Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Processor U302L Comparison

Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Processor U302L are both 15-watt mobile processors from Intel, but they represent different design generations and performance tiers. The Core 3 304 is built on a 3 nm process with a Wildcat Lake codename, while the U302L uses a 10 nm Raptor Lake architecture. The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between these two parts, so the comparison relies on the available benchmark scores for the Core 3 304 and the architectural and specification differences listed for the U302L.

FAQ

Q: What is the process node difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 3 304 is manufactured on a 3 nm process, while the Intel Processor U302L is manufactured on a 10 nm process. Both are produced by Intel.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both processors have 5 cores. The Core 3 304 has 5 threads, meaning it does not support simultaneous multithreading. The U302L has 6 threads, indicating one additional thread over its physical core count.

Q: What is the boost clock difference?

A: The Core 3 304 has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the U302L has a boost clock of 2.40 GHz. The base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 304 and 1.20 GHz for the U302L.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core 3 304 has an average benchmark score of 13745 and sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs. The U302L has no recorded benchmark scores in the database and an average benchmark score of 0, placing it at the 50th percentile.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The U302L supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus; no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it.

Q: Are the integrated graphics different?

A: Yes. The Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the U302L uses UHD Graphics 80EU.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 304 belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation and is built on a 3 nm process, a notably smaller node compared to the U302L's 10 nm Raptor Lake process. This process difference is significant because it affects transistor density and power efficiency, although the database does not record transistor counts or die sizes for either part. The Core 3 304 carries the generation label "Core 3 (Wildcat Lake)", while the U302L is labeled "Intel Processor (Raptor Lake)".

Cache configurations differ substantially between the two. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The U302L lists L1 cache as 80 KB per core, L2 cache as 1.25 MB per core, and 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 figures suggest the U302L has a larger total L2 allocation across its 5 cores, but the Core 3 304 has a smaller L3 cache. The U302L's L3 is 10 MB shared, which is 4 MB larger than the Core 3 304's 6 MB shared L3.

Memory support also separates the two. The Core 3 304 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The U302L supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, but no bandwidth figure is recorded. Dual-channel memory typically provides higher bandwidth than single-channel, but without a recorded bandwidth number for the U302L, the data cannot confirm the magnitude.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 3 304 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU, while the U302L provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The U302L offers two additional CPU PCIe lanes. Both processors have ECC memory disabled.

The integrated graphics are from different families. The Core 3 304 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, a newer graphics architecture. The U302L uses UHD Graphics 80EU, which is an older execution unit design. The database does not provide graphics benchmark scores for either processor, so the performance impact cannot be quantified.

The sockets differ: the Core 3 304 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the U302L uses Intel Socket 1700. Both are mobile market segment parts and both are listed as active in production. The release dates differ, with the U302L released in April 2024 and the Core 3 304 released in April 2026. The part numbers are SAE3K for the Core 3 304 and SRPKGQ5CX for the U302L. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between the Core 3 304 and the U302L. The wins counters for both processors are zero. This means no direct comparison scores exist for identical tests run on both parts.

However, the Core 3 304 has a full set of benchmark scores recorded, while the U302L has none. The Core 3 304's average benchmark score is 13745, and it ranks at the 68th percentile among all CPUs. The U302L has an average benchmark score of 0 and ranks at the 50th percentile. The absence of recorded scores for the U302L prevents any direct numeric comparison on individual tests.

The Core 3 304's nearest rivals in the database provide context for its performance level. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has an average score of 13786, which is 0.3% higher than the Core 3 304. The Intel Core i7-8750H has an average score of 13868, 0.9% higher. The Intel Core 5 120UL has an average score of 13594, which is 1.1% lower than the Core 3 304. The AMD EPYC 7443 has an average score of 13936, 1.4% higher. These deltas show the Core 3 304 sits within a narrow band around these established desktop and mobile processors, with the largest gap being 1.4% behind the EPYC 7443.

Looking at the Core 3 304's individual benchmark results, the multi-core Cinebench scores are 849 in R15, 4160 in R20, and 5263 in R23. Single-core scores are 264 in R15, 587 in R20, and 1765 in R23. PassMark results include a multithread score of 11625, a single-thread score of 3614, integer math at 24640, floating point math at 29722, data compression at 114775, data encryption at 8501, extended instructions at 9686, find prime numbers at 68, physics at 868, and random string sorting at 13659.

