Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Comparison

Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX occupy opposite ends of Intel’s mobile lineup, and the recorded data reflects a complete performance separation. The Core 3 304 is a 5-core part built for efficiency-focused thin-and-light systems, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX is a 24-core flagship designed for maximum throughput. Across every benchmark in the database, the Core Ultra 9 275HX posts the higher score, with no recorded wins for the Core 3 304 in any test. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 9 275HX is 67469, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 304 averages 13745, landing in the 68th percentile. The performance gap is substantial, but the two processors serve entirely different roles based on the data.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 304 does not win a single recorded benchmark against the Core Ultra 9 275HX. The head-to-head results show 17 wins for the Core Ultra 9 275HX and 0 wins for the Core 3 304. This is a clean sweep in the database, with the Core 3 304 trailing in every category from single-threaded tasks to heavily parallel workloads.

The Core Ultra 9 275HX dominates multi-threaded scenarios, which is expected given its 24 cores and 24 threads. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 35589 against 5263 for the Core 3 304, a delta of 85.2%. PassMark multithread shows 55759 versus 11625, a 79.2% gap. These results indicate that the Core Ultra 9 275HX is the clear choice for rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that can use many cores.

The Core 3 304 finds its position not in winning benchmarks but in the efficiency profile implied by its specifications. Its 15 W TDP and 5-core configuration suggest a design focused on sustained operation in compact chassis. The data does not include power draw measurements, but the TDP figures in the database point to a part that produces far less heat and requires less cooling than the 55 W Core Ultra 9 275HX. For workloads that are light, intermittent, or battery-sensitive, the Core 3 304 can complete tasks at a much lower energy envelope, even if each task takes longer.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same 3 nm process node but use different foundries. The Core 3 304 is built by Intel on its own 3 nm process, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX is fabricated by TSMC on a 3 nm node. Both use Intel as the manufacturer of record, but the underlying production differs.

The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX uses Arrow Lake-HX. The Core 3 304 is a 5-core, 5-thread processor, meaning it has no hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 cores and 24 threads, also without hyperthreading, relying instead on raw core count. The core count difference is the primary driver of the multicore performance gap.

Cache configurations differ sharply. 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 9 275HX has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 9 275HX’s L3 cache is six times larger, which benefits workloads with large working sets.

Memory support diverges as well. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X across a single-channel memory bus, with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core Ultra 9 275HX supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, delivering 102.4 GB/s. The Core Ultra 9 275HX also carries a Gen 5 PCIe interface with 20 lanes, while the Core 3 304 uses Gen 4 with 6 lanes.

The integrated graphics differ in scale. The Core 3 304 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX includes Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Core Ultra 9 275HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 304 does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 9 275HX wins every recorded benchmark, but the margins vary by workload type. The smallest gaps appear in single-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Core Ultra 9 275HX scores 2204 against 1765 for the Core 3 304, a 19.9% advantage. PassMark singlethread shows 4713 versus 3614, a 23.3% delta. Cinebench R15 singlecore is closer in percentage terms, with 334 against 264, a 21% gap. These results indicate that the Core Ultra 9 275HX has a meaningful per-core advantage, likely from its higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz versus 4.30 GHz.

The multicore gaps are far larger. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the Core Ultra 9 275HX at 35589 and the Core 3 304 at 5263, an 85.2% difference. Cinebench R20 multicore has 19899 against 4160, a 79.1% delta. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 5619.5 versus 849, an 84.9% gap. The Core Ultra 9 275HX’s 24 cores provide roughly six to seven times the multicore throughput of the 5-core Core 3 304.

PassMark workloads follow the same pattern. Data compression scores 608381 for the Core Ultra 9 275HX and 114775 for the Core 3 304, an 81.1% delta. Data encryption shows 47112 versus 8501, an 82% gap. Extended instructions score 47016 against 9686, a 79.4% difference. Floating point math shows the largest absolute gap: 191186 versus 29722, an 84.5% delta. Integer math scores 155218 against 24640, an 84.1% gap. Random string sorting shows 74320 versus 13659, an 81.6% delta.

Prime number finding and physics tests also favor the Core Ultra 9 275HX heavily. Find prime numbers scores 448 against 68, an 84.8% delta. Physics scores 3338 versus 868, a 74% gap, the smallest multicore margin but still a decisive win. PassMark multithread confirms the overall pattern with 55759 against 11625, a 79.2% delta.

The Core Ultra 9 275HX’s nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon w5-3525 with an average score of 67673, within 0.3%, and the AMD EPYC 4484PX at 67822, within 0.5%. The Core 3 304’s nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13786, within 0.3%, and the Intel Core i7-8750H at 13868, within 0.9%. These placement figures show that the Core Ultra 9 275HX competes in workstation-class territory, while the Core 3 304 sits alongside older mainstream mobile processors.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward split. The Core Ultra 9 275HX is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. Its 24 cores, 36 MB of shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory support, and 5.40 GHz boost clock deliver roughly six times the multicore performance and about 20% higher single-thread performance than the Core 3 304. The 94th percentile placement confirms that this is a high-end part by any measure.

The Core 3 304 is not a competitive processor in raw performance terms, but its specifications indicate a different purpose. The 15 W TDP, single-channel memory bus, and 5-core layout point to a design for low-power mobile systems where battery life and thermals take priority over throughput. Its 68th percentile placement shows it is still above the median CPU in the database, so it is not a weak performer for its class.

Users who need to run multi-threaded workloads, such as video rendering, data compression, or scientific simulations, should choose the Core Ultra 9 275HX based on the recorded scores. Users who prioritize portability, low power draw, and adequate single-thread performance for everyday tasks may find the Core 3 304 sufficient, though the benchmark data shows it will take significantly longer for demanding workloads. There is no benchmark category where the Core 3 304 closes the gap.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Core Ultra 9 275HX scores 2204 versus 1765 for the Core 3 304, a 19.9% advantage. PassMark singlethread shows 4713 versus 3614, a 23.3% delta.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity?

A: The Core 3 304 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core Ultra 9 275HX has 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X on a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 9 275HX supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 9 275HX boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Core 3 304 boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core 3 304 has a TDP of 15 W, and the Core Ultra 9 275HX has a TDP of 55 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |

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

| Cores | 5 | 24 |

| Threads | 5 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 2114 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake-HX |

| Process Node | 3 nm (Intel) | 3 nm (TSMC) |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 243 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SAE3K | SRVFK |