Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Comparison
Intel Core 3 304
Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus across all 17 recorded tests. The Intel Core 3 304 does not win a single comparison, and the margins are consistently large. The smallest gap appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core Ultra 7 leads by 25.4% with scores of 354 versus 264. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ultra 7 posts 2439 against 1765, a 27.6% advantage.
Multi-threaded workloads show far larger deltas. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 7 scores 44253 versus 5263 for the Core 3, an 88.1% deficit for the smaller part. Cinebench R20 multi-core follows with 24461 versus 4160, an 83% gap. The R15 multi-core test shows 6656 against 849, a 87.2% difference. These results reflect the massive core-count disparity between the two processors.
PassMark workloads confirm the same hierarchy. The largest single delta appears in find prime numbers, where the Ultra 7 scores 615 against 68, a 88.9% lead. Floating point math shows 229491 versus 29722, an 87% gap. Integer math delivers 175986 versus 24640, an 86% difference. Data compression shows 804322 versus 114775, a 85.7% margin. Random string sorting lands at 96945 versus 13659, a 85.9% gap.
Single-threaded PassMark tests show a narrower but still decisive margin. The Ultra 7 records 5068 in PassMark single-thread, while the Core 3 manages 3614, a 28.7% difference. The same delta appears in the duplicate singlethread entry. Extended instructions show 63506 versus 9686, an 84.7% gap. Data encryption posts 59097 versus 8501, a 85.6% deficit for the Core 3.
The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this picture. The Core Ultra 7 sits at 93785, while the Core 3 averages 13745. The percentile rankings place the Ultra 7 in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 sits in the 68th percentile. Even against its nearest rivals, the Core 3 is closely matched: the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX scores 13786, just 0.3% higher, and the Intel Core i7-8750H scores 13868, 0.9% higher. Meanwhile, the Core Ultra 7 trades blows with server-class parts like the Intel Xeon 6520P at 93786, a 0% delta, and the AMD EPYC 4564P at 95183, just 1.5% higher.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins every measurable category in the database. Its 24 cores and 24 threads provide overwhelming parallel throughput, which shows in Cinebench multi-core tests and in PassMark multithread workloads. The Ultra 7 records 68574 in PassMark multithread, while the Core 3 manages 11625, an 83% deficit. Physics simulation shows 4064 versus 868, a 78.6% gap. These are tasks that scale with core count, and the Ultra 7 has nearly five times the cores.
Single-thread performance also favors the Ultra 7, though by smaller margins. The 5.50 GHz boost clock versus 4.30 GHz explains part of the gap. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 7 leads by 27.6%. PassMark single-thread shows a 28.7% advantage. These differences are meaningful for lightly threaded applications, but they are not as dramatic as the multi-core deltas.
The Core 3 304 has no benchmark wins to point to. However, its profile suggests a different role in the market. It uses a 3 nm process node like the Ultra 7, but its thermal design power is 15 watts against 125 watts for the Ultra 7. The Core 3 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1516, while the Ultra 7 is a desktop part on Socket 1851. The Core 3 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in single-channel mode with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 7 supports DDR5 in dual-channel mode with 115.2 GB/s. These are different product categories entirely.
The Core 3 also carries integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core, while the Ultra 7 has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. For tasks that rely on the integrated GPU, the Ultra 7 likely has an advantage, but the database does not include graphics benchmarks for either part. The Core 3 offers 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Ultra 7 provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, which matters for expansion and storage connectivity.
The Verdict
The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is the superior processor in every recorded benchmark. For users who prioritize raw compute performance, multi-threaded workloads, or single-thread responsiveness, the Ultra 7 delivers decisively higher scores. Its 96th percentile ranking versus the 68th percentile for the Core 3 places it in a different performance class. The Ultra 7 also supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 does not, and its multiplier is unlocked for overclocking.
The Intel Core 3 304, despite losing all comparisons, serves a distinct purpose. Its 15 watt TDP and mobile socket make it suitable for power-constrained portable devices. The 5-core, 5-thread configuration with a 4.30 GHz boost clock provides adequate single-thread performance for daily tasks, as shown by its 1765 score in Cinebench R23 single-core. The 68th percentile ranking means it outperforms a majority of CPUs in the database, even if it falls far short of the Ultra 7.
The database shows that the Core 3 304 competes with parts like the Intel Core 5 120UL, which scores 13594 on average, just 1.1% lower. The Ultra 7, by contrast, competes with server processors like the AMD EPYC 4565P, which scores 95764, 2.1% higher. These rival groupings confirm that the two chips occupy entirely different segments of the market.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.
Q: What is the largest benchmark gap between the two?
A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 scores 615 versus 68 for the Core 3, a 88.9% difference.
Q: How do the two compare in single-thread performance?
A: The Core Ultra 7 leads by 28.7% in PassMark single-thread (5068 versus 3614) and by 27.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2439 versus 1765).
Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 304 does not.
Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor provide?
A: The Core Ultra 7 provides 115.2 GB/s via dual-channel DDR5. The Core 3 provides 59.7 GB/s via single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X.
Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?
A: The Core Ultra 7 has a TDP of 125 watts. The Core 3 has a TDP of 15 watts.
Architecture Differences
The two processors share the same 3 nm process node, but they are built by different foundries. The Core 3 304 uses Intel as its foundry, while the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses TSMC. The Core 3 is based on the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Ultra 7 uses Arrow Lake Refresh.
The Core Ultra 7 carries 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 3 lists no transistor count or die size in the database. Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core 3 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3.
Memory support diverges as well. The Core 3 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel mode. The Ultra 7 supports DDR5 in dual-channel mode. Memory bandwidth favors the Ultra 7 at 115.2 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s for the Core 3. ECC memory support appears only on the Ultra 7.
PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 3 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Ultra 7 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are distinct: the Core 3 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core, while the Ultra 7 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units.
The market segments are clearly separated. The Core 3 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1516, released on April 15, 2026. The Ultra 7 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1851, released on March 10, 2026. The Ultra 7 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 does not. The Ultra 7 belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, while the Core 3 has no series designation. Base clocks show 3.70 GHz for the Ultra 7 versus 1.50 GHz for the Core 3, with boost clocks of 5.50 GHz and 4.30 GHz respectively. Both processors are listed as active in production.