Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL are two 15W Intel processors with identical 4.30 GHz boost clocks and identical launch MSRPs of $309, but they serve different segments. The Core 3 304 is a mobile processor built on a 3 nm node with 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL is a desktop part on a 7 nm node with 12 cores and 14 threads. The data shows that the Core 3 304 has a fully populated benchmark profile with an average score of 13745, placing it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL has no recorded benchmark scores and sits at the 50th percentile. For any workload where measured performance matters, the Core 3 304 is the only option with verifiable results, and its nearest rivals confirm it competes with high-end desktop and workstation parts. The Core Ultra 5 125UL offers more cores, threads, cache, and memory bandwidth on paper, but without benchmark data, its real-world standing cannot be quantified. Users seeking a mobile processor with proven single-thread and multi-thread scores should choose the Core 3 304. Users who require a desktop socket, dual-channel memory, and a larger L3 cache, and who are willing to accept an absence of measured performance data, should consider the Core Ultra 5 125UL.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: Do both processors have the same boost clock?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 3 304 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL have a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 has an average benchmark score of 13745, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has no recorded benchmark scores, resulting in an average score of 0.

Q: What is the difference in process node?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL is built on a 7 nm process.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No, the Intel Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL uses Intel Socket 1851.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 3 304 belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation, with the codename Wildcat Lake, and is fabricated on a 3 nm process by Intel. It uses a single-core design with 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading support. Its cache hierarchy includes 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The processor is built for the mobile market segment and is classified as part of the Core 3 series.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1, with the architecture Meteor Lake and the codename Meteor Lake-PS. It is fabricated on a 7 nm process by Intel. It uses 12 cores and 14 threads, indicating the presence of efficiency cores that add threads without matching core count. Its cache hierarchy is structured per core: 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units. The processor is built for the desktop market segment and is classified as part of the Ultra 5 series.

The two processors differ fundamentally in node size, core topology, cache organization, and target segment. The Core 3 304 uses a newer 3 nm node with fewer, larger cores, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL uses an older 7 nm node with a higher core count and a per-core cache layout. The Core 3 304 has a die-shrink advantage that likely contributes to its competitive benchmark scores despite having fewer cores. The Core Ultra 5 125UL, by contrast, relies on a wider core configuration and a larger shared L3 cache to handle multi-threaded workloads, though no measured data confirms this.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks differ: the Core 3 304 runs at 1.50 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL runs at 1.30 GHz. Both reach the same boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The process node differs, with the Core 3 304 at 3 nm and the Core Ultra 5 125UL at 7 nm. The socket differs: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 304, Intel Socket 1851 for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. Cache configurations differ substantially: the Core 3 304 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: the Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL supports DDR5 (dependent on motherboard) with a dual-channel memory bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe lanes differ: the Core 3 304 has Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 125UL has Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) for the Core 3 304 versus Arc Xe-LPG 64EU for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. The market segment differs: Mobile for the Core 3 304, Desktop for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. Release dates differ: the Core 3 304 was released on 2026-04-15, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL was released on 2024-04-07. Both have a TDP of 15, a launch MSRP of $309, no ECC memory support, and are not multiplier-unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark comparison between these two processors is empty in the database. There are no recorded head-to-head test scores for the Intel Core 3 304 versus the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL. The Core Ultra 5 125UL has no benchmark entries at all, which means no direct comparison can be made on any workload. The Core 3 304, however, has a full set of benchmark scores. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 5263, and its single-core score is 1765. In Cinebench R20, it scores 4160 multicore and 587 single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 849 multicore and 264 single-core. PassMark tests show a multithread score of 11625 and a single-thread score of 3614. Additional PassMark results include data compression at 114775, data encryption at 8501, extended instructions at 9686, find prime numbers at 68, floating point math at 29722, integer math at 24640, physics at 868, and random string sorting at 13659.

Because the Core Ultra 5 125UL has no scores, the database cannot assign either processor a win in any head-to-head test. The winsA and winsB fields both record zero. The only performance comparison available is through the Core 3 304's nearest rivals, which show it performing close to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (average score 13786, delta -0.3%), the Intel Core i7-8750H (average score 13868, delta -0.9%), the Intel Core 5 120UL (average score 13594, delta +1.1%), and the AMD EPYC 7443 (average score 13936, delta -1.4%). The Core 3 304 sits slightly above the Intel Core 5 120UL and slightly below the other three rivals in average score. This indicates that the Core 3 304 delivers performance comparable to high-core-count server and workstation processors, despite its modest 5-core configuration. No such comparison exists for the Core Ultra 5 125UL.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 304 wins in every measurable category because it is the only processor in this comparison with recorded benchmark data. Its average benchmark score of 13745 places it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL has an average score of 0 and sits at the 50th percentile. The Core 3 304 demonstrates strong single-thread performance with a PassMark single-thread score of 3614 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1765, which positions it well for lightly threaded applications. Its multi-thread scores, including Cinebench R23 multicore at 5263 and PassMark multithread at 11625, indicate solid throughput for a 15W mobile part. The Core 3 304 also delivers high specialized scores in data compression (114775) and floating point math (29722), making it suited for compression workloads and scientific calculations. Its nearest rival data shows it is within 1.4% of the AMD EPYC 7443 in average score, confirming that it competes far above its core count would suggest.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL wins on paper in structural specifications. It has 12 cores and 14 threads, more than double the core count of the Core 3 304. It has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 6 MB of the Core 3 304. It supports dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, compared to single-channel 59.7 GB/s for the Core 3 304. It provides 8 PCIe Gen 4 lanes versus 6 for the Core 3 304. It uses an Intel Socket 1851 desktop platform, which may offer different upgrade or configuration options than the BGA 1516 mobile socket. The Core Ultra 5 125UL also has a larger integrated GPU with 64 execution units (Arc Xe-LPG) compared to 1 Xe core (Xe3 Graphics) on the Core 3 304. For workloads that depend on core count, cache size, memory bandwidth, or integrated graphics execution units, the Core Ultra 5 125UL appears structurally advantaged, but no benchmark evidence in the database confirms any actual performance lead. The Core 3 304 is the proven performer; the Core Ultra 5 125UL is the unverified specification sheet.