Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core 7 253PQE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive outcome. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core 7 253PQE takes the win. The Intel Core 3 305 does not secure a single victory. The margin varies significantly by workload, from a modest single-thread advantage to a massive gap in integer math.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Core 7 253PQE demonstrates overwhelming multi-core dominance. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 7 253PQE scores 31,390 against the Core 3 305's 13,123, a delta of -58.2%. The pattern repeats across R15 and R20 multi-core tests, with the Core 7 253PQE scoring 3,163 and 13,183 respectively, versus 1,322 and 5,511 for the Core 3 305. All three multi-core tests show the same -58.2% delta, indicating a consistent scaling advantage.

Single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story, though with slightly different margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 7 253PQE scores 4,431, while the Core 3 305 manages 1,852, a delta of -58.2%. The R15 and R20 single-core tests show deltas of -58.3% and -58.2% respectively, with scores of 446 versus 186 and 1,861 versus 777.

PassMark workloads reveal where the architectural gap widens. The largest delta appears in integer math, where the Core 7 253PQE scores 137,795 against 32,295, a gap of -76.6%. Floating-point math shows a -59.8% delta, with scores of 105,279 versus 42,284. Data compression favors the Core 7 253PQE by -69.9%, scoring 487,335 versus 146,857. Random string sorting shows a -67.5% delta, with 54,222 against 17,623.

The narrowest margin appears in PassMark single-thread performance. The Core 7 253PQE scores 4,389, while the Core 3 305 scores 3,977, a delta of only -9.4%. This suggests the single-thread advantage is far less pronounced than the multi-thread gap. The other PassMark tests show intermediate deltas: data encryption at -56.8% (25,515 versus 11,019), extended instructions at -58.2% (32,390 versus 13,543), prime numbers at -44.2% (206 versus 115), physics at -58.5% (2,970 versus 1,233), and multithread at -62.9% (41,656 versus 15,439).

The average benchmark score reinforces this hierarchy. The Core 7 253PQE averages 55,919, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 305 averages 18,302, sitting in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals confirm the positioning: the Core 7 253PQE sits within 1.1% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX, while the Core 3 305 trades within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design families. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on Intel's 3 nm process node, while the Core 7 253PQE uses the Bartlett Lake architecture on a 10 nm node. The process node difference is substantial, though the benchmark results favor the older node in this comparison.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading support. The Core 7 253PQE has 10 cores and 20 threads, doubling the thread count through simultaneous multithreading. This explains the massive multi-core benchmark gap: 20 threads versus 6 threads creates a 3.33x raw thread advantage.

Clock speeds also differ significantly. The Core 3 305 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Core 7 253PQE operates at 3.50 GHz base and boosts to 5.70 GHz. The higher boost clock directly explains the single-thread advantage, though the 9.4% delta in PassMark single-thread is smaller than the 23% clock advantage might suggest, indicating the Core 3 305's newer architecture extracts more instructions per clock.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 253PQE specifies per-core cache: 80 KB L1 per core and 2 MB L2 per core, with 33 MB of shared L3. For a 10-core part, the L2 totals 20 MB, far exceeding the Core 3 305's 2.5 MB. The L3 difference is equally stark: 33 MB versus 6 MB.

Memory support and bandwidth reflect their target segments. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 7 253PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, achieving 89.6 GB/s. The Core 7 253PQE also supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 305 does not.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core 7 253PQE provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, quadrupling lane count and moving to the newer standard.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe unit. The Core 7 253PQE uses UHD Graphics 770. The socket types are incompatible: the Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core 7 253PQE uses Intel Socket 1700.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 7 253PQE wins every benchmark in the database, but the margin profile reveals which workloads benefit most from its architecture. The largest deltas occur in integer math (-76.6%), random string sorting (-67.5%), and data compression (-69.9%). These workloads scale strongly with core count and thread count, explaining why the 10-core, 20-thread part dominates.

The Core 3 305's relative strength appears in single-thread performance. The -9.4% delta in PassMark single-thread is its closest result. The data indicates that in lightly threaded scenarios, the Core 3 305's newer 3 nm process and Wildcat Lake architecture partially compensate for its lower boost clock. However, even in this best case, it still trails the Core 7 253PQE.

The prime number test shows a -44.2% delta, the smallest among the multi-thread PassMark workloads. This suggests the Core 3 305's per-core integer performance is comparatively strong, but the thread count advantage of the Core 7 253PQE overrides it.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, as measured by Cinebench, the Core 7 253PQE delivers roughly 2.4x the performance of the Core 3 305 across all three versions. The consistent -58.2% delta indicates that the scaling penalty is uniform, suggesting the Core 3 305's memory bandwidth and cache limitations become the binding constraint.

The physics test shows a -58.5% delta, closely matching the Cinebench multi-core deltas. Data encryption shows a slightly smaller -56.8% delta, while extended instructions match the -58.2% pattern. Floating-point math shows a -59.8% delta, slightly worse than the average.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts establish the primary difference: 6 cores and 6 threads for the Core 3 305, versus 10 cores and 20 threads for the Core 7 253PQE. Clock speeds differ with the Core 3 305 at 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, while the Core 7 253PQE runs at 3.50 GHz base and 5.70 GHz boost.

Power envelopes diverge substantially. The Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core 7 253PQE draws 125 watts. This 110-watt gap reflects the different design targets: the Core 3 305 is a mobile processor, while the Core 7 253PQE is a desktop part.

Memory support differs in type and bus width. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, achieving 59.7 GB/s. The Core 7 253PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, achieving 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Core 7 253PQE.

PCIe generations and lane counts differ. The Core 3 305 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes, while the Core 7 253PQE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The socket types are different: BGA 1516 for the Core 3 305, Socket 1700 for the Core 7 253PQE.

Cache configurations differ fundamentally. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The Core 7 253PQE has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3. The integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe for the Core 3 305, UHD Graphics 770 for the Core 7 253PQE.

The production status is Active for both. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309 and a part number of SAE3L. The Core 7 253PQE has a launch MSRP of $409 and a part number of SA4QA. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 253PQE has 20 threads, while the Intel Core 3 305 has 6 threads. The Core 7 253PQE also has 10 cores versus 6 cores for the Core 3 305.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest delta appears in PassMark integer math, where the Core 7 253PQE scores 137,795 against 32,295 for the Core 3 305, a delta of -76.6%.

Q: How close is the single-thread performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Core 7 253PQE scores 4,389 versus 3,977 for the Core 3 305, a delta of -9.4%. This is the smallest margin in any recorded test.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core 7 253PQE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 3 305 does not.

Q: What memory configurations does each support?

A: The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 7 253PQE supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the power consumption figures?

A: The Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 watts. The Core 7 253PQE has a TDP of 125 watts.