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

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i9-14900KS records an average benchmark score of 81127, while the Intel Core 3 305 scores 18302. The Core i9 sits in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 72nd percentile for the Core 3.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor according to the database?

A: The Core 3 305 is within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E (score 18230) and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100 (score 18318). The Core i9-14900KS matches the Intel Xeon w5-3535X (score 81115) and AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX (score 81103) with 0% delta.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Core i9-14900KS has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, so the Core i9 has four times the core count and over five times the thread count.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core i9-14900KS supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the Core 3 305 supports only DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus. The Core i9 also supports ECC memory; the Core 3 does not.

Q: What is the boost clock difference between the two?

A: The Core i9-14900KS boosts to 6.20 GHz, while the Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz. The Core i9 also has a base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 1.50 GHz for the Core 3.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Core i9-14900KS has a TDP of 150, while the Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15. The Core 3 is designed for a much lower power envelope, reflecting its mobile market segment.

Where Each One Wins

The data set shows a complete sweep in favor of the Core i9-14900KS across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The Core 3 305 does not win a single recorded test. The Core i9 takes both Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore and singlecore tests, and it wins every PassMark workload, from integer math to random string sorting.

The Core 3 305 is not without its place, however. Its 15 TDP and mobile segment make it suitable for compact, battery-conscious systems where the Core i9's 150 TDP and desktop socket would be impractical. The Core 3 also uses a 3 nm process node, which is denser than the Core i9's 10 nm node. For workloads that are latency-sensitive and light on thread count, the Core 3's single-thread scores are closer to the Core i9 than its multithreaded results, though still behind.

The Core i9-14900KS dominates heavily threaded rendering, compression, encryption, and physics workloads. The PassMark multithread test shows a 60012 score versus 15439, a gap of 74.3%. In integer math, the Core i9 scores 212644 against 32295, a difference of 84.8%, which is the largest delta in the entire comparison. Data compression also favors the Core i9 heavily, with an 803368 score versus 146857, an 81.7% gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design points. The Core i9-14900KS is built on the Raptor Lake architecture with the codename Raptor Lake-R, part of the Core 14th Gen series. It uses a 10 nm process node and has a die size of 257 mm². Its cache hierarchy is organized per core: 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core, with 36 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename under the Core 3 generation and is manufactured on a 3 nm process node. Its cache layout differs significantly: 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The die size and transistor count are not recorded in the database, so no direct comparison is possible on those fronts.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Core 3 305 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core i9-14900KS uses UHD Graphics 770. The Core 3 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1516, whereas the Core i9 is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The Core i9 has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 3 does not. The Core i9 also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 3 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU.

Specification Differences

The Core i9-14900KS offers 24 cores and 32 threads, compared to 6 cores and 6 threads for the Core 3 305. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz versus 1.50 GHz, and boost clocks are 6.20 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. TDP is 150 versus 15. The Core i9 uses a 10 nm process and measures 257 mm²; the Core 3 uses 3 nm with no recorded die size.

Memory support separates the two clearly. The Core i9 accepts DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and ECC support. The Core 3 accepts only DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and no ECC. The Core 3 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s; the Core i9's bandwidth is not recorded. The Core i9 has 36 MB of shared L3, six times the 6 MB on the Core 3. The Core 3 has 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2, while the Core i9 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 2 MB of L2 per core.

The Core i9 is a desktop part with PCIe Gen 5 and 16 CPU lanes, an unlocked multiplier, and a release date of 2024-03-13. The Core 3 is a mobile part with PCIe Gen 4 and 6 CPU lanes, a locked multiplier, and a release date of 2026-04-15. The launch MSRP for the Core i9-14900KS is $689. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 305 is $309. The Core i9 has ECC support; the Core 3 does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent 74.3% deficit for the Core 3 305 across all six tests. The R15 multicore test scores 1322 for the Core 3 and 5140 for the Core i9. The R15 singlecore test scores 186 versus 725. R20 multicore scores 5511 versus 21417, and R20 singlecore scores 777 versus 3023. R23 multicore scores 13123 versus 50995, and R23 singlecore scores 1852 versus 7199. The uniform delta suggests the Core i9's advantage scales evenly across single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering.

PassMark results show more variation. The smallest gap is in single-thread performance: the Core 3 scores 3977 against 4815 for the Core i9, a 17.4% deficit. This is the closest the Core 3 comes to the Core i9 in any test. The find prime numbers test also shows a relatively smaller gap at 52.9%, with scores of 115 and 244.

The largest gap is in integer math, where the Core i9 scores 212644 against 32295, a difference of 84.8%. Data compression follows at 81.7% (803368 versus 146857), random string sorting at 80.4% (89789 versus 17623), and data encryption at 76.9% (47717 versus 11019). Extended instructions show a 70.3% gap (45524 versus 13543), floating point math a 72.5% gap (153975 versus 42284), physics a 63.5% gap (3381 versus 1233), and multithread a 74.3% gap (60012 versus 15439).

The single-thread result is notable because it demonstrates that the Core 3's Wildcat Lake architecture has competitive per-core efficiency. A 17.4% gap in raw single-thread performance, despite the Core i9's 6.20 GHz boost clock versus 4.30 GHz, indicates the 3 nm process helps close the per-core gap. However, the Core 3's lack of simultaneous multithreading, with 6 threads matching 6 cores, limits its aggregate throughput severely.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Core i9-14900KS wins every recorded test, often by margins of 70% or more. For any workload that uses multiple cores, the Core 3 305 is not competitive. The Core i9's 24 cores and 32 threads, combined with 36 MB of L3 cache and a 6.20 GHz boost clock, deliver a 50995 R23 multicore score that the Core 3 cannot approach with its 13123 result.

The Core 3 305 is a mobile processor with a 15 TDP and a 3 nm node. Its single-thread performance of 3977 in PassMark is respectable, and it sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The database shows it trading blows with the Core i3-14100 and Core 5 330 in average score, with deltas under 0.4%. That is its competitive neighborhood: entry-level mobile computing, not high-end desktop work.

The Core i9-14900KS belongs to the top 4% of all CPUs, sitting at the 96th percentile and matching the Xeon w5-3535X and Ryzen 9 8940HX in average score. Its 150 TDP and desktop socket make it a power-hungry part, but the data shows that power buys performance. The Core 3 305 should be chosen for low-power mobile systems where the 15 TDP and BGA 1516 socket fit the platform. The Core i9-14900KS should be chosen for desktop builds where maximum multi-threaded throughput is the priority and the 150 TDP is acceptable.

The single-thread comparison tells the most interesting story. The Core 3 trails by only 17.4% in PassMark single-thread, which suggests that users with lightly threaded workloads, such as basic productivity or web browsing, would not experience the dramatic differences seen in the multi-threaded tests. But for rendering, compression, encryption, or any parallel workload, the Core i9-14900KS is the clear pick based on every recorded measurement.