Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core i9-14900HX Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark averages?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 records an average benchmark score of 18,302, while the Intel Core i9-14900HX reaches 56,004. The i9-14900HX sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, whereas the Core 3 305 is in the 72nd percentile.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?

A: The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Core i9-14900HX has 24 cores and 32 threads, a 4x core advantage and more than 5x the thread count.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core i9-14900HX boosts to 5.80 GHz, compared to 4.30 GHz for the Core 3 305. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz and 1.50 GHz, respectively.

Q: What process nodes do these chips use?

A: The Core 3 305 uses a 3 nm process node, while the Core i9-14900HX uses a 10 nm node. Both are fabricated by Intel.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Core i9-14900HX has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 3 305 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9-14900HX also offers 2 MB of L2 per core versus 2.5 MB total L2 on the Core 3 305.

Q: Does the Core i9-14900HX support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Core i9-14900HX supports ECC memory. The Core 3 305 does not.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i9-14900HX across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Core 3 305 does not win a single comparison in the database. That said, the use-case split is not about outright victories but about workload suitability and efficiency constraints.

For single-thread performance, the gap narrows considerably. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-14900HX scores 2,181.5 against 1,852 for the Core 3 305, a 15.1% advantage. PassMark single-thread shows a much tighter margin: 4,175 versus 3,977, a 4.7% difference. This suggests that for lightly threaded tasks, the Core 3 305 is competitive despite its lower boost clock, making it a plausible option for everyday responsiveness and older applications that rely on one or two threads.

Multi-threaded workloads tell a different story. The i9-14900HX leads by 71.1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 64.7% in R20 multi-core, and 56.3% in R23 multi-core. PassMark integer math shows the largest single delta: the i9-14900HX delivers 157,375 versus 32,295, a 79.5% lead. Rendering, video encoding, compilation, and simulation workloads that scale across cores will heavily favor the i9-14900HX.

Power-sensitive use cases favor the Core 3 305 by design. Its 15 W TDP is substantially lower than the 55 W TDP of the i9-14900HX. For passively cooled ultraportables or fanless designs, the Core 3 305 is the only realistic choice of the two. The i9-14900HX targets high-performance laptops with robust cooling solutions.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design lineages. The Core 3 305 is built on Wildcat Lake, a 3 nm process, and belongs to the Core 3 generation. The Core i9-14900HX uses Raptor Lake-HX, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh, on a 10 nm process. Both are Intel foundry parts, but the node difference is stark: 3 nm versus 10 nm.

The Core i9-14900HX is a hybrid architecture design with 24 cores and 32 threads, consistent with Raptor Lake's performance and efficiency core mix. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading indicated. The i9-14900HX also reports a die size of 257 mm², while the Core 3 305 does not have a die size listed in the database.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core i9-14900HX has 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The per-core L2 design on the i9-14900HX scales with its larger core count, while the Core 3 305 uses a smaller, shared L2 pool.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core i9-14900HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The i9-14900HX also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Core 3 305.

PCIe capabilities are not equal. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core i9-14900HX provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, a substantial advantage for discrete GPUs and high-speed storage.

Integrated graphics differ by generation and capability. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Core i9-14900HX uses UHD Graphics 770. The database does not include graphics benchmarks for either chip.

The i9-14900HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 3 305 does not. The i9-14900HX also carries the part number SRMXF, while the Core 3 305 uses SAE3L.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights the fields where the two processors differ.

| Specification | Intel Core 3 305 | Intel Core i9-14900HX |

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

| Cores | 6 | 24 |

| Threads | 6 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 5.80 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Generation | Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) | Core i9 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh) |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 257 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 80 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 2 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB shared | 36 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SAE3L | SRMXF |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not listed |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows the Core i9-14900HX winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The largest margins appear in throughput-heavy tests, while the closest results appear in single-thread workloads.

Cinebench R15 multi-core gives the i9-14900HX a 4,574 to 1,322 victory, a 71.1% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 15,616 versus 5,511, a 64.7% margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core records 30,055 against 13,123, a 56.3% advantage. These results reflect the i9-14900HX's 24-core, 32-thread configuration versus the Core 3 305's 6-core, 6-thread setup.

Single-core Cinebench results are closer but still favor the i9-14900HX. R15 single-core scores 310.5 versus 186, a 40.1% gap. R20 single-core shows 2,204 versus 777, a 64.7% delta. R23 single-core narrows to 2,181.5 versus 1,852, a 15.1% difference. PassMark single-thread tightens further to 4,175 versus 3,977, only 4.7% apart. The Core 3 305's 4.30 GHz boost clock helps it remain competitive in lightly threaded scenarios.

PassMark integer math delivers the most lopsided result in the database. The i9-14900HX scores 157,375 against 32,295, a 79.5% lead. Floating-point math follows with 112,273 versus 42,284, a 62.3% margin. Data compression shows 539,965 versus 146,857, a 72.8% gap. Random string sorting records 60,861 versus 17,623, a 71% difference. Data encryption lands at 32,619 versus 11,019, a 66.2% margin. Extended instructions measure 31,247 versus 13,543, a 56.7% delta.

PassMark multithread shows 43,778 versus 15,439, a 64.7% lead. Physics scores 2,638 versus 1,233, a 53.3% gap. Find prime numbers records 193 versus 115, a 40.4% margin. The Core i9-14900HX also holds the higher percentile ranking at 91 versus 72, and its average benchmark score of 56,004 is roughly 3x the Core 3 305's 18,302.

The nearest rivals in the database place both chips in distinct performance tiers. The Core 3 305 sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i3-14100, Intel Core 5 330, Intel Core 7 360, and AMD Ryzen 5 2600E. The Core i9-14900HX sits within 1% of the Intel Core 7 253PQE, AMD Ryzen AI Max 390, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 470, and AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX. No overlap exists between these rival groups, confirming the two chips occupy different performance classes.