Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core i3-14100T Comparison

The Intel Core 3 305 and Intel Core i3-14100T occupy different corners of the Intel stack, one a 3 nm mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, the other a 10 nm desktop chip with a 35 W TDP. Despite the i3-14100T's higher base clock of 2.70 GHz and boost of 4.40 GHz, the Core 3 305 wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the two chips are built for fundamentally different platforms, which matters more than the raw score gap.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 305 is the dominant performer across the Cinebench suite. It leads by 13% in Cinebench R15 multicore (1322 vs 1170), by 12.7% in R15 single-core (186 vs 165), by 13% in R20 multicore (5511 vs 4877), by 12.9% in R20 single-core (777 vs 688), and by 13% in both R23 multicore (13123 vs 11612) and R23 single-core (1852 vs 1639). This consistency suggests the Core 3 305's architecture delivers a uniform advantage in both lightly threaded and fully loaded rendering workloads.

The PassMark suite reveals a more nuanced split. The Core 3 305 wins heavily in floating-point math (42284 vs 31379, a 34.8% lead), data encryption (11019 vs 7881, a 39.8% lead), extended instructions (13543 vs 10414, a 30% lead), find prime numbers (115 vs 56, a 105.4% lead), physics (1233 vs 973, a 26.7% lead), random string sorting (17623 vs 15579, a 13.1% lead), and single-thread performance (3977 vs 3498, a 13.7% lead). The PassMark multithread test also goes to the Core 3 305 by 13% (15439 vs 13662).

The Intel Core i3-14100T takes only two tests, both in PassMark. It wins data compression by 3.8% (152636 vs 146857) and integer math by 19.8% (40292 vs 32295). These two wins indicate a specific strength in integer-heavy, compression-oriented tasks, but they do not offset the Core 3 305's broader dominance. The benchmark results indicate that the Core 3 305 is the faster chip in nearly every measurable category, while the i3-14100T holds a narrow but real edge in two specialized workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the Intel manufacturer label but diverge sharply in design. The Core 3 305 uses a 3 nm process node and the Wildcat Lake codename, part of the Core 3 generation. It packs 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading. Its cache layout includes 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i3-14100T, by contrast, is built on a 10 nm process with the Raptor Lake-R codename, a Raptor Lake architecture. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on hyper-threading to reach that thread count. Its cache is 80 KB per core for L1, 1.25 MB per core for L2, and a larger 12 MB of shared L3.

The memory subsystems differ as well. The Core 3 305 supports only DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i3-14100T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, though the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. The i3-14100T also supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 305 does not. PCIe connectivity favors the desktop chip: the i3-14100T provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, while the i3-14100T uses UHD Graphics 730. The sockets are incompatible, with the Core 3 305 on Intel BGA 1516 and the i3-14100T on Intel Socket 1700. The market segments confirm the split: the Core 3 305 is a mobile part, the i3-14100T is a desktop part. The die size for the i3-14100T is 163 mm², while the Core 3 305 does not have a recorded die size. The release dates also differ, with the i3-14100T launching in January 2024 and the Core 3 305 in April 2026.

The Verdict

The data shows a straightforward performance winner in the Intel Core 3 305. It outscores the i3-14100T in 15 of 17 benchmarks, including every Cinebench test and the majority of PassMark tests. Its average benchmark score of 18302 sits 3.7% above the i3-14100T's 17648, and it ranks in the 72nd percentile against all CPUs versus the i3-14100T's 71st percentile. The Core 3 305's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-14100, which scores 18318 with a delta of -0.1%, meaning the Core 3 305 essentially matches that chip. The i3-14100T's nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-13100F at 17653, a 0% delta.

The i3-14100T should be selected where its two wins matter most. Its 19.8% advantage in integer math and 3.8% advantage in data compression make it the better choice for workloads that stress integer arithmetic and compression algorithms. Its dual-channel memory support and ECC capability also give it a platform advantage for reliability-focused desktop builds. The launch MSRP for the i3-14100T is $134.

The Core 3 305 should be selected for general-purpose mobile computing where single-thread and floating-point performance dominate. Its 13.7% lead in single-thread PassMark and 34.8% lead in floating-point math indicate a stronger core design. The 15 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained devices, and its 3 nm process node suggests better efficiency per clock. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 305 is $309. For users who need raw rendering speed, encryption throughput, or physics simulation, the Core 3 305 is the faster part in every recorded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i3-14100T has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Core 3 305 scores 13123 in R23 multicore versus 11612 for the i3-14100T, a 13% lead. In R23 single-core, the Core 3 305 scores 1852 versus 1639, also a 13% lead.

Q: Does the i3-14100T win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i3-14100T wins PassMark data compression (152636 vs 146857, a 3.8% lead) and PassMark integer math (40292 vs 32295, a 19.8% lead).

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus. The i3-14100T supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-14100T supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 305 does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 W, while the i3-14100T has a TDP of 35 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Core 3 305 comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 115 against the i3-14100T's 56, a massive 105.4% advantage. This test emphasizes integer and algorithmic throughput, and the Core 3 305 more than doubles the i3-14100T's result. The next biggest gap is in data encryption, with the Core 3 305 at 11019 versus 7881, a 39.8% lead. Floating-point math follows with a 34.8% edge (42284 vs 31379), and extended instructions show a 30% lead (13543 vs 10414). Physics simulation goes to the Core 3 305 by 26.7% (1233 vs 973).

The Cinebench results are uniformly close to a 13% margin. R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore all show the Core 3 305 ahead by exactly 13%. Single-core variants are similar, with R15 at 12.7%, R20 at 12.9%, and R23 at 13%. PassMark multithread also lands at 13% (15439 vs 13662), as does random string sorting at 13.1% (17623 vs 15579) and single-thread at 13.7% (3977 vs 3498).

The i3-14100T's two wins are concentrated in PassMark. Its integer math score of 40292 beats the Core 3 305's 32295 by 19.8%, a substantial margin that indicates a strong integer execution pipeline. Its data compression score of 152636 beats 146857 by 3.8%, a smaller but consistent edge. These two results show that the i3-14100T is not without merit, but they are isolated victories in a benchmark set where the Core 3 305 otherwise dominates.

The average benchmark scores confirm the overall picture. The Core 3 305 averages 18302 across all recorded tests, while the i3-14100T averages 17648. The delta between them is approximately 3.7% in favor of the Core 3 305. The Core 3 305's nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-14100, scores 18318 with a -0.1% delta, meaning the Core 3 305 is statistically tied with that faster desktop part. The i3-14100T's nearest rival, the Core i3-13100F, scores 17653 with a 0% delta, showing it performs at the same level as a previous-generation i3. The data indicates that the Core 3 305 is not just faster than the i3-14100T, it is competitive with a full desktop i3 from the same family, while the i3-14100T is a more modest performer in its own tier.