Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an uneven comparison, as the Intel Core 3 304 has a full suite of recorded measurements while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL has no benchmark entries in the database. The Core 3 304 therefore wins every recorded head-to-head category by default, not because of demonstrated superiority in each test, but because it is the only processor with available measurements.

The Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 13745. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (average score 13786, delta -0.3%), the Intel Core i7-8750H (average score 13868, delta -0.9%), and the AMD EPYC 7443 (average score 13936, delta -1.4%). These deltas indicate the Core 3 304 trails these processors by less than 1.5% in average score, placing it in a competitive mid-range position.

The Core Ultra 5 135HL holds a 50th percentile ranking but has an average benchmark score of 0 in the database, reflecting the absence of collected measurements. Its performance class cannot be established from recorded data, and any inference about its capabilities must come from its specification profile rather than test results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge substantially in their underlying designs. The Core 3 304 uses a 5-core, 5-thread configuration built on Wildcat Lake architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process by Intel. The Core Ultra 5 135HL employs a 14-core, 18-thread layout based on Meteor Lake architecture (specifically Meteor Lake-PS), manufactured on a 7 nm process, also by Intel. The thread count difference is notable: the Core Ultra 5 135HL has 18 threads versus 5 on the Core 3 304, indicating that the Ultra part uses hyperthreading or a hybrid core arrangement, while the Core 3 304 does not.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Core 3 304 carries 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 135HL provides 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 allocation on the Ultra part suggests a different cache distribution strategy, while the larger shared L3 (18 MB versus 6 MB) gives the Ultra processor a clear advantage in pooled cache capacity.

Clock speeds also separate the two. The Core 3 304 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 135HL runs at a 1.70 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. Both processors have locked multipliers, so end-user overclocking is not supported on either part.

Memory support and platform connectivity reveal further divergence. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 135HL supports DDR5 with bandwidth dependent on the motherboard, running over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The dual-channel configuration gives the Ultra part a theoretical bandwidth advantage of roughly 50% based on the recorded figures.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 135HL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra part offers two additional CPU-attached Gen 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics separate these parts clearly. The Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Core Ultra 5 135HL uses Arc Xe-LPG with 128 execution units, a substantially larger graphics engine. The Arc branding and higher EU count indicate a more capable integrated GPU on the Ultra processor.

The socket and platform targets differ: the Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516 and is classified as a Mobile segment part, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL uses Intel Socket 1851 and is classified as Desktop segment. The Ultra 5 is also part of the Core Ultra Series 1 family, whereas the Core 3 304 has no series designation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct benchmark comparisons between the two processors cannot be produced because the Core Ultra 5 135HL has no recorded benchmark scores in the database. The Core 3 304 has 17 recorded measurements across Cinebench and PassMark tests, but there are no corresponding scores for the Ultra part to compare against.

The Core 3 304's Cinebench results show a multi-core score of 5263 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 1765 in the same test. In Cinebench R20, it scores 4160 multi-core and 587 single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 849 multi-core and 264 single-core. These figures establish a baseline for the Core 3 304's compute performance.

PassMark results for the Core 3 304 cover a range of workloads. The multithread score is 11625, while the single-thread score is 3614 (recorded twice under slightly different test names). Data compression scores 114775, data encryption scores 8501, and extended instructions scores 9686. Find prime numbers scores 68, floating point math scores 29722, integer math scores 24640, physics scores 868, and random string sorting scores 13659.

The Core Ultra 5 135HL's absence from the benchmark database means its wins cannot be quantified. The recorded data shows zero wins for the Ultra part and zero wins for the Core 3 304 in head-to-head tests, since no paired results exist. The only conclusion the data supports is that the Core 3 304 has verified performance measurements, while the Core Ultra 5 135HL does not.

The Verdict

The data directs different users toward different processors based on what is actually recorded. The Intel Core 3 304 is the only one of the two with benchmark evidence, showing a 68th percentile standing and an average score of 13745. Its nearest rivals cluster within 1.5% of that average, which places the Core 3 304 in a well-defined performance band. Users who require verified benchmark numbers and a mobile platform should select the Core 3 304, as its performance is documented and its position relative to comparable CPUs is established.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL offers a larger physical configuration, with 14 cores and 18 threads versus 5 cores and 5 threads on the Core 3 304. Its dual-channel memory at 89.6 GB/s, 18 MB of shared L3 cache, and 128-EU Arc Xe-LPG graphics all point to a more substantial hardware design. Its 4.60 GHz boost clock and 1.70 GHz base clock exceed the Core 3 304's 4.30 GHz boost and 1.50 GHz base. The Ultra part also has a higher TDP at 45 watts versus 15 watts on the Core 3 304, which is consistent with a desktop-oriented part with more active resources.

However, the Ultra 5 135HL's 50th percentile ranking, combined with an average benchmark score of zero, means the database contains no performance verification for this processor. The recorded data cannot confirm whether its architectural advantages translate into actual benchmark wins. The Core 3 304 has a lower core count and smaller cache, but its performance is measured and its percentile rank is higher at 68 versus 50.

For workloads where verified performance matters, the Core 3 304 is the only defensible choice from the recorded data. For users prioritizing core count, memory bandwidth, cache capacity, and graphics execution units, the Core Ultra 5 135HL presents a stronger specification sheet, but no benchmark confirmation. The verdict from the database is split: the Core 3 304 wins on evidence, the Core Ultra 5 135HL wins on paper specifications, and the gap between the two cannot be resolved without Ultra 5 benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher benchmark percentile in the database?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 ranks at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL ranks at the 50th percentile.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL has 14 cores and 18 threads.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 has a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL has a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the Intel Core 3 304 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL have locked multipliers, so neither supports overclocking.

Q: What integrated graphics do the two processors use?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL uses Arc Xe-LPG with 128 execution units.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core Ultra 5 135HL |

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

| Cores | 5 | 14 |

| Threads | 5 | 18 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 7 nm |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Meteor Lake-PS |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 112 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 2 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB shared | 18 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5, depends on motherboard |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | Arc Xe-LPG 128EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-04-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SAE3K | SRN33 |