Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core i5-14490F Comparison

The Intel Core 3 305 and the Intel Core i5-14490F occupy different corners of the performance spectrum. The Core 3 305 is a 3 nm mobile part with 6 cores and 6 threads, a 1.50 GHz base clock, and a 4.30 GHz boost clock, while the i5-14490F is a 10 nm desktop processor with 10 cores and 16 threads, a 2.50 GHz base clock, and a 5.00 GHz boost clock. The benchmark data shows a clear hierarchy, but the Core 3 305 does hold one specific advantage. The following analysis breaks down where each processor wins, the architectural differences, and what the recorded scores indicate.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-14490F wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks, making it the dominant choice for multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads. Its wins include every Cinebench test, from the R15 multicore score of 2318 against the Core 3 305's 1322, to the R23 multicore score of 23000 against 13123. The i5-14490F also wins all PassMark compute tests except two. It delivers a 63.2% lead in integer math (87844 vs 32295), a 56.8% lead in data compression (340026 vs 146857), and a 50.5% lead in random string sorting (35608 vs 17623). The i5-14490F is the clear winner for rendering, data processing, and any workload that scales with core count and thread count.

The Intel Core 3 305 wins exactly two benchmarks, both PassMark single-thread tests, with a score of 3977 against the i5-14490F's 3873. That is a 2.7% advantage. This is a narrow but real win, indicating that the Core 3 305 has a slight edge in lightly threaded, latency-sensitive tasks where the higher per-core efficiency of the 3 nm process matters more than the i5-14490F's higher boost clock. The Core 3 305 also holds a 72nd percentile rank among all CPUs, compared to the i5-14490F's 86th percentile, which places the desktop part in a higher overall performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node from Intel, while the i5-14490F uses the Raptor Lake-R architecture on a 10 nm process node. The Core 3 305 is a mobile part soldered to Intel BGA 1516, while the i5-14490F is a desktop part for Intel Socket 1700. The die size differs as well: the i5-14490F has a 215 mm² die, while the Core 3 305 has no recorded die size.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14490F has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the i5-14490F gives it a substantial advantage in workloads that repeatedly access large data sets. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The i5-14490F has no recorded memory bandwidth figure, but the dual-channel bus provides a structural advantage. The Core 3 305 has integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the i5-14490F has no integrated graphics, which is typical for an F-series desktop part.

The i5-14490F provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 3 305 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes. That difference matters for high-throughput add-in cards. The Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 watts. The Core 3 305 was released on 2026-04-15, and the i5-14490F was released on 2023-12-31. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i5-14490F is the stronger processor for almost all recorded benchmarks. It wins every Cinebench test by roughly 43%, and it wins PassMark integer math by 63.2%, data compression by 56.8%, and multithread by 46.1%. The i5-14490F also has a higher average benchmark score of 38149 against the Core 3 305's 18302. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13600KF with a delta of 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 250 with a delta of -0.2%, placing it in solid company. The 86th percentile rank confirms that it belongs in the upper tier of all recorded CPUs.

The Core 3 305 is the better choice only for a narrow set of single-threaded tasks, where its PassMark single-thread score of 3977 beats the i5-14490F by 2.7%. It also offers integrated graphics, which the i5-14490F lacks, and it uses far less power with a 15 watt TDP against 65 watts. The Core 3 305 is a mobile part, so it is not a direct drop-in competitor to the i5-14490F in a desktop build. Anyone building a desktop system with a discrete GPU should prefer the i5-14490F based on its substantial lead in multi-core and most single-core tests. The Core 3 305 is the better fit for a mobile platform that needs low power consumption and basic integrated graphics, with the caveat that its performance is significantly lower in every multi-threaded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core 3 305 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Intel Core i5-14490F has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the difference in multi-core performance?

A: The i5-14490F leads by 42.9% in Cinebench R23 multicore (23000 vs 13123) and by 46.1% in PassMark multithread (28662 vs 15439).

Q: Which processor wins in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 3977, which is 2.7% higher than the i5-14490F's 3873. The i5-14490F still wins all Cinebench single-core tests by about 43%.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i5-14490F has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Which socket does each processor use?

A: The Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i5-14490F is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 87844 against 32295, a 63.2% advantage. Data compression follows with a 56.8% lead (340026 vs 146857), and random string sorting shows a 50.5% lead (35608 vs 17623). The multithread test shows a 46.1% lead (28662 vs 15439), and the physics test shows a 41.1% lead (2093 vs 1233). Extended instructions show a 37.7% lead (21731 vs 13543), and floating point math shows a 36.5% lead (66558 vs 42284). Data encryption shows a 39.5% lead (18225 vs 11019). The find prime numbers test is the closest i5-14490F win, at only 5.7% (122 vs 115).

The Cinebench results are consistent across all versions. R15 multicore shows a 43% lead (2318 vs 1322), R15 singlecore shows a 43.1% lead (327 vs 186), R20 multicore shows a 43% lead (9660 vs 5511), R20 singlecore shows a 43% lead (1363 vs 777), R23 multicore shows a 42.9% lead (23000 vs 13123), and R23 singlecore shows a 43% lead (3247 vs 1852). These deltas indicate that the i5-14490F holds a stable advantage across all three Cinebench versions, regardless of workload length.

The only wins for the Core 3 305 are the two PassMark single-thread tests, both at 3977 against 3873, a 2.7% lead. This is a small margin, but it is consistent across both recorded entries of the same test. The Core 3 305 also has a lower average benchmark score of 18302, which places it near the Intel Core i3-14100 (18318, -0.1% delta) and Intel Core 5 330 (18345, -0.2% delta). The i5-14490F, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T (38194, -0.1% delta) and AMD Ryzen 7 250 (38221, -0.2% delta). These rival positions show that the i5-14490F competes in a different class entirely.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i5-14490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz and 2.50 GHz, respectively, and boost clocks are 4.30 GHz and 5.00 GHz. TDP is 15 watts for the Core 3 305 and 65 watts for the i5-14490F. The Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the i5-14490F uses Intel Socket 1700. The process node is 3 nm for the Core 3 305 and 10 nm for the i5-14490F. The i5-14490F has a die size of 215 mm², while the Core 3 305 has none recorded.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-14490F has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Memory support differs: the Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-14490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with no recorded bandwidth. The Core 3 305 has integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics, while the i5-14490F has none. PCIe support differs as well: the Core 3 305 has Gen 4 with 6 lanes, and the i5-14490F has Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Neither part supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the i5-14490F has no recorded launch MSRP.