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

# Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA

The Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA occupy different corners of Intel's mobile and desktop lineup, respectively. The Core 3 304 is a 5-core, 5-thread Wildcat Lake part built on Intel's 3 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 235TA is a 14-core, 14-thread Arrow Lake-S desktop processor fabricated by TSMC on the same 3 nm node. Benchmark data exists only for the Core 3 304, which holds a 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 235TA has no recorded benchmark scores and sits at the 50th percentile by default. The Core 3 304's average benchmark score is 13,745, placing it within 1.4% of an AMD EPYC 7443, within 0.9% of an Intel Core i7-8750H, and 1.1% ahead of an Intel Core 5 120UL.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 304 wins on portability and power efficiency. Its 15 W TDP, combined with support for both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems. The single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth reflect a design focused on low power rather than maximum throughput. The integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) provides basic graphical output capability without a discrete GPU.

The Core Ultra 5 235TA wins on raw core count and desktop-class features. With 14 cores and 14 threads, it offers nearly three times the core count of the Core 3 304. It supports only DDR5 memory but does so over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, nearly double the Core 3 304's 59.7 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 235TA's 65 W TDP indicates a significantly higher power envelope, appropriate for desktop operation. Its PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 CPU lanes provides substantially more expansion capability than the Core 3 304's PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The 243 mm² die size and 17,800 million transistor count highlight a much larger, more complex silicon design.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 3 generation, while the Core Ultra 5 235TA uses the Arrow Lake-S codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. Both are built on a 3 nm process node, but they use different foundries: Intel fabricates the Core 3 304, while TSMC fabricates the Core Ultra 5 235TA.

Core configuration differs dramatically. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyper-threading is present. The Core Ultra 5 235TA has 14 cores and 14 threads, also without hyper-threading, but with 9 additional physical cores. Cache hierarchies reflect this disparity. The Core 3 304 provides 192 KB L1 cache, 2.5 MB L2 cache, and 6 MB shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 235TA specifies 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3 cache, yielding significantly more total cache across all levels.

Memory architecture differs as well. The Core 3 304 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core Ultra 5 235TA uses a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth and supports only DDR5. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe capabilities diverge sharply: the Core 3 304 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235TA offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516 socket, indicating a soldered mobile package. The Core Ultra 5 235TA uses Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket. The Core 3 304 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 235TA has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 235TA's integrated graphics is Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 execution units, while the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No direct head-to-head benchmark results exist between these two processors in the database. The Core Ultra 5 235TA has no recorded benchmark scores, while the Core 3 304 has 17 recorded benchmark entries. Therefore, direct comparison relies on architectural specifications and the Core 3 304's position relative to other CPUs.

The Core 3 304's benchmark results show a processor with moderate multi-threaded capability and respectable single-thread performance. In Cinebench R23, it scores 5,263 multi-core and 1,765 single-core. In Cinebench R20, it scores 4,160 multi-core and 587 single-core. In Cinebench R15, it scores 849 multi-core and 264 single-core. PassMark results include 11,625 in multithread tests, 3,614 in single-thread tests, 29,722 in floating point math, and 24,640 in integer math.

The nearest rivals for the Core 3 304 provide context for its performance level. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX scores an average of 13,786, which is 0.3% higher than the Core 3 304's 13,745 average. The Intel Core i7-8750H scores 13,868, 0.9% higher. The AMD EPYC 7443 scores 13,936, 1.4% higher. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13,594, which is 1.1% lower than the Core 3 304. These margins are small, indicating the Core 3 304 performs in the same league as these established processors.

The Core Ultra 5 235TA's lack of benchmark data means its performance cannot be quantified against the Core 3 304. Its architectural advantages, including 9 additional cores, 18 MB more shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and 42.7 GB/s more memory bandwidth, suggest it should outperform the Core 3 304 in multi-threaded workloads, but no measured data confirms this. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock versus the Core 3 304's 4.30 GHz boost clock also points to higher single-thread potential.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. Neither processor supports hyper-threading.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Core 3 304 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core Ultra 5 235TA uses a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth and supports only DDR5.

Q: How does the Core 3 304 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Core 3 304's average benchmark score of 13,745 is 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, 0.9% below the Intel Core i7-8750H, 1.4% below the AMD EPYC 7443, and 1.1% above the Intel Core 5 120UL.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 W. The Core Ultra 5 235TA has a TDP of 65 W.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: Only the Core Ultra 5 235TA supports PCIe Gen 5, with 20 CPU lanes. The Core 3 304 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The Core 3 304 was released on 2026-04-15. The Core Ultra 5 235TA was released on 2025-07-28.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear dichotomy. The Intel Core 3 304 is a low-power mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, single-channel memory, and PCIe Gen 4 support. Its benchmark scores place it in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, with an average score of 13,745 that rivals desktop workstation processors like the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and server processors like the AMD EPYC 7443 within 1.4%. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock and 6 MB shared L3 cache serve a 5-core configuration designed for efficiency.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235TA is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, 14 cores, 24 MB shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory at 102.4 GB/s, and PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock and 3 MB L2 per core indicate a design prioritizing performance over efficiency. Without benchmark scores, its measured performance cannot be stated, but its architectural specifications show a processor with substantially more compute resources and memory throughput.

For mobile systems where power consumption and compact packaging matter, the Core 3 304 with its 15 W TDP, LPDDR5X support, and BGA 1516 socket fits the requirement. For desktop builds requiring maximum core count, memory bandwidth, and PCIe expansion, the Core Ultra 5 235TA with its 14 cores, 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes is the appropriate choice. The Core 3 304's launch MSRP is $309, while the Core Ultra 5 235TA's launch MSRP is $269. The data shows two processors designed for different segments, with the Core 3 304's measured performance and the Core Ultra 5 235TA's architectural headroom defining their respective roles.