Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 304 holds a decisive advantage in the only category where direct comparison is possible: the Core 3 304 has recorded benchmark scores across seventeen tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has no recorded benchmark data in the database. This means the Core 3 304 wins every measurable workload category by default, including single-threaded performance, multi-threaded performance, and specialized instruction tests.

The Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, placing it above the median processor. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (average score 13786, a 0.3% difference), the Intel Core i7-8750H (average score 13868, a 0.9% difference), the Intel Core 5 120UL (average score 13594, a 1.1% difference), and the AMD EPYC 7443 (average score 13936, a 1.4% difference). These tight deltas indicate the Core 3 304 performs within a narrow band of these established processors.

The Core Ultra 7 165UL, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of zero and sits at the 50th percentile, which reflects the absence of recorded measurements rather than actual performance characteristics. The database contains no wins for either processor in head-to-head tests, and the win counts stand at zero for both. Any analysis of the Ultra 7 must therefore rely on architectural specifications rather than empirical results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their underlying design. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node, fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 7 165UL uses the Meteor Lake architecture (specifically the Meteor Lake-PS variant) on a 7 nm process node, also fabricated by Intel. The Core 3 belongs to the Core 3 generation, whereas the Ultra 7 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1 generation.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, indicating no hyper-threading support. The Ultra 7 165UL has 12 cores and 14 threads, suggesting a hybrid arrangement with some cores lacking simultaneous multithreading. This gives the Ultra 7 more than double the core count and nearly triple the thread count of the Core 3.

Cache hierarchies reflect the architectural gap. 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 7 165UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. While the per-core L1 and L2 figures appear smaller on the Ultra 7, the larger core count and doubled L3 capacity provide more total cache resources.

Memory support also differs. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Ultra 7 165UL supports DDR5 memory (with capacity depending on motherboard) over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Ultra 7 delivers 50% more theoretical memory bandwidth than the Core 3.

PCIe connectivity favors the Ultra 7 as well. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 7 165UL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ: the Core 3 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe execution unit, while the Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG with 64 EU, a substantially larger graphics configuration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct benchmark comparisons are impossible because the Core Ultra 7 165UL has no recorded scores. The head-to-head benchmark array in the database is empty, and neither processor registers a win. All quantitative performance data comes exclusively from the Core 3 304.

The Core 3 304 delivers a Cinebench R15 multicore score of 849 and a single-core score of 264. In Cinebench R20, it scores 4160 multicore and 587 single-core. Cinebench R23 results show 5263 multicore and 1765 single-core. These figures place the Core 3 in the 68th percentile overall, with an average benchmark score of 13745.

PassMark results for the Core 3 304 cover a broad range of workloads. Data compression scores 114775, data encryption scores 8501, and extended instructions score 9686. Prime number finding scores 68, floating point math scores 29722, and integer math scores 24640. Multithreading scores 11625, physics scores 868, and random string sorting scores 13659. Single-thread performance scores 3614, recorded twice under slightly different test labels.

The nearest rival comparisons show the Core 3 304 trading places with similar processors. It trails the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX by 0.3%, trails the Intel Core i7-8750H by 0.9%, leads the Intel Core 5 120UL by 1.1%, and trails the AMD EPYC 7443 by 1.4%. These margins are small enough that workload-specific behavior could flip the ordering in real-world use.

Since the Ultra 7 has no benchmark entries, the only meaningful statement about its performance comes from its architectural specifications: 12 cores, 14 threads, 1.70 GHz base clock, 4.90 GHz boost clock, and 15 W TDP. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores, 5 threads, 1.50 GHz base clock, 4.30 GHz boost clock, and the same 15 W TDP. The Ultra 7's higher boost clock and larger core count suggest it should outperform the Core 3 in multi-threaded workloads, but the database provides no measurements to confirm this.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Core 3 304 provides 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus, while the Ultra 7 165UL provides 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The Ultra 7 165UL boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Core 3 304 boosts to 4.30 GHz. The Ultra 7 also has a higher base clock at 1.70 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor has recorded benchmark scores?

A: Only the Core 3 304 has recorded benchmark scores. The Ultra 7 165UL has an empty benchmark array and an average benchmark score of zero.

Q: What process nodes do they use?

A: The Core 3 304 uses a 3 nm process node, while the Ultra 7 165UL uses a 7 nm process node. Both are fabricated by Intel.

Q: How does the Core 3 304 rank against other CPUs?

A: The Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13745. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, scores 13786, a 0.3% difference.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core 3 304 for anyone requiring verified performance measurements. Its 68th percentile ranking, average benchmark score of 13745, and consistent results across Cinebench and PassMark tests provide concrete evidence of its capability. The Core 3 304 competes within 1.4% of the AMD EPYC 7443 and within 0.9% of the Intel Core i7-8750H, processors from substantially different market segments.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL cannot be recommended on the basis of recorded performance, because the database contains no measurements for it. Its architectural specifications, including 12 cores, 14 threads, a 4.90 GHz boost clock, 12 MB of L3 cache, dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and 64 EU Arc Xe-LPG graphics, indicate a more capable multi-threaded and graphics processor on paper. The 7 nm process node, however, is larger than the 3 nm node used by the Core 3 304, and the Ultra 7's 50th percentile ranking reflects the absence of data rather than measured performance.

For single-threaded and light multi-threaded workloads where verified scores matter, the Core 3 304 is the only defensible choice. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1765 and PassMark single-thread score of 3614 demonstrate solid performance. For workloads that could exploit 12 cores and 14 threads, the Ultra 7's specifications suggest it should win, but without benchmark data, that conclusion remains speculative. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 304 is $309, while the Ultra 7 165UL carries a launch MSRP of $447, but no performance data justifies that price difference.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL |

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

| Cores | 5 | 12 |

| Threads | 5 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 7 nm |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Meteor Lake-PS |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 12 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 64EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Launch MSRP | $309 | $447 |

| Part Number | SAE3K | SRN95 |