Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL Comparison

The Verdict

The data positions the Intel Core 3 305 as the stronger performer in the recorded benchmarks, with an average benchmark score of 18302 against the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL, which has no recorded benchmark scores and an average score of 0. The Core 3 305 holds a 72nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL sits at the 50th percentile. For users selecting between these two, the Core 3 305 delivers measurable compute results across Cinebench and PassMark tests, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL offers a different architectural foundation with more cores and threads but no benchmark data to confirm real-world performance.

The Core Ultra 5 125UL brings 12 cores and 14 threads, which is double the core count and more than double the thread count of the Core 3 305's 6 cores and 6 threads. However, the absence of benchmark scores for the Ultra 5 means the database cannot verify whether that additional hardware translates into faster execution. The Core 3 305, by contrast, has a full suite of recorded results, including a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13123 and a single-core score of 1852. Those numbers indicate a capable mobile processor for everyday workloads.

The launch MSRP for both parts is $309. Both processors share the same 15-watt thermal design power and the same 4.30 GHz boost clock. The Core 3 305 launches in April 2026, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL launched in April 2024. The decision hinges on whether the user prioritizes the larger core configuration of the Ultra 5 or the verified benchmark performance of the Core 3. The data only supports the latter.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ substantially in their underlying design. The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL uses the Meteor Lake-PS codename with a 7 nm process node. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the smaller process node of the Core 3 suggests a more recent fabrication technology.

The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it does not use simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 5 125UL has 12 cores and 14 threads, indicating a hybrid arrangement where some cores support extra threads. The cache hierarchy differs as well: the Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 125UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The total L3 capacity on the Ultra 5 is double that of the Core 3.

Memory support also separates the two. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel memory bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 125UL supports DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, delivering 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The dual-channel configuration on the Ultra 5 provides roughly 50% more memory bandwidth based on the recorded figures. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The integrated graphics differ in architecture. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL uses Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units. The PCIe implementation also differs: the Core 3 305 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The sockets are not interchangeable: the Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the Core Ultra 5 125UL uses Intel Socket 1851. The market segment classification places the Core 3 305 as Mobile and the Core Ultra 5 125UL as Desktop, despite both having a 15-watt TDP.

The Core 3 305 carries the part number SAE3L, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL carries SRN96. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates show the Core 3 305 arriving in April 2026 and the Core Ultra 5 125UL arriving in April 2024, which may indicate different product generations.

Where Each One Wins

The Core 3 305 wins where data exists. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13123 and single-core score of 1852 establish a baseline for both multithreaded and single-threaded applications. The PassMark suite shows a single-thread score of 3977, which supports strong responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks. The multithread score of 15439 indicates solid parallel throughput relative to its core count.

The Core Ultra 5 125UL wins on paper in raw hardware specifications. It has 12 cores and 14 threads, which suggests better scaling in heavily threaded workloads if the architectural efficiency matches the core count. Its 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth could provide advantages in memory-intensive tasks. The Arc Xe-LPG integrated graphics with 64 execution units likely outperform the Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, but the database records no graphics benchmarks to confirm this.

The Core 3 305's percentile ranking of 72 versus the Ultra 5's 50 indicates that, based on all CPUs in the database, the Core 3 305 sits higher in performance distribution. However, the Ultra 5's percentile likely reflects its specification position rather than measured results, since its average benchmark score is 0. The Core 3 305's nearest rival comparison shows it within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, which scores 18230, and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100, which scores 18318. The Intel Core 5 330 scores 18345 and the Intel Core 7 360 scores 18374, both slightly above the Core 3 305. These small deltas indicate the Core 3 305 sits in a tightly competitive band.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Core 3 305 delivers verified results. For users relying on the Ultra 5's larger core count and newer memory architecture, the potential exists for better performance, but no measured scores confirm it. The data does not support a win for the Ultra 5 because there are no results to measure.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What are the Cinebench R23 scores for the Core 3 305?

