Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a completely one-sided comparison. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with no wins recorded for the Intel Core 3 304. The margins are substantial across every category, but the smallest gap appears in single-threaded workloads, which hints at the architectural efficiency of the smaller mobile chip even as it trails decisively.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 36,647 against 5,263 for the Core 3 304, a delta of -85.6%. That is the largest percentage gap in the entire test suite. The single-core R23 result is closer in relative terms: 5,173 versus 1,765, a -65.9% delta. This pattern repeats through the older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the desktop chip scores 15,391 versus 4,160 (-73%), and in R15 multi-core it scores 3,693 versus 849 (-77%). Single-core R20 shows 2,172 versus 587 (-73%), while R15 single-core shows 521 versus 264 (-49.3%).

The Passmark suite reinforces the multi-core dominance. The data compression test shows 460,123 for the Core Ultra 5 245KF versus 114,775 for the Core 3 304, a -75.1% delta. Integer math follows the same pattern: 98,854 versus 24,640 (-75.1%). Floating point math delivers 131,546 versus 29,722 (-77.4%). The encryption test records 33,381 versus 8,501 (-74.5%), and extended instructions show 37,912 versus 9,686 (-74.5%).

Prime number finding is particularly lopsided: 416 versus 68, a -83.7% delta. Random string sorting shows 55,206 versus 13,659 (-75.3%), and the multithread score is 43,110 versus 11,625 (-73%). Physics simulation delivers 2,998 versus 868 (-71%).

The closest comparison is in the Passmark single-thread test, where the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 4,715 and the Core 3 304 scores 3,614, a -23.4% delta. This is still a clear win for the desktop part, but the reduced margin suggests the Core 3 304's Wildcat Lake cores are competitive on a per-thread basis. The data implies that the Core 3 304 was designed for efficiency rather than raw throughput, and that design goal shows up most clearly in single-core tests where clock speed and IPC matter more than core count.

The average benchmark score difference is equally stark. The Core Ultra 5 245KF averages 55,093 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Core 3 304 averages 13,745. The percentile ranking confirms the separation: the Core Ultra 5 245KF sits at the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to two completely different market positions. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF is a desktop processor with 14 cores, 14 threads, a 4.20 GHz base clock, and a 5.20 GHz boost clock. It delivers benchmark results that place it in the top 9% of all CPUs in the database. The nearest rival data shows it trading blows with the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D (0.6% ahead), the Intel Core 7 253PQE (1.5% behind), and the Intel Core i9-14900HX (1.6% behind). It also beats its direct sibling, the Core Ultra 5 245K, by 1.9%.

The Intel Core 3 304 is a mobile processor with 5 cores, 5 threads, a 1.50 GHz base clock, and a 4.30 GHz boost clock. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (0.3% behind), the Intel Core i7-8750H (0.9% behind), and the Intel Core 5 120UL (1.1% ahead). These are much older or lower-power parts, and the performance envelope is entirely different.

For workloads that demand sustained multi-threaded throughput, the Core Ultra 5 245KF is the only choice supported by the data. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36,647 is roughly seven times the Core 3 304's 5,263. No amount of tuning or power management can close a gap of that size. For single-threaded responsiveness, the Core Ultra 5 245KF still wins, but the margin narrows to about 23%, which makes the Core 3 304 a reasonable option for lightweight interactive tasks where power draw is the primary concern.

The TDP figures reinforce this split. The Core Ultra 5 245KF carries a 125 W TDP, while the Core 3 304 carries a 15 W TDP. The data shows that the desktop chip converts its power budget into massive performance gains, but the mobile chip offers a fraction of the power requirement. Users who need maximum compute should select the Core Ultra 5 245KF. Users who need minimal power consumption and modest single-thread performance should consider the Core 3 304.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF wins all 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 3 304 records zero wins.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 36,647 versus 5,263 for the Core 3 304, a -85.6% delta.

Q: How close are the two in single-threaded performance?

A: The closest test is Passmark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 4,715 and the Core 3 304 scores 3,614, a -23.4% delta.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245KF has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245KF averages 55,093, while the Core 3 304 averages 13,745.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245KF has a TDP of 125 W. The Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 W.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The Core Ultra 5 245KF uses Intel Socket 1851, while the Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516. The desktop part has 14 cores and 14 threads; the mobile part has 5 cores and 5 threads. Base clocks are 4.20 GHz versus 1.50 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.20 GHz versus 4.30 GHz.

Memory support differs as well. The Core Ultra 5 245KF supports DDR5 only, with a dual-channel bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity favors the desktop chip: Gen 5 with 20 lanes, versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the mobile part.

The Core Ultra 5 245KF includes integrated graphics marked as N/A, while the Core 3 304 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The desktop chip has an unlocked multiplier, the mobile chip does not. Release dates are also far apart: the Core Ultra 5 245KF launched on 2024-10-23, while the Core 3 304 launched on 2026-04-15. The launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 5 245KF is $294, and the launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309.

Architecture Differences

The architecture story is one of different foundries and different design goals. The Core Ultra 5 245KF uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the codename Arrow Lake-S, manufactured by TSMC on a 3 nm process. It contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process manufactured by Intel. Its transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache structures differ significantly. The Core Ultra 5 245KF has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache total, 2.5 MB of L2 cache total, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core versus total distinction matters: the desktop chip's L2 cache scales with its 14 cores, while the mobile chip's cache is fixed.

The Core Ultra 5 245KF belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation, while the Core 3 304 belongs to the Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The desktop part is fabricated by TSMC, the mobile part by Intel. Both use 3 nm processes, but the design philosophies diverge: Arrow Lake targets desktop throughput with 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while Wildcat Lake targets mobile efficiency with 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes and a single-channel memory bus.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF wins in every recorded benchmark category, but the nature of that dominance varies. For multi-threaded workloads, the win is overwhelming. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a -85.6% delta, and Passmark multithread shows a -73% delta. These are workloads like video rendering, scientific simulation, and batch compilation, where the 14-core desktop chip simply overwhelms the 5-core mobile part.

For single-threaded workloads, the Core Ultra 5 245KF still wins, but by a smaller margin. The Passmark single-thread test shows a -23.4% delta, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows a -65.9% delta. The single-thread gap suggests that the Core 3 304's Wildcat Lake cores are reasonably efficient for their power class, but the desktop chip's higher boost clock (5.20 GHz versus 4.30 GHz) provides the edge.

The Intel Core 3 304's wins are not in benchmark scores but in platform characteristics. It has a 15 W TDP versus 125 W for the desktop part, which makes it suitable for thermally constrained environments. It includes integrated graphics, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF has none. It supports LPDDR5X memory, which is common in mobile form factors, and it uses a compact BGA socket. The data shows that the Core 3 304 trades performance for mobility and efficiency, and the benchmark gap directly reflects that trade-off.