Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core i7-14650HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner: the Intel Core i7-14650HX takes 15 of the 17 recorded tests. The Intel Core 3 305 wins only two, both in the PassMark single-thread suite, and those wins are narrow. The PassMark single-thread score for the Core 3 305 is 3977, while the Core i7-14650HX scores 3841, a 3.5% advantage for the smaller chip. That is the only category where the Core 3 305 leads, and the margin is modest.

The multi-core results are where the Core i7-14650HX separates itself decisively. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core i7-14650HX scores 20454 against 13123 for the Core 3 305, a 35.8% deficit for the latter. The gap widens in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Core i7-14650HX posts 11946 versus 5511, a 53.9% difference. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the same pattern: 3470.5 for the Core i7-14650HX against 1322 for the Core 3 305, a 61.9% margin. The trend is consistent across all multi-threaded workloads, and the magnitude grows as the test becomes more parallel.

The PassMark suite reinforces the pattern. Integer math is the largest single gap: the Core i7-14650HX scores 116661, while the Core 3 305 manages 32295, a 72.3% deficit. Floating-point math shows a 50.3% gap, with 84999 against 42284. Data compression favors the Core i7-14650HX by 63.1%, scoring 398418 versus 146857. Data encryption shows a 51.9% gap, 22917 versus 11019. Random string sorting is 59% in favor of the Core i7-14650HX, 43035 versus 17623. Extended instructions come in at 24150 versus 13543, a 43.9% gap. Even the find-prime-numbers test, which often rewards per-core efficiency, favors the Core i7-14650HX by 24.3%, 152 versus 115. Physics simulation shows a 44% gap, 2202 versus 1233. The PassMark multithread score is 33495 for the Core i7-14650HX against 15439 for the Core 3 305, a 53.9% difference.

Single-core Cinebench results are closer but still favor the Core i7-14650HX. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i7-14650HX scores 1969 versus 1852, a 5.9% margin. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a larger gap: 1686 against 777, a 53.9% difference. Cinebench R15 single-core also favors the Core i7-14650HX, 285.5 versus 186, a 34.9% gap. The PassMark single-thread result is the exception, as noted, and it is the only benchmark in the entire set where the Core 3 305 comes out ahead.

The average benchmark score tells the same story. The Core i7-14650HX has an average score of 41576, while the Core 3 305 averages 18302. In the database percentile rankings, the Core i7-14650HX sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 305 sits at the 72nd. The nearest rivals for each chip put the comparison in context. The Core 3 305 is within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100. The Core i7-14650HX is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, a desktop-class part, and within 0.1% of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design points. The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process. The Intel Core i7-14650HX uses Raptor Lake-HX, a refresh of the Raptor Lake architecture, on a 10 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the process gap is substantial and explains part of the efficiency difference between them.

Core counts diverge sharply. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core i7-14650HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement with performance and efficiency cores. The thread advantage is 4x, which directly drives the multi-core benchmark results.

Cache hierarchies also differ in structure and size. The Core 3 305 has a 192 KB L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core i7-14650HX lists 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The per-core L2 allocation on the Core i7-14650HX is larger, and the shared L3 is 5x the size of the Core 3 305's L3. The die size of the Core i7-14650HX is 257 mm², while no die size is recorded for the Core 3 305.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i7-14650HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded. The dual-channel setup of the Core i7-14650HX is a structural advantage for memory-heavy workloads, though the Core 3 305's newer memory types partially offset the channel deficit. The Core i7-14650HX also supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 305 does not.

PCIe capabilities are another split. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core i7-14650HX provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. That is both a generational and a width advantage for the Core i7-14650HX, relevant for discrete GPUs and fast NVMe storage.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Core i7-14650HX uses UHD Graphics 710. No benchmark data for integrated graphics is recorded in the database for either chip, so the comparison must remain qualitative.

Clock speeds favor the Core i7-14650HX. Its base clock is 2.20 GHz and boost clock is 5.20 GHz, against 1.50 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost for the Core 3 305. The TDP figures are also far apart: 15 W for the Core 3 305, 55 W for the Core i7-14650HX. That 40 W difference explains the thermal and power envelope of each part, and it aligns with the performance gap.

The sockets are different. The Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core i7-14650HX uses Intel BGA 1964. Neither is socketed for end-user upgrade; both are BGA parts. The Core i7-14650HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 305 does not, though the practical impact on a BGA mobile platform is limited.

