Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Comparison
Intel Core 3 304
Core Ultra 9 285HX
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
The Verdict
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is the dominant part in every recorded benchmark. The data shows it wins all 17 head-to-head tests, with no wins recorded for the Intel Core 3 304. The Core Ultra 9 285HX sits at the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 3 304 sits at the 68th percentile. The average benchmark score tells the same story: 76,155 for the Ultra 9 versus 13,745 for the Core 3, a gap of roughly 5.5 times.
The Core 3 304 is a low-power mobile chip with 5 cores and a 15 TDP, clearly aimed at thin-and-light notebooks where battery life and cooling matter more than raw throughput. The Core Ultra 9 285HX is a 24-core, 55 TDP monster for high-performance laptops, with an unlocked multiplier for enthusiast tuning. Anyone choosing between these two is not comparing like-for-like; they are choosing between two entirely different classes of mobile machine.
The Core 3 304 makes sense only for users who need basic productivity and light workloads in a compact chassis. The Core Ultra 9 285HX is the pick for rendering, simulation, heavy multitasking, or any workload that scales across many cores. The benchmark data leaves no ambiguity: the Ultra 9 is faster in every single measured category, from single-threaded tasks to massively parallel compute.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different Intel architectures and are built on different process nodes. The Core 3 304 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX uses Arrow Lake-HX. Both are fabricated on a 3 nm node, but the foundries differ: Intel for the Core 3 304, TSMC for the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
The core counts are vastly different. The Core 3 304 has 5 cores and 5 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 9 285HX has 24 cores and 24 threads, also without hyperthreading. The Ultra 9's transistor count is recorded at 17,800 million, with a die size of 243 mm², while the Core 3 304 has no transistor or die size data recorded.
Cache hierarchies are also distinct. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 9 285HX has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The per-core L2 allocation on the Ultra 9 scales with its much larger core count.
Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 9 285HX supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 9 also supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 304 does not.
PCIe connectivity is another split. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 9 285HX provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ too: the Core 3 304 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, while the Ultra 9 has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EU.
The Core 3 304 has a launch MSRP of $309. The Ultra 9 has no launch MSRP recorded. The Core 3 304 uses socket Intel BGA 1516, the Ultra 9 uses Intel BGA 2114. The Core 3 304's multiplier is locked, the Ultra 9's is unlocked.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins every single-threaded test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2187.5 versus 1765 for the Core 3 304, a delta of -19.3%. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4618 versus 3614, a delta of -21.7%.
Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?
A: The Ultra 9 leads by 79.4% to 85.6% depending on the test. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 36,429.5 versus 5,263, a delta of -85.6%. PassMark multi-thread shows 56,902 versus 11,625, a delta of -79.6%.
Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?
A: No. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX has ECC memory support enabled, while the Intel Core 3 304 does not support ECC memory.
Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Intel Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.
Q: Is the Core 3 304 overclockable?
A: No. The multiplier is locked on the Core 3 304. The Core Ultra 9 285HX has an unlocked multiplier.
Q: Which CPU has better memory bandwidth?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX delivers 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The Core 3 304 delivers 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X.
Specification Differences
The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded database entries.
| Specification | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 5 | 24 |
| Threads | 5 | 24 |
| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.80 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.50 GHz |
| TDP | 15 | 55 |
| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 2114 |
| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake-HX |
| Generation | Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) | Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake-HX) |
| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |
| Transistors | Not recorded | 17,800 million |
| Die Size | Not recorded | 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 |
| ECC Memory | false | true |
| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |
| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not recorded |
| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |
| Part Number | SAE3K | SRVFJ |
| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2025-01-12 |
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
Every recorded benchmark favors the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX. The smallest gaps appear in single-threaded workloads, while the largest gaps appear in multi-core and math-heavy tests.
In Cinebench R15, the Ultra 9 scores 5,656.5 multi-core versus 849 for the Core 3, a delta of -85%. The single-core score is 323.5 versus 264, a delta of -18.4%. Cinebench R20 shows a multi-core score of 20,236 versus 4,160, a delta of -79.4%, and a single-core score of 2,856 versus 587, also -79.4%. Note the unusual pattern here: the R20 single-core delta matches the multi-core delta exactly, which the data records as -79.4% for both.
Cinebench R23 multi-core delivers the biggest margin: 36,429.5 versus 5,263, a delta of -85.6%. The single-core R23 score is 2,187.5 versus 1,765, a delta of -19.3%.
PassMark tests follow the same trend. Data compression shows 631,885 versus 114,775, a delta of -81.8%. Data encryption shows 48,567 versus 8,501, a delta of -82.5%. Extended instructions show 49,148 versus 9,686, a delta of -80.3%. Find prime numbers shows 460 versus 68, a delta of -85.2%. Floating point math shows 194,998 versus 29,722, a delta of -84.8%. Integer math shows 155,076 versus 24,640, a delta of -84.1%. Multi-thread shows 56,902 versus 11,625, a delta of -79.6%. Physics shows 3,476 versus 868, a delta of -75%, the smallest multi-core margin in the PassMark suite. Random string sorting shows 77,196 versus 13,659, a delta of -82.3%. Single-thread shows 4,618 versus 3,614, a delta of -21.7%, and the duplicate singlethread test records the same values.
The pattern is consistent: the Ultra 9 leads by roughly 75% to 85% in multi-core and math workloads, and by roughly 18% to 22% in single-core workloads. The single-thread advantage is real but modest compared to the multi-core chasm.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX wins every recorded category, so the use-case split is defined by what the Core 3 304 can still handle rather than where it beats the Ultra 9.
The Core 3 304's 15 TDP and single-channel memory bus make it suitable for light mobile workloads in thin laptops. Its 5 cores and 5 threads handle basic productivity, web browsing, and office applications without issue. The 68th percentile ranking shows it outperforms roughly two-thirds of all CPUs in the database, so it is not a weak part in absolute terms. Its integrated Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe is adequate for basic display output and video playback, though no gaming benchmarks are recorded to support stronger claims.
The Core Ultra 9 285HX is the clear choice for any workload that benefits from 24 cores, 24 threads, and dual-channel 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth. The 95th percentile ranking places it among the top 5% of all CPUs in the database. Cinebench R23 multi-core performance at 36,429.5 indicates strong rendering capability. PassMark integer math at 155,076 and floating point math at 194,998 point to heavy computational tasks like video encoding, scientific simulation, and 3D modeling. The 20 Gen 5 PCIe lanes support fast discrete GPUs and NVMe storage. ECC memory support makes it viable for workstation-class reliability scenarios.
For a builder choosing between these two, the decision hinges entirely on the intended chassis and power envelope. The Core 3 304 belongs in a slim, fanless or low-noise notebook where the 15 TDP keeps thermals manageable. The Core Ultra 9 285HX belongs in a large, high-performance laptop with robust cooling, where the 55 TDP and unlocked multiplier allow sustained heavy loads. The data shows no scenario where the Core 3 304 outperforms the Ultra 9 in any recorded measurement, so the only reason to pick the smaller chip is power efficiency and physical size, not performance.