Since the U302L has no benchmark records, the data cannot show where the U302L wins or loses on any specific test. The only quantitative comparison possible is the average benchmark score and percentile, where the Core 3 304 clearly leads. The U302L's 50th percentile ranking is lower than the Core 3 304's 68th percentile, but with no average score recorded, the magnitude of the performance gap remains undefined.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The core count is identical at 5, but the thread count differs: 5 threads for the Core 3 304 versus 6 threads for the U302L. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 304 and 1.20 GHz for the U302L. Boost clocks are 4.30 GHz for the Core 3 304 and 2.40 GHz for the U302L.

The process node is 3 nm for the Core 3 304 and 10 nm for the U302L. The codename is Wildcat Lake for the Core 3 304 and Raptor Lake-PS for the U302L. The generation labels are "Core 3 (Wildcat Lake)" and "Intel Processor (Raptor Lake)". The architecture field is null for the Core 3 304 and Raptor Lake for the U302L.

Cache differs in structure. The Core 3 304 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The U302L has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 10 MB shared L3. The socket is Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 304 and Intel Socket 1700 for the U302L.

Memory support differs: DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 3 304, DDR4 and DDR5 for the U302L. The memory bus is single-channel for the Core 3 304 and dual-channel for the U302L. Memory bandwidth is recorded as 59.7 GB/s for the Core 3 304 and null for the U302L. PCIe is Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 3 304 and Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the U302L.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) for the Core 3 304, UHD Graphics 80EU for the U302L. The release dates are April 2026 for the Core 3 304 and April 2024 for the U302L. The launch MSRP is $309 for the Core 3 304 and $285 for the U302L. Both have ECC memory disabled, both are mobile parts, both are active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The recorded data strongly favors the Intel Core 3 304 in raw processing performance. It has a complete set of benchmark scores with an average of 13745, while the U302L has no recorded scores at all. The Core 3 304 also holds a higher percentile ranking at 68% versus the U302L's 50%. The boost clock difference is substantial: 4.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, which aligns with the Core 3 304's higher single-core benchmark results.

The U302L does have structural advantages in the specification sheet. It supports dual-channel memory, which the Core 3 304 lacks, and it has a larger shared L3 cache at 10 MB versus 6 MB. The U302L also has one additional thread (6 versus 5) and two additional CPU PCIe lanes. These features could help in memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads or tasks that scale with cache size, but without benchmark scores for the U302L, the data cannot confirm any real-world benefit.

The Core 3 304's 3 nm process gives it a manufacturing advantage over the 10 nm U302L, which typically translates to better power efficiency per operation. The newer Xe3 graphics architecture in the Core 3 304 also suggests improved integrated graphics capability, though no graphics benchmarks are recorded.

The launch MSRP is $309 for the Core 3 304 and $285 for the U302L. The Core 3 304 is the newer part by two years, released in April 2026 versus April 2024 for the U302L.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 304 wins in every category where benchmark data exists. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 5263 and single-core score of 1765 indicate strong performance for a 15-watt mobile processor. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3614 and multithread score of 11625 reinforce this. The nearest rival data shows the Core 3 304 performing within 1.4% of the AMD EPYC 7443 and within 0.9% of the Intel Core i7-8750H, both of which are significantly larger desktop or workstation processors. This places the Core 3 304's performance in an unexpected tier for a low-power mobile chip.

The U302L's potential wins are speculative based on specifications. The dual-channel memory bus could provide higher memory bandwidth than the Core 3 304's single-channel bus, although the Core 3 304 records 59.7 GB/s and the U302L has no recorded bandwidth. The larger 10 MB L3 cache could benefit workloads that fit within that cache, but the Core 3 304's 6 MB L3 is smaller. The extra thread on the U302L could help in lightly threaded scenarios, but the Core 3 304's much higher boost clock likely compensates in single-thread performance. The additional two PCIe lanes on the U302L could support more I/O devices.

The data indicates the Core 3 304 is the stronger processor for compute-heavy tasks, including multi-core rendering, encryption, compression, and floating-point math. The U302L may have niche advantages in memory-sensitive or cache-sensitive workloads, but the absence of benchmark scores means those advantages cannot be verified. The Intel Processor U302L, as a Raptor Lake part, represents an older architecture with a larger process node and lower clock speeds, which the recorded data shows puts it at a clear disadvantage in the Core 3 304's measured tests.