 versus 5263, a -79.6% delta. That gap is larger than the Cinebench R20 multicore gap of -61.5% (10816 versus 4160) and the Cinebench R15 multicore gap of -67.3% (2595 versus 849). The multicore scaling advantage grows with workload duration, suggesting that the i9-14901E sustains its 5.60 GHz boost across longer renders while the Core 3 304 cannot match that throughput.

Single-thread results are closer but still favor the i9-14901E decisively. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3635 versus 1765, a -51.4% delta. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1526 versus 587, a -61.5% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 366 versus 264, a -27.9% delta. PassMark single-thread shows 4354 versus 3614, a -17% delta. The PassMark result is the closest any test gets, but the Cinebench single-core tests reveal a much larger gap in sustained single-core rendering workloads.

PassMark integer math delivers the second largest delta at -78.1%: 112736 versus 24640. Floating-point math follows at -63.3% (81089 versus 29722). Physics simulation shows -71.5% (3041 versus 868). Data compression shows -60.3% (288777 versus 114775). Data encryption shows -54.2% (18571 versus 8501). Extended instructions show -43.8% (17249 versus 9686). Prime number finding shows -64% (189 versus 68). Random string sorting shows -65.1% (39138 versus 13659). PassMark multithread shows -61.6% (30298 versus 11625).

The smallest deltas appear in single-thread PassMark tests at -17%. That means the Core 3 304's single-core architecture, built on a 3 nm node with Wildcat Lake cores, does narrow the gap when only one thread is active. But the i9-14901E's 5.60 GHz boost clock and Raptor Lake architecture still hold a clear lead. Across every workload category, the i9-14901E delivers at least a 17% advantage, and in most categories the advantage exceeds 50%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads; the i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz versus 2.80 GHz. Boost clocks are 4.30 GHz versus 5.60 GHz. TDP is 15 versus 65. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516; the i9-14901E uses Intel Socket 1700.

Cache organization differs substantially. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The i9-14901E has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. The i9-14901E's larger shared L3 (36 MB versus 6 MB) explains part of its advantage in cache-sensitive workloads such as data compression and random string sorting.

Memory support differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. The i9-14901E supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with ECC enabled and no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe capability also differs: the Core 3 304 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the i9-14901E offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The i9-14901E uses UHD Graphics 770. The market segments differ accordingly: the Core 3 304 is a mobile part, the i9-14901E is a desktop part. Release dates differ by nearly two years: the Core 3 304 launched in April 2026, the i9-14901E in June 2024. The Core 3 304 carries a launch MSRP of $309; the i9-14901E has no recorded launch MSRP. The die size of the i9-14901E is 257 mm²; the Core 3 304 has no recorded die size.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process node using the Wildcat Lake codename, part of the Core 3 generation. The i9-14901E is built on a 10 nm process node using the Raptor Lake-R codename, part of the Core 14th Gen series with a Raptor Lake architecture. The foundry for both is Intel.

The process node difference is significant: 3 nm versus 10 nm. The newer node allows the Core 3 304 to operate at a 15 TDP while still reaching a 4.30 GHz boost clock. The i9-14901E needs a 65 TDP to reach 5.60 GHz, but it compensates with 16 threads versus 5 threads and a substantially larger L3 cache.

The Core 3 304 generation is listed as "Core 3 (Wildcat Lake)", indicating a distinct core design from the Raptor Lake refresh. The i9-14901E generation is "Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh)", which is a refresh of the Raptor Lake architecture. The i9-14901E's cache layout, with per-core L1 and L2, suggests a physically larger core design that favors high clock speeds and high thread counts. The Core 3 304's unified L2 and smaller L3 reflect a more efficiency-oriented design.

The Core 3 304 integrates Xe3 Graphics, a newer graphics architecture than the UHD Graphics 770 found in the i9-14901E. The PCIe implementation also reflects the generation gap: Gen 4 with 6 lanes on the Core 3 304 versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes on the i9-14901E. The i9-14901E supports ECC memory, which is absent on the Core 3 304. The Core 3 304 supports LPDDR5X, which the i9-14901E does not; the i9-14901E supports DDR4, which the Core 3 304 does not.

The i9-14901E's 36 MB shared L3 cache is six times larger than the Core 3 304's 6 MB shared L3. That cache advantage, combined with the 16 threads and dual-channel memory path, drives the multicore deltas observed in the benchmark data. The Core 3 304's 3 nm node gives it a power efficiency advantage, but the recorded benchmarks show no workload where that efficiency translates into a performance win.