Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 256V Comparison
Intel Core 3 304
Core Ultra 7 256V
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 256V
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, which wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Core Ultra 7 256V dominates the Intel Core 3 304 across every workload category, with the largest margins appearing in multi-core and math-intensive tests.
The most significant gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core Ultra 7 256V scores 10399 against 5263 for the Core 3 304, a 49.4% advantage. Similarly, Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the Core Ultra 7 256V at 6958 versus 4160, a 40.2% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core follows the same pattern, with the Core Ultra 7 256V at 1583.5 compared to 849, a 46.4% difference.
Single-core performance tells a closer story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core Ultra 7 256V scores 1877.5 against 1765, a 6% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 285.5 versus 264, a 7.5% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core, however, reveals a much larger gap: 982 against 587, a 40.2% difference. PassMark single-thread results show the Core Ultra 7 256V at 4029 versus 3614, a 10.3% lead.
Math workloads amplify the Core Ultra 7 256V's advantage. PassMark find prime numbers shows 192 against 68, a 64.6% difference, the largest margin in the entire dataset. PassMark floating point math delivers 58576 versus 29722, a 49.3% gap. PassMark integer math shows 43358 against 24640, a 43.2% difference.
Memory and data workloads also favor the Core Ultra 7 256V consistently. PassMark data compression scores 184985 versus 114775, a 38% lead. PassMark data encryption shows 13998 against 8501, a 39.3% gap. PassMark extended instructions delivers 15643 versus 9686, a 38.1% difference. PassMark random string sorting shows 22481 against 13659, a 39.2% advantage.
PassMark multithread and physics tests continue the trend. The Core Ultra 7 256V scores 19530 versus 11625 in multithread, a 40.5% lead. Physics results show 1595 against 868, a 45.6% gap. No benchmark in the recorded data favors the Intel Core 3 304, and the overall average benchmark score reflects this: 21112 for the Core Ultra 7 256V against 13745 for the Core 3 304.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V has an average benchmark score of 21112, while the Intel Core 3 304 averages 13745. The Core Ultra 7 256V also reaches the 75th percentile among all CPUs, compared to the 68th percentile for the Core 3 304.
Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?
A: The Core Ultra 7 256V leads by 49.4% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (10399 versus 5263), by 40.2% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (6958 versus 4160), and by 46.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1583.5 versus 849).
Q: Is single-core performance closer than multi-core?
A: Yes, single-core gaps are smaller in most tests. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 6% difference, Cinebench R15 single-core shows 7.5%, and PassMark single-thread shows 10.3%. However, Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 40.2% gap, which is an outlier in the single-core data.
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads. Neither processor supports hyperthreading in the recorded specifications.
Q: What are the clock speed differences?
A: The Core Ultra 7 256V has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Core 3 304 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.
Q: How do the nearest rivals compare for each processor?
A: The Core 3 304 sits within 1.4% of its nearest rivals. It is 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, 0.9% behind the Intel Core i7-8750H, 1.1% ahead of the Intel Core 5 120UL, and 1.4% behind the AMD EPYC 7443. The Core Ultra 7 256V is within 0.3% of its nearest rivals: 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-1220P, and 0.3% behind the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U.
Architecture Differences
The two processors share the same 3 nm process node but differ in foundry and design philosophy. The Intel Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is fabricated by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V uses the Lunar Lake architecture and is fabricated by TSMC.
Core counts diverge significantly. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 256V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Both processors lack hyperthreading, so thread counts match core counts exactly.
Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 256V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 allocation on the Core Ultra 7 256V gives it significantly more total L2 capacity across its 8 cores.
Memory architecture separates the two clearly. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 256V uses a dual-channel memory bus, though its memory support is listed as depending on the motherboard and no bandwidth figure is recorded.
PCIe capabilities also differ. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 7 256V provides Gen 5 with 4 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, while the Core Ultra 7 256V uses Arc 140V.
Specification Differences
The socket types are incompatible. The Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 7 256V uses Intel BGA 2833. Both are mobile market segment processors with active production status.
Clock speeds differ across the board. The Core 3 304 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 256V has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 256V runs 0.70 GHz higher at base and 0.50 GHz higher at boost.
Thermal design power is close but not identical. The Core 3 304 is rated at 15 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 7 256V is rated at 17 W TDP. Both processors have locked multipliers.
The Core 3 304 has a launch MSRP of $309. The Core Ultra 7 256V has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. The part numbers differ: SAE3K for the Core 3 304 and SRPMPSRPMZ for the Core Ultra 7 256V.
Release dates place the two in different generations. The Core 3 304 was released on 2026-04-15, while the Core Ultra 7 256V was released on 2024-09-23. The Core 3 304 belongs to the Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) generation, and the Core Ultra 7 256V belongs to the Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake) generation.
The Verdict
The recorded data points to the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V as the stronger processor in every measured benchmark category. Its average benchmark score of 21112 places it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the Core 3 304's 13745 average and 68th percentile. The Core Ultra 7 256V wins all 17 head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 6% in Cinebench R23 single-core to 64.6% in PassMark find prime numbers.
The Core Ultra 7 256V benefits from more cores (8 versus 5), higher clock speeds (2.20 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost versus 1.50 GHz and 4.30 GHz), larger cache allocations (12 MB shared L3 versus 6 MB), and a dual-channel memory bus versus single-channel. It also uses Gen 5 PCIe, while the Core 3 304 uses Gen 4.
The Core 3 304 offers a lower TDP of 15 W versus 17 W, which could appeal in power-constrained designs, but the performance data does not show any workload where the Core 3 304 comes out ahead. The Core 3 304's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX and Intel Core i7-8750H, while the Core Ultra 7 256V competes with the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U and AMD Ryzen 5 5600G. In both cases, the recorded delta percentages are small, indicating tight competition within each processor's performance tier.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V wins in every recorded benchmark category. Multi-core rendering workloads show the largest advantages, with Cinebench R23 multi-core delivering a 49.4% lead and Cinebench R15 multi-core showing a 46.4% gap. Math-intensive tasks also favor the Core Ultra 7 256V heavily, particularly prime number calculations at 64.6% and floating point math at 49.3%.
The Core Ultra 7 256V also dominates memory and data workloads. Data compression shows a 38% advantage, data encryption shows 39.3%, extended instructions show 38.1%, and random string sorting shows 39.2%. Multithread performance delivers a 40.5% lead, and physics tests show a 45.6% gap.
Single-core tests produce the smallest differences, but the Core Ultra 7 256V still wins all of them. Cinebench R23 single-core shows only a 6% lead, Cinebench R15 single-core shows 7.5%, and PassMark single-thread shows 10.3%. The lone exception to the smaller single-core pattern is Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Core Ultra 7 256V holds a 40.2% advantage.
The Intel Core 3 304 does not win any recorded benchmark. Its lower TDP of 15 W could indicate efficiency advantages in thermal-constrained mobile designs, but the database contains no thermal or power efficiency measurements to confirm this. For users prioritizing raw performance across CPU-bound workloads, the data consistently selects the Core Ultra 7 256V.