Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core 7 150U Comparison

Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core 7 150U: two 15-watt mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but they approach the job from completely different design directions. The Core 3 305 is a newer 3nm part with a modest 6-core, 6-thread setup, while the Core 7 150U is a 10-core, 12-thread Raptor Lake-U chip with a much higher boost clock. The benchmark data reveals a clear split: the Core 3 305 dominates in most compute-heavy and simulation workloads, while the Core 7 150U takes the lead in a few specific memory and compression tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 305 wins 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, making it the stronger overall performer in the database's test suite. Its wins are concentrated in synthetic multi-core rendering and math workloads, where the newer architecture shows a clear advantage. The Core 7 150U wins 6 benchmarks, mostly in single-core Cinebench R15, data compression, integer math, and random string sorting.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering, the Core 3 305 is the clear pick. Its R23 multi-core score of 13123 is 47.7% ahead of the Core 7 150U's 8883, a massive gap that reflects the efficiency of the Wildcat Lake design. The Core 3 305 also leads in PassMark multithread (15439 vs 14700, 5% ahead) and floating-point math (42284 vs 34405, 22.9% ahead). The Core 7 150U, in contrast, is better suited to integer-heavy tasks and certain memory-bound operations. It leads in PassMark integer math by 36.7% (51057 vs 32295), data compression by 7.4% (158622 vs 146857), and random string sorting by 3.5% (18269 vs 17623).

The single-thread picture is mixed. The Core 3 305 wins PassMark single-thread by 13.4% (3977 vs 3508), but the Core 7 150U wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 26.8% (254 vs 186) and R23 single-core by 1.3% (1875.5 vs 1852). The difference likely comes down to how each test stresses the memory subsystem and instruction pipeline.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different process nodes and microarchitectures. The Core 3 305 uses a 3 nm process, built by Intel, and is based on the Wildcat Lake architecture. The Core 7 150U uses a 10 nm process, also Intel, and is based on Raptor Lake-U. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads, so the Core 7 150U has more physical cores and two extra threads. The Core 3 305 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Core 7 150U starts at 1.80 GHz and boosts to 5.40 GHz. The Core 7 150U has the higher clocks, but the Core 3 305 wins most benchmarks anyway, which points to the newer architecture delivering more instructions per clock.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 150U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 150U has the larger L3 pool, but the Core 3 305 appears to use it more effectively in most tests. Memory support also differs: the Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 7 150U supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The Core 7 150U's dual-channel interface likely explains its wins in memory-sensitive tests like random string sorting and data compression.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core 7 150U uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The Core 7 150U has the larger GPU. Both parts use Gen 4 PCIe, but the Core 3 305 has 6 CPU lanes while the Core 7 150U has 8. Both use the BGA socket, but the Core 3 305 is on BGA 1516 while the Core 7 150U is on BGA 1744. The Core 3 305 was released on April 15, 2026 with a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core 7 150U was released on January 7, 2024.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single win for the Core 3 305 is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 13123 versus 8883 for the Core 7 150U, a 47.7% advantage. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and it shows how much the newer architecture improves sustained multi-core throughput. PassMark extended instructions also goes to the Core 3 305 by a wide margin: 13543 versus 8748, a 54.8% lead. The Core 3 305 also wins PassMark find prime numbers by 98.3% (115 vs 58), the largest percentage gap in any test for either chip.

The Core 3 305 continues its sweep in math and physics workloads. PassMark floating-point math goes to the Core 3 305 at 42284 versus 34405, a 22.9% lead. PassMark physics goes to the Core 3 305 at 1233 versus 1012, a 21.8% lead. PassMark data encryption goes to the Core 3 305 at 11019 versus 10025, a 9.9% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core both go to the Core 3 305 by 5% (5511 vs 5248 and 777 vs 740, respectively). PassMark multithread also goes to the Core 3 305 by 5% (15439 vs 14700). PassMark single-thread goes to the Core 3 305 by 13.4% (3977 vs 3508).

The Core 7 150U's largest win is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 51057 against 32295, a 36.7% lead. That is the only test where it wins by a wide margin. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 26.8% (254 vs 186), Cinebench R15 multi-core by 12.2% (1505.5 vs 1322), data compression by 7.4% (158622 vs 146857), random string sorting by 3.5% (18269 vs 17623), and Cinebench R23 single-core by 1.3% (1875.5 vs 1852). The R15 single-core gap is notable because the Core 7 150U's 5.40 GHz boost clock gives it a raw clock advantage, and R15 is an older test that may not fully utilize the newer architecture's wider execution resources.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell a similar story. The Core 3 305 has an average score of 18302 and sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. The Core 7 150U has an average score of 17395 and sits at the 71st percentile. The Core 3 305's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-14100 with an average score of 18318 and a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core 5 330 with 18345 and a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Core 7 360 with 18374 and a 0.4% delta. The Core 7 150U's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 with an average score of 17333 and a 0.4% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 3 210 with 17321 and a 0.4% delta.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 is significantly faster, scoring 13123 versus 8883 for the Core 7 150U, a 47.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Core 7 150U win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark integer math by 36.7% (51057 vs 32295) and Cinebench R15 single-core by 26.8% (254 vs 186).

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What process node does each chip use?

A: The Core 3 305 uses a 3 nm process, while the Core 7 150U uses a 10 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Q: How do their memory controllers differ?

A: The Core 3 305 uses a single-channel memory bus with support for DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Core 7 150U uses a dual-channel bus with support for DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core 7 150U boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Core 3 305 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz, the Core 7 150U has 1.80 GHz. The Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz, the Core 7 150U boosts to 5.40 GHz. Both have a 15 W TDP. The Core 3 305 uses the BGA 1516 socket, the Core 7 150U uses BGA 1744. The Core 3 305 is based on Wildcat Lake with a 3 nm process, the Core 7 150U is based on Raptor Lake-U with a 10 nm process. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2, while the Core 7 150U has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The Core 3 305 has 6 MB of shared L3, the Core 7 150U has 12 MB of shared L3. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 7 150U supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Core 3 305 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, the Core 7 150U has Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The Core 3 305 has 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, the Core 7 150U has 8. The Core 3 305 was released on April 15, 2026 with a launch MSRP of $309, the Core 7 150U was released on January 7, 2024.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core 3 305 as the stronger overall processor for most workloads. It wins 11 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, holds a 47.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and posts a higher average score (18302 vs 17395) and percentile rank (72 vs 71). Its wins in physics, floating-point math, encryption, and extended instructions suggest it is better suited to rendering, scientific computing, and security-related tasks. The Core 7 150U is the better choice for integer-heavy workloads and memory-bound tasks, with a 36.7% lead in PassMark integer math and wins in data compression and random string sorting. Its dual-channel memory bus and 5.40 GHz boost clock give it an edge in those specific areas. For general-purpose use, the Core 3 305 delivers more performance per watt and a more modern feature set, while the Core 7 150U remains competitive in legacy single-core tests and integer processing.