Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235H Comparison

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H records an average benchmark score of 37522, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 3 304 averages 13745, placing it in the 68th percentile. The Ultra 5 leads by a significant margin.

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 3 304 has zero wins in the recorded data.

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

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core Ultra 5 235H scores 25598 versus 5263 for the Core 3 304, a delta of -79.4% from the Core 3's perspective.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 5 scores 3613 versus 1765 for the Core 3, a 51.1% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the Ultra 5 scores 4359 versus 3614, a smaller 17.1% edge.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither processor supports hyper-threading according to the thread counts.

Q: What memory bandwidth do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235H represent distinct architectural approaches within Intel's mobile lineup. The Core 3 304 belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation and is built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The Core Ultra 5 235H belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake architecture, and is fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. Both are active production mobile parts.

The core configurations differ substantially. The Core 3 304 offers 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Ultra 5 235H offers 14 cores and 14 threads. The cache hierarchy also diverges. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 235H lists 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Clock speeds favor the Ultra 5. The Core 3 304 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Ultra 5 235H has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Thermal design power also differs: 15 W for the Core 3 versus 28 W for the Ultra 5.

The memory subsystems are not equivalent. The Core 3 304 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 5 235H uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory types. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCI Express capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra 5 235H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, while the Ultra 5 235H uses Arc Graphics 140T.

The sockets are incompatible. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Ultra 5 235H uses Intel BGA 2049. Release dates differ as well: the Core 3 304 launched on April 15, 2026, while the Ultra 5 235H launched on January 12, 2025. The Core 3 304 carries part number SAE3K; the Ultra 5 235H carries SRQAP.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H outperforms the Intel Core 3 304 in every single recorded benchmark. The average benchmark score difference is substantial: 37522 versus 13745. The Ultra 5 sits at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 sits at the 68th percentile.

The nearest rival data provides context. The Core 3 304's average score of 13745 sits within 1.4% of four rivals: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13786 (0.3% higher), the Intel Core i7-8750H at 13868 (0.9% higher), the Intel Core 5 120UL at 13594 (1.1% lower), and the AMD EPYC 7443 at 13936 (1.4% higher). The Core 3 304 is competitive with that group.

The Ultra 5 235H's average of 37522 places it near the Intel Core i9-13900HK at 37425 (0.3% lower), the Intel Core i5-13600K at 37685 (0.4% higher), the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F at 37313 (0.6% lower), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 at 37762 (0.6% higher). The Ultra 5 is effectively tied with that performance class.

For workloads that depend on multi-core throughput, the Ultra 5 235H is the clear choice. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 79.4% advantage, and PassMark multi-thread shows a 61.4% advantage. The Core 3 304 cannot close that gap with its 5 cores versus 14.

For single-thread performance, the Ultra 5 still leads, but the margin narrows. PassMark single-thread shows a 17.1% advantage for the Ultra 5. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 51.1% advantage. The Core 3 304's boost clock of 4.30 GHz is lower than the Ultra 5's 5.00 GHz, and the benchmark results reflect that.

The Core 3 304 has its place in the 15 W thermal envelope with a single-channel memory bus. It is a lower-power part. But the performance data shows no scenario in the recorded benchmarks where the Core 3 304 wins. The Ultra 5 235H delivers superior results across rendering, math workloads, compression, encryption, and physics simulations.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core Ultra 5 235H |

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

| Series | None listed | Core Ultra Series 2 |

| Cores | 5 | 14 |

| Threads | 5 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Architecture | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake-H |

| Generation | Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) | Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake-H) |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | Arc Graphics 140T |

| Release Date | April 15, 2026 | January 12, 2025 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | None listed |

| Part Number | SAE3K | SRQAP |

Both processors support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, do not support ECC memory, have locked multipliers, and target the mobile market segment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H dominates the head-to-head results, winning all 17 recorded comparisons. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ultra 5 scores 25598 against the Core 3's 5263, a delta of -79.4% from the Core 3's perspective. That result aligns with the core count difference: 14 cores versus 5.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a similar pattern. The Ultra 5 scores 10751, the Core 3 scores 4160, for a 61.3% advantage. Cinebench R15 multi-core also favors the Ultra 5: 2580 versus 849, a 67.1% gap. The multi-core deltas across the three Cinebench versions range from 61.3% to 79.4%, indicating consistent scaling advantages.

Single-core Cinebench results are narrower but still favor the Ultra 5. In R23 single-core, the Ultra 5 scores 3613 versus 1765, a 51.1% advantage. In R20 single-core, the scores are 1517 versus 587, also a 61.3% gap. In R15 single-core, the Ultra 5 leads 364 to 264, a 27.5% margin. The R15 single-core result is the smallest Cinebench delta in the data.

PassMark workloads show a broad Ultra 5 advantage. Floating point math scores 93509 for the Ultra 5 versus 29722 for the Core 3, a 68.2% delta. Integer math shows 74247 versus 24640, a 66.8% gap. Extended instructions produce 23354 versus 9686, a 58.5% difference. Data compression results in 301979 versus 114775, a 62% gap. Data encryption shows 23121 versus 8501, a 63.2% delta.

Prime number finding is a particularly steep divide. The Ultra 5 scores 239, the Core 3 scores 68, a 71.5% gap. Random string sorting shows 36208 versus 13659, a 62.3% delta. PassMark physics records 1985 versus 868, a 56.3% difference. PassMark multi-thread shows 30091 versus 11625, a 61.4% gap.

The smallest head-to-head margin is in PassMark single-thread, where the Ultra 5 scores 4359 and the Core 3 scores 3614, a 17.1% difference. That result appears twice in the data as both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread return the same values. Even in the most favorable workload for the Core 3, the Ultra 5 maintains a meaningful lead.

The average benchmark scores corroborate the head-to-head results. The Ultra 5's 37522 average is roughly 2.7 times the Core 3's 13745. The percentile ranking difference, 85th versus 68th, reflects the same ordering. The nearest rival lists reinforce the class separation: the Core 3 competes with older H-series and workstation parts, while the Ultra 5 sits alongside recent high-performance mobile and desktop chips.