Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core 7 160HL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two processors into clearly different roles. The Intel Core 3 305 is the only one of the pair with benchmark results in the database, so its wins are measured directly against the broader CPU field rather than against the Core 7 160HL, which has no recorded benchmark scores. The Core 3 305 sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, placing it above the median and within a narrow band of comparable processors. Its nearest rivals in average score are the Intel Core i3-14100, the Intel Core 5 330, and the Intel Core 7 360, each within 0.4 percent of the Core 3 305's average. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E trails by 0.4 percent.

The Core 7 160HL, by contrast, carries a 50th percentile rating and no benchmark entries, meaning the database has no direct measurements of its performance. What the data does show is a structural advantage on paper: 14 cores and 20 threads versus 6 cores and 6 threads, a higher base clock, a higher boost clock, and a larger L3 cache. Those specifications point to a multi-threaded workload advantage, but no recorded scores exist to confirm it. The Core 3 305, with its 6 threads and single-channel memory, is positioned for lighter, more latency-sensitive tasks where its boost clock and newer process node can shine.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design generations and target different physical layouts. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process node, while the Core 7 160HL uses Raptor Lake-PS, built on a 10 nm process. That process gap is substantial: the Core 3 305 packs 6 cores and 6 threads into a 15 W TDP, whereas the Core 7 160HL spreads 14 cores and 20 threads across a 45 W TDP. The Core 3 305 runs at a 1.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.30 GHz. The Core 7 160HL starts at 2.50 GHz and boosts to 5.20 GHz.

Cache layouts differ sharply. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 160HL lists per-core L1 and L2 figures, 80 KB and 2 MB respectively, plus 24 MB of shared L3. The Core 3 305 uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core 7 160HL supports both DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus, though the database lists no bandwidth figure for it. The Core 3 305 draws on Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, while the Core 7 160HL uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units.

Socket and platform details also diverge. The Core 3 305 mounts on Intel BGA 1516, a mobile socket, while the Core 7 160HL uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket. PCIe connectivity favors the Core 7 160HL with Gen 4 and 8 CPU lanes versus Gen 4 and 6 lanes on the Core 3 305. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both are locked multipliers. The Core 3 305 launched in April 2026 with a launch MSRP of $309. The Core 7 160HL launched in April 2024 with no recorded MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results between the Core 3 305 and the Core 7 160HL. The Core 3 305 has 17 individual benchmark scores; the Core 7 160HL has none. Direct comparison of measured performance is therefore impossible from the recorded data. What can be compared is the Core 3 305's position against its nearest rivals and its own absolute scores.

In Cinebench R23, the Core 3 305 scores 13123 in multicore and 1852 in singlecore. Its Cinebench R20 results are 5511 multicore and 777 singlecore, and its Cinebench R15 results are 1322 multicore and 186 singlecore. These scores place it in the upper third of all CPUs, but the nearest rival data shows how tight the competition is. The Intel Core i3-14100 averages 18318, which is 0.1 percent below the Core 3 305's average of 18302. The Intel Core 5 330 averages 18345, 0.2 percent above. The Intel Core 7 360 averages 18374, 0.4 percent above. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E averages 18230, 0.4 percent below. The Core 3 305 is effectively a statistical tie with all four of these processors in average score.

PassMark tests show where the Core 3 305 concentrates its strength. It records 146857 in data compression, 11019 in data encryption, 13543 in extended instructions, 115 in find prime numbers, 42284 in floating point math, 32295 in integer math, 15439 in multithread, 1233 in physics, 17623 in random string sorting, and 3977 in single thread. The single-thread score of 3977 appears twice in the database, once under passmark_single_thread and once under passmark_singlethread, confirming the same result. The physics score of 1233 is the lowest relative figure, while the data compression score is by far the highest absolute result.

The Core 7 160HL cannot be benchmarked against these figures because the database holds no scores for it. Its specification sheet suggests a different performance envelope, but the absence of measurements means any quantitative claim about its speed would be unsupported. The data only permits a statement of what it is, not what it does.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 160HL has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Core 7 160HL boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz. The Core 7 160HL also has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: Do both chips support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 7 160HL supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, but the database lists no bandwidth figure for it.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core 7 160HL has 24 MB of shared L3. The Core 3 305 has 6 MB of shared L3.

Q: Are there any benchmark scores for the Core 7 160HL?

A: No. The database contains 17 benchmark scores for the Core 3 305 and none for the Core 7 160HL. The Core 7 160HL carries a 50th percentile rating with an average benchmark score of 0.

Q: How does the Core 3 305 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: Its average benchmark score is 18302. The Intel Core i3-14100 is 0.1 percent lower, the Intel Core 5 330 is 0.2 percent higher, the Intel Core 7 360 is 0.4 percent higher, and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E is 0.4 percent lower.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a clear split. The Intel Core 3 305 is a mobile, low-power part with measured performance in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its 6 cores and 6 threads, 15 W TDP, and single-channel memory bus suit it for thin-and-light systems where efficiency and single-thread response matter more than raw multi-thread throughput. Its benchmark scores, particularly the 3977 single-thread PassMark result and the 13123 Cinebench R23 multicore score, confirm it competes evenly with established desktop parts like the Core i3-14100 and Core 5 330, all within 0.4 percent of each other.

The Intel Core 7 160HL is a desktop part with a much larger core count, 14 cores and 20 threads, a 45 W TDP, dual-channel memory support, and a 5.20 GHz boost clock. Its 24 MB L3 cache and 96 EU Iris Xe Graphics indicate a design aimed at heavier parallel workloads and better integrated graphics. But the database has no benchmark results for this chip, so its actual performance cannot be verified. The 50th percentile rating is the only performance indicator, and it sits well below the Core 3 305's 72nd percentile.

A user choosing between these two should base the decision on platform and workload expectations. The Core 3 305 is for a BGA 1516 mobile system with a 2026 release date, a known launch MSRP of $309, and measured performance that places it at parity with its closest desktop rivals. The Core 7 160HL is for an LGA 1700 desktop build with more cores, more cache, and a higher clock ceiling, but with no measured scores to validate its speed. The data does not support a claim that the Core 7 160HL is faster; it only supports a claim that it is configured for more parallel work.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 305 | Intel Core 7 160HL |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 6 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Raptor Lake-PS |

| Generation | Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) | Core 7 (Raptor Lake-PS) |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Support | No | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-04-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not listed |

| Unlocked Multiplier | No | No |

| Part Number | SAE3L | Unknown |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 72 | 50 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 18302 | 0 |