A: The Core 3 305 records a multicore score of 13123 and a single-core score of 1852 in Cinebench R23.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 125UL have any recorded benchmark scores?

A: No. The database lists no benchmark entries for the Core Ultra 5 125UL, and its average benchmark score is 0.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Core 3 305 has a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 125UL has a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What process nodes do the two processors use?

A: The Core 3 305 uses a 3 nm process node. The Core Ultra 5 125UL uses a 7 nm process node.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The Core 3 305 ranks in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. The Core Ultra 5 125UL ranks in the 50th percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark comparison list is empty, but the Core 3 305 has individual benchmark results that can be analyzed. The Core Ultra 5 125UL has no scores, so every comparison defaults to the Core 3 305's favor by virtue of having available data.

In Cinebench R15, the Core 3 305 scores 1322 in multicore and 186 in single-core. In Cinebench R20, the multicore score rises to 5511 and the single-core score to 777. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score reaches 13123 and the single-core score 1852. These progressive scores across Cinebench versions show consistent scaling from older to newer test versions, with the multicore scores roughly doubling from R15 to R20 and then increasing again from R20 to R23.

The PassMark suite provides a broader view. The Core 3 305 scores 146857 in data compression, 11019 in data encryption, and 13543 in extended instructions. For prime number calculations, the score is 115. Floating point math scores 42284, integer math scores 32295, and multithread performance scores 15439. Physics scores 1233, random string sorting scores 17623, and single-thread performance scores 3977. These figures indicate the Core 3 305 handles integer and floating-point operations well, with the multithread score at 15439 suggesting moderate parallel capability from its 6 threads.

The nearest rival comparisons for the Core 3 305 place it nearly level with several other processors. The Intel Core i3-14100 has an average score of 18318, which is 0.1% higher than the Core 3 305's 18302. The Intel Core 5 330 scores 18345, 0.2% higher. The Intel Core 7 360 scores 18374, 0.4% higher. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600E scores 18230, which is 0.4% lower than the Core 3 305. These deltas show the Core 3 305 sits within a narrow performance envelope, less than half a percent from each rival in either direction.

The Core Ultra 5 125UL has no nearest rivals listed and no average score, which limits any direct comparison. Its 12-core, 14-thread configuration and 12 MB of L3 cache suggest a design aimed at multitasking and content creation, but the absence of benchmark data means the database cannot validate that expectation. The Core 3 305, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, delivers verified performance that places it in the 72nd percentile, which is a measurable outcome.

The single-thread PassMark score of 3977 for the Core 3 305 is notable because it appears twice in the benchmark list, once as passmark_single_thread and once as passmark_singlethread, both recording the same value. The boost clock of 4.30 GHz on both processors matches, which may explain similar single-thread potential, but the Core 3 305's base clock of 1.50 GHz is higher than the Ultra 5's 1.30 GHz base clock.

The memory bandwidth difference remains a key architectural split: 59.7 GB/s for the Core 3 305 versus 89.6 GB/s for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. In memory-bound workloads, the Ultra 5 could theoretically pull ahead, but no benchmark results exist to confirm that hypothesis. The Core 3 305's smaller L3 cache of 6 MB versus the Ultra 5's 12 MB also suggests the Ultra 5 has more headroom for cached data, but again, the lack of scores prevents any quantitative conclusion.

The production status for both processors is Active, meaning both are available. The Core 3 305's release date of April 2026 and the Ultra 5's April 2024 release date indicate two years of separation, with the Core 3 being the newer product. The 3 nm process node on the Core 3 versus the 7 nm node on the Ultra 5 supports the notion that the Core 3 uses a more advanced manufacturing process.

In the absence of head-to-head benchmark entries, the only factual comparison available is the specification sheet and the Core 3 305's measured scores. The database records no wins for either processor in a direct matchup, so the analysis rests on the available evidence: the Core 3 305 provides verified performance in the 72nd percentile, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL provides a larger core count but no measured results.