Release dates differ by over two years. The Core i7-14650HX was released on 2024-01-07. The Core 3 305 was released on 2026-04-15. The Core 3 305 is the newer part, and it carries a launch MSRP of $309. No launch MSRP is recorded for the Core i7-14650HX.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-14650HX wins every multi-threaded workload in the recorded data. The largest margins come from integer math, data compression, and random string sorting, where the Core i7-14650HX leads by 72.3%, 63.1%, and 59% respectively. These are the workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth. Rendering, simulation, encryption, and physics all show gaps between 24.3% and 53.9%. The Core i7-14650HX also wins every single-core Cinebench test, though the R23 margin is small at 5.9%. The Core i7-14650HX is the appropriate choice for CPU-bound productivity, content creation, and any task that can use more than six threads.

The Intel Core 3 305 wins exactly one unique test category: PassMark single-thread, with a 3.5% margin over the Core i7-14650HX. That result appears twice in the data under two slightly different test names, but it is the same score of 3977 for both. The Core 3 305 also has a much lower TDP of 15 W against 55 W, so it carries a large efficiency advantage in thermally constrained chassis. For light workloads, battery-powered use, or fanless designs, the Core 3 305 uses less power while remaining competitive in single-threaded PassMark performance. Its newer 3 nm process and single-channel memory setup suggest a design aimed at thin-and-light systems rather than performance laptops.

The benchmark data does not include any integrated graphics scores, so the UHD Graphics 710 in the Core i7-14650HX and the Xe3 Graphics in the Core 3 305 cannot be ranked against each other from the recorded measurements. Similarly, no data is available for memory bandwidth on the Core i7-14650HX, so the dual-channel advantage remains structural rather than measured.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX has an average benchmark score of 41576, while the Intel Core 3 305 averages 18302. The Core i7-14650HX also sits at the 88th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 72nd percentile for the Core 3 305.

Q: Is the Core 3 305 faster in any benchmark?

A: Yes. The Core 3 305 wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 3977, against 3841 for the Core i7-14650HX, a 3.5% margin. It loses every other recorded benchmark.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the Core i7-14650HX scores 116661 against 32295 for the Core 3 305, a 72.3% deficit for the latter.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Core i7-14650HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Core i7-14650HX provides 4x the thread count.

Q: Do the two CPUs support the same memory?

A: No. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i7-14650HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, and it supports ECC memory. No bandwidth figure is recorded for the Core i7-14650HX.

Q: Which CPU uses a newer manufacturing process?

A: The Core 3 305 is built on a 3 nm process. The Core i7-14650HX uses a 10 nm process. Both are fabricated by Intel.

The Verdict

The data indicates two different product categories. The Intel Core i7-14650HX is a high-performance mobile processor with 16 cores, 24 threads, a 5.20 GHz boost clock, 30 MB of L3 cache, and a 55 W TDP. It wins 15 of 17 recorded benchmarks and holds an 88th percentile ranking. Its multi-core lead over the Core 3 305 ranges from 35.8% in Cinebench R23 to 72.3% in integer math. Any workload that scales across cores will favor this part. The 24-thread configuration, dual-channel memory, and Gen 5 PCIe support make it the sensible pick for a performance laptop or mobile workstation.

The Intel Core 3 305 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor with a 15 W TDP, a 3 nm process, and a 72nd percentile ranking. It wins the PassMark single-thread test by 3.5% and trails in every other benchmark. Its advantages are efficiency and integration: lower power draw, newer process, and LPDDR5X support. For a thin-and-light system with modest CPU demands, the performance gap may be acceptable. The recorded data does not show a workload category, aside from the narrow PassMark single-thread win, where the Core 3 305 outperforms the Core i7-14650HX.

The choice comes down to workload and platform. If the task is multi-threaded rendering, compilation, encryption, or simulation, the Core i7-14650HX is the correct part. If the priority is low power consumption in a compact chassis and the workload is light or single-threaded, the Core 3 305 is the data-backed alternative. The Core i7-14650HX is the stronger processor by nearly every recorded measurement.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 3 305 | Intel Core i7-14650HX |

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

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 6 | 24 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Process node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Die size | Not recorded | 257 mm² |

| L1 cache | 192 KB | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 2 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 6 MB shared | 30 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 lanes | Gen 5, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | UHD Graphics 710 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SAE3L | SRMXH |