Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database places these two processors in different performance classes. The Intel Core i5-14500 wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 3 305 wins 3. The i5-14500 delivers a decisive advantage in almost every multi-threaded and content-creation workload, with particularly large margins in integer math (70.1% ahead) and data compression (60.4% ahead). The Core 3 305 counters with narrow victories in single-threaded PassMark tests (0.6% ahead) and a notable 8.5% win in the prime number search test.

The average benchmark score tells the same story: the i5-14500 records 38531, placing it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 305 scores 18302, sitting at the 72nd percentile. The i5-14500 is roughly 2.1 times faster on average, a gap that reflects its larger core count and higher boost clock. The Core 3 305 is best suited for workloads that are lightly threaded or where the 15 W thermal design power matters, such as compact mobile systems. The i5-14500 is the choice for desktop users who need heavy multi-threaded throughput, given its 65 W TDP and 14 cores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families and target different segments. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process node, while the i5-14500 is built on Raptor Lake Refresh using a 10 nm node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the design philosophies diverge sharply.

The Core 3 305 is a mobile processor with 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. Its base clock is 1.50 GHz and it boosts to 4.30 GHz. The i5-14500 is a desktop part with 14 cores and 20 threads, a hybrid configuration that combines performance and efficiency cores. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz with a boost of 5.00 GHz.

Cache allocations reflect the different core counts. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-14500 provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The i5-14500 also has a larger die at 215 mm², though the Core 3 305 die size is not recorded.

Memory support differs substantially. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus; its bandwidth figure is not recorded. The i5-14500 also supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 305 does not.

PCIe capabilities favor the desktop part. The i5-14500 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, whereas the Core 3 305 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, and the i5-14500 uses UHD Graphics 770.

The sockets are incompatible. The Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, a mobile socket, while the i5-14500 uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktops. The Core 3 305 released in 2026, while the i5-14500 launched in 2024. The launch MSRP of the Core 3 305 is $309, and the i5-14500 is $232.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i5-14500 dominates the Cinebench suite. In R15 multi-core, it scores 2435 versus 1322 for the Core 3 305, a 45.7% lead. The R15 single-core test shows 273 against 186, a 31.9% margin. R20 multi-core sees 10985 versus 5511, a 49.8% gap, and R20 single-core shows 1550 versus 777, a 49.9% gap.

The R23 results are closer but still favor the i5-14500. In R23 multi-core, the i5-14500 scores 15012 against 13123, a 12.6% lead. In R23 single-core, the margin narrows to 3.4%, with 1917 versus 1852.

PassMark tests reveal the largest disparities. Data compression shows 371294 for the i5-14500 versus 146857 for the Core 3 305, a 60.4% gap. Data encryption records 21457 against 11019, a 48.6% deficit. Extended instructions score 22473 versus 13543, a 39.7% difference. Floating point math shows 79576 versus 42284, a 46.9% gap. Integer math is the most lopsided: 108124 versus 32295, a 70.1% advantage for the i5-14500. Multithread performance records 30777 versus 15439, a 49.8% gap. Physics tests show 1746 versus 1233, a 29.4% difference. Random string sorting scores 40980 versus 17623, a 57% gap.

The Core 3 305 takes three wins. PassMark find prime numbers shows 115 versus 106, an 8.5% advantage. The single-thread and singlethread PassMark tests both record 3977 versus 3952, a 0.6% edge.

The pattern is clear: the i5-14500 wins by a wide margin in all multi-threaded and most single-threaded workloads, while the Core 3 305 only edges ahead in a few specific single-threaded PassMark tests.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 6 (Core 3 305) vs 14 (i5-14500)
• Threads: 6 vs 20
• Base clock: 1.50 GHz vs 2.60 GHz
• Boost clock: 4.30 GHz vs 5.00 GHz
• TDP: 15 W vs 65 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1516 vs Intel Socket 1700
• Architecture: Wildcat Lake vs Raptor Lake
• Codename: Wildcat Lake vs Raptor Lake-R
• Process node: 3 nm vs 10 nm
• Die size: Not recorded vs 215 mm²
• L1 cache: 192 KB vs 80 KB (per core)
• L2 cache: 2.5 MB vs 1.25 MB (per core)
• L3 cache: 6 MB (shared) vs 24 MB (shared)
• Memory support: DDR5, LPDDR5X vs DDR4, DDR5
• Memory bus: Single-channel vs Dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s vs Not recorded
• ECC memory: No vs Yes
• PCIe: Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) vs UHD Graphics 770
• Market segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Release date: 2026-04-15 vs 2024-01-07
• Part number: SAE3L vs SRN3T

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 records an average benchmark score of 38531, while the Intel Core 3 305 scores 18302. The i5-14500 also ranks higher at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 72nd percentile for the Core 3 305.

Q: How do the two compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The results are mixed. The Core 3 305 wins the PassMark single-thread tests with 3977 versus 3952, a 0.6% margin. The i5-14500 wins all Cinebench single-core tests, with the largest gap in R20 at 1550 versus 777, a 49.9% lead.

Q: Which processor is better for integer-heavy workloads?

A: The i5-14500 is far ahead. In the PassMark integer math test, it scores 108124 versus 32295 for the Core 3 305, a 70.1% advantage. This is the largest recorded performance gap between the two.

Q: Do these processors use the same memory type?

A: No. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The i5-14500 also supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 305 does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference and what does it indicate?

A: The Core 3 305 has a 15 W TDP, while the i5-14500 has a 65 W TDP. The lower TDP of the Core 3 305 aligns with its mobile segment and BGA socket, while the higher TDP of the i5-14500 supports its desktop role with more cores and higher clocks.

Q: Which processor wins in the prime number search test?

A: The Core 3 305 wins the PassMark find prime numbers test with 115 versus 106 for the i5-14500, an 8.5% advantage. This is one of only three tests where the Core 3 305 comes out ahead.