CPU Comparison
Intel Core 3 305
Core i7-9700
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core i7-9700
The Verdict
The data presents a clear generational shift. The Intel Core 3 305 wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including every Cinebench test, while the Intel Core i7-9700 manages only 4 wins. If you are building a new system and prioritizing modern single-thread performance, encryption, or physics simulation, the Core 3 305 is the obvious choice. Its average benchmark score of 18302 places it just 0.1% behind the Intel Core i3-14100 and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E.
The Intel Core i7-9700 is a legacy desktop part, marked end-of-life, that still holds ground in specific integer-heavy and data-compression workloads. However, its 14 nm process and older architecture leave it trailing in most modern tests. The verdict is straightforward: choose the Core 3 305 for almost any new workload, but keep the i7-9700 in mind if your software relies heavily on data compression or extended instruction sets, where it shows measurable advantages despite being older.
Architecture Differences
The two CPUs come from different eras and fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core 3 305 is built on a 3 nm process node, fabricated by Intel, and uses the Wildcat Lake codename. It is a mobile-market part with 6 cores and 6 threads, a base clock of 1.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its thermal design power is 15 watts, which is remarkably low compared to the i7-9700's 65 watts. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a single-channel configuration, providing 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It uses an Intel BGA 1516 socket and includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core. The processor has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache, with Gen 4 PCIe providing 6 CPU lanes.
The Intel Core i7-9700, in contrast, is a desktop part from the Coffee Lake generation, built on a 14 nm process with a die size of 180.3 mm². It has 8 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 3.00 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, which is notably lower than the newer part. The i7-9700 uses Intel Socket 1151 and features UHD Graphics 630. Its cache hierarchy is different: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. It offers Gen 3 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes. The production status is end-of-life, released in April 2019, while the Core 3 305 is active and released in April 2026.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core 3 305 dominates in nearly every category that matters for modern computing. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 13123 compared to the i7-9700's 11200, a 17.2% advantage. Single-thread performance is even more lopsided: the Core 3 305 scores 3977 in Passmark single-thread tests versus 2756 for the i7-9700, a 44.3% lead. This suggests the newer architecture has dramatically better instructions-per-clock efficiency, despite having fewer cores and a lower base clock. The Core 3 305 also wins decisively in floating-point math (42284 vs 34187, up 23.7%), physics (1233 vs 820, up 50.4%), and data encryption (11019 vs 4322, a massive 155% lead). For prime number finding, the Core 3 305 scores 115 versus 48, a 139.6% improvement.
The Intel Core i7-9700 wins in exactly four areas, all of which point to workloads that favor its larger core count and older high-frequency design. It beats the Core 3 305 in data compression (181411 vs 146857, a 19% lead), integer math (40138 vs 32295, up 19.5%), random string sorting (23482 vs 17623, up 25%), and extended instructions (14488 vs 13543, up 6.5%). These results indicate that the i7-9700 retains an edge in specific algorithmic tasks, likely due to its larger shared L3 cache of 12 MB and higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. If your workload is heavily integer-based or involves compression, the older chip still has a reason to exist.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?
A: The Intel Core 3 305 wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1852 versus 1581 for the i7-9700, a 17.1% lead. In Passmark single-thread, the Core 3 305 scores 3977, which is 44.3% higher than the i7-9700's 2756.
Q: Does the Core i7-9700 have more cores and threads?
A: Yes, the i7-9700 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Despite the core count disadvantage, the Core 3 305 wins 13 of 17 benchmarks, including all Cinebench multicore tests.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?
A: The Core 3 305 supports DDR5/LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth in a single-channel configuration. The i7-9700 supports DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth in a dual-channel configuration. The newer part offers roughly 40% more raw bandwidth.
Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?
A: The Core 3 305 has a 15-watt TDP compared to the i7-9700's 65-watt TDP, based on the specification data. This makes the Core 3 305 far more suitable for thermally constrained mobile systems.
Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?
A: No. The Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, a soldered mobile socket, while the i7-9700 uses Intel Socket 1151 for desktop motherboards. They are not interchangeable.
Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?
A: The Core 3 305 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core, while the i7-9700 has UHD Graphics 630. The benchmark data does not include graphics tests, but the architecture difference suggests the newer Xe3 design is superior for media tasks.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The most striking result is in data encryption, where the Core 3 305 scores 11019 versus 4322 for the i7-9700, a 155% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison and suggests a fundamental architectural improvement in cryptographic instruction handling. Similarly, in prime number finding, the Core 3 305 scores 115 versus 48, a 139.6% lead, indicating vastly better integer processing efficiency for this specific workload. Physics simulation also shows a massive gap: 1233 for the Core 3 305 versus 820 for the i7-9700, a 50.4% improvement.
The Cinebench suite shows consistent 17% leads for the Core 3 305 across R15, R20, and R23, in both single and multicore tests. For example, Cinebench R15 multicore scores are 1322 versus 1128, and R20 multicore scores are 5511 versus 4704. The consistency of these deltas suggests the newer architecture simply executes instructions faster per clock, regardless of core count.
The i7-9700's wins are equally telling. In data compression, it scores 181411 versus 146857, a 19% lead. In integer math, it posts 40138 versus 32295, up 19.5%. Random string sorting shows a 25% advantage (23482 vs 17623). The smallest win for the i7-9700 is in extended instructions, where it leads by 6.5% (14488 vs 13543). These results indicate that the older chip's larger 12 MB L3 cache and higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz provide tangible benefits in memory-access-heavy and integer-bound workloads.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every hardware specification. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i7-9700 has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.30 GHz versus 4.70 GHz in favor of the i7-9700. Thermal design power differs dramatically: 15 watts for the Core 3 305 versus 65 watts for the i7-9700.
Process technology separates them by generations: 3 nm for the Core 3 305 versus 14 nm for the i7-9700. The die size is known only for the i7-9700 at 180.3 mm². Cache configurations are distinct: the Core 3 305 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3, while the i7-9700 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3.
Memory support is a major differentiator. The Core 3 305 uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X with single-channel memory and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-9700 uses DDR4 with dual-channel memory and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe generations differ: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 3 305 versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the i7-9700.
Sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1516 for the mobile Core 3 305 versus Intel Socket 1151 for the desktop i7-9700. Integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) versus UHD Graphics 630. The Core 3 305 is active in production, while the i7-9700 is end-of-life. Release dates are April 2026 versus April 2019. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 305 is $309, and for the i7-9700 it is $333. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither supports ECC memory.