Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL Comparison
Intel Core 3 304
Core Ultra 5 135UL
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL
FAQ
Q: How do the core counts compare between the Intel Core 3 304 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL?
A: The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. The Core Ultra 5 135UL offers more than double the core count and nearly triple the thread count.
Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two processors?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which is slightly higher than the Intel Core 3 304's boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The base clocks are also close, at 1.60 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 135UL and 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 304.
Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?
A: The Intel Core 3 304 uses a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL uses a 7 nm node. The Core 3 304's process node is significantly more advanced.
Q: How do the cache configurations differ?
A: The Intel Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 135UL has double the L3 cache.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core 3 304 supports single-channel memory with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 135UL has a 29.9 GB/s advantage in memory bandwidth.
Q: Which processor has a better percentile ranking among all CPUs?
A: The Intel Core 3 304 has a percentile ranking of 68, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has a percentile ranking of 50. The Core 3 304 sits higher in the overall performance distribution.
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark data positions these two processors for different workloads. The Intel Core 3 304 has an average benchmark score of 13745 and a percentile ranking of 68, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL has no recorded average benchmark score yet, with a percentile ranking of 50.
The Core 3 304 wins in scenarios that rely on high per-core efficiency and a modern process node. The 3 nm node suggests better power characteristics for sustained loads, and the single-channel memory setup may be sufficient for lighter tasks. The Core Ultra 5 135UL, with its 12 cores and 14 threads, is designed for parallel workloads where additional cores translate directly into throughput. The dual-channel memory bus and higher memory bandwidth support data-heavy applications that benefit from faster memory access.
The Core Ultra 5 135UL targets desktop systems with an Intel Socket 1851, while the Core 3 304 targets mobile platforms with Intel BGA 1516. The desktop socket implies a platform designed for stationary operation, potentially with more robust cooling, while the mobile socket suggests a focus on portability. The Core Ultra 5 135UL also uses the Meteor Lake architecture, which incorporates a chiplet design, whereas the Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a monolithic 3 nm node.
Architecture Differences
The architectural split between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL uses the Meteor Lake-PS codename, built on a 7 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the process node gap represents a significant generational difference in transistor density and efficiency.
The Core 3 304 integrates Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core Ultra 5 135UL integrates Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units. The integrated graphics solutions differ in both architecture generation and execution unit count, with the Arc Xe-LPG offering substantially more graphics compute resources.
Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2 cache, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 135UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L1 and L2 values for the Core Ultra 5 135UL multiply across its 12 cores, resulting in a much larger total cache footprint.
Memory architecture differs as well. The Core 3 304 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 5 135UL uses a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Both support DDR5 memory, with the Core 3 304 also supporting LPDDR5X. PCIe connectivity is close, with the Core 3 304 offering Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes and the Core Ultra 5 135UL offering Gen 4 with 8 CPU-only lanes.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 135UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz versus 1.60 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.30 GHz versus 4.40 GHz, in favor of the Core Ultra 5 135UL in both cases.
The process node is 3 nm for the Core 3 304 and 7 nm for the Core Ultra 5 135UL. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 5 135UL uses Intel Socket 1851. The market segments differ: the Core 3 304 targets mobile, while the Core Ultra 5 135UL targets desktop.
Cache configurations are fundamentally different. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 135UL has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support shows DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 3 304, while the Core Ultra 5 135UL supports DDR5 with capacity depending on the motherboard. Memory bus and bandwidth favor the Core Ultra 5 135UL at dual-channel and 89.6 GB/s versus single-channel and 59.7 GB/s.
Integrated graphics differ, with Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) on the Core 3 304 and Arc Xe-LPG 64EU on the Core Ultra 5 135UL. PCIe lanes are 6 versus 8, both Gen 4. Release dates are 2026-04-15 for the Core 3 304 and 2024-04-07 for the Core Ultra 5 135UL. The launch MSRP is $309 for the Core 3 304 and $331 for the Core Ultra 5 135UL.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
No head-to-head benchmark data exists in the database between these two processors, and the Core Ultra 5 135UL has no recorded benchmark scores. The Core 3 304, however, has a comprehensive benchmark profile. Its average benchmark score is 13745, which positions it at the 68th percentile among all CPUs.
The Core 3 304's nearest rivals in the database provide context for its placement. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX scores 13786, which is 0.3% above the Core 3 304. The Intel Core i7-8750H scores 13868, 0.9% above. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, 1.1% below. The AMD EPYC 7443 scores 13936, 1.4% above. These small deltas indicate that the Core 3 304 sits within a tight cluster of CPUs spanning mobile and high-end desktop parts.
Individual Core 3 304 benchmark results show a wide range of strengths. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 5263, while the single-core score is 1765. Cinebench R20 multi-core reaches 4160 with a single-core score of 587. Cinebench R15 multi-core is 849 and single-core is 264. PassMark results include a single-thread score of 3614, a multithread score of 11625, integer math at 24640, floating point math at 29722, and extended instructions at 9686. Data compression scores 114775, data encryption scores 8501, and random string sorting scores 13659. Physics scores 868 and find prime numbers scores 68.
The Core 3 304's performance distribution shows a processor that is competitive in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads relative to its closest rivals. The 1.1% advantage over the Intel Core 5 120UL in average score is notable, as is the 0.3% gap to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, a far more expensive high-end desktop part.
The Verdict
The data indicates a clear division of purpose. The Intel Core 3 304, with its 3 nm node and mobile socket, is positioned for efficiency-sensitive mobile workloads. Its percentile ranking of 68 and average benchmark score of 13745 place it above the Core Ultra 5 135UL in the overall distribution. The small deltas to its nearest rivals, within 1.4% in either direction, show that it competes directly with established desktop and mobile processors.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL is a different kind of part. Its 12 cores and 14 threads, combined with dual-channel memory and a desktop socket, point toward parallel throughput. The Meteor Lake architecture and Arc Xe-LPG 64EU integrated graphics give it a more capable graphics subsystem. However, the database contains no benchmark scores for this processor, so its actual performance cannot be verified against the Core 3 304 or any other CPU.
For users prioritizing a proven performance profile in a mobile form factor, the Core 3 304 has a complete benchmark record and a higher percentile standing. For users needing many cores and a desktop platform with more memory bandwidth, the Core Ultra 5 135UL offers the architectural foundation, but without recorded measurements its performance remains unverified. The choice hinges on whether the Core Ultra 5 135UL's core count and memory advantages translate into real-world results, which the database cannot yet confirm.