Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous hierarchy between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Core 3 305 failing to secure a single victory across any Cinebench or PassMark workload. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 235H is 37522, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 305 averages 18302 and sits in the 72nd percentile. The Core Ultra 5 235H delivers roughly double the multi-threaded performance in most tests, with deltas ranging from 37.9% to 56.5% in favor of the higher-tier part.

The Core 3 305 targets a different segment entirely. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-14100 (average score 18318, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core 5 330 (18345, -0.2%), and the Intel Core 7 360 (18374, -0.4%), meaning it trades blows with those parts within a fraction of a percent. The Core Ultra 5 235H, by contrast, competes against the Intel Core i9-13900HK (37425, +0.3%), the Intel Core i5-13600K (37685, -0.4%), and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 (37762, -0.6%). These are fundamentally different performance classes.

For users who need maximum throughput in rendering, data compression, or floating-point workloads, the Core Ultra 5 235H is the clear choice from the recorded measurements. The single-thread gap is smaller, with the Core Ultra 5 235H ahead by 8.8% in PassMark single-thread tests, but still consistent across all Cinebench single-core runs. The Core 3 305 remains viable for lighter mobile workloads where its lower power envelope and simpler architecture suffice, but the data shows no scenario where it outperforms the Core Ultra 5 235H.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core rendering?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 235H scores 25598 versus 13123 for the Core 3 305, a 48.7% advantage. The gap is similar in Cinebench R20 multi-core (10751 vs 5511, 48.7%) and Cinebench R15 multi-core (2580 vs 1322, 48.8%).

Q: Is the single-core performance difference as large?

A: No. In PassMark single-thread, the Core Ultra 5 235H scores 4359 versus 3977, an 8.8% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is 3613 versus 1852, a 48.7% difference. The PassMark test shows a much smaller advantage than Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: What is the thermal design power for each chip?

A: The Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core Ultra 5 235H has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235H boosts to 5.00 GHz, compared to 4.30 GHz for the Core 3 305. The base clocks are 2.40 GHz and 1.50 GHz, respectively.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X. However, the Core 3 305 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 5 235H uses dual-channel memory with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 3 generation, while the Core Ultra 5 235H uses the Arrow Lake-H codename within the Arrow Lake architecture and the Core Ultra Series 2 family. Both are fabricated on a 3 nm process node, but the foundry differs: Intel produces the Core 3 305, while TSMC produces the Core Ultra 5 235H.

The core layouts diverge significantly. The Core 3 305 packs 6 cores and 6 threads with no hyper-threading, while the Core Ultra 5 235H doubles the core count to 14 cores and 14 threads. Cache hierarchies reflect this disparity. 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 235H lists L1 as 192 KB per core, L2 as 3 MB per core, and L3 as 18 MB shared. The Core Ultra 5 235H also carries a larger socket footprint, using Intel BGA 2049 versus the Intel BGA 1516 socket for the Core 3 305.

Memory architecture separates the two as well. The Core 3 305 runs single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Core Ultra 5 235H runs dual-channel memory with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe support also differs: the Core 3 305 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235H offers Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ too, with the Core 3 305 featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) and the Core Ultra 5 235H featuring Arc Graphics 140T. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The release timeline is notable. The Core Ultra 5 235H launched on 2025-01-12, while the Core 3 305 launched on 2026-04-15, roughly 15 months later. The Core 3 305 carries a launch MSRP of $309; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core Ultra 5 235H. Both processors are active in production and target the mobile market segment.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show a clear separation in almost every field. Core and thread counts differ by 8 and 8 respectively, with the Core Ultra 5 235H holding 14 cores and 14 threads versus 6 and 6 for the Core 3 305. Base clock speeds are 2.40 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235H and 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 305. Boost clocks reach 5.00 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235H and 4.30 GHz on the Core 3 305. TDP ratings are 28 watts versus 15 watts.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 2049 for the Core Ultra 5 235H and Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 305. Cache capacities differ across all levels, with the Core Ultra 5 235H offering 18 MB shared L3 versus 6 MB shared L3 for the Core 3 305. Memory bandwidth nearly doubles on the Core Ultra 5 235H at 102.4 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s, reflecting the dual-channel versus single-channel memory bus. PCIe generation and lane counts differ as well, with Gen 5 and 8 lanes on the Core Ultra 5 235H versus Gen 4 and 6 lanes on the Core 3 305. The integrated graphics solutions are different SKUs. Part numbers are SRQAP for the Core Ultra 5 235H and SAE3L for the Core 3 305.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 5 235H dominates every recorded benchmark, but the margins vary by workload type. The largest advantage appears in PassMark integer math, where the Core Ultra 5 235H scores 74247 against 32295, a 56.5% lead. Floating-point math shows a 54.8% gap (93509 versus 42284). Data encryption follows closely at 52.3% (23121 versus 11019), and prime number finding shows a 51.9% difference (239 versus 115). Data compression runs 51.4% ahead (301979 versus 146857), and random string sorting is 51.3% faster (36208 versus 17623).

Cinebench results cluster tightly around the 48-49% range. Multi-core tests show deltas of 48.8% in R15 (2580 versus 1322), 48.7% in R20 (10751 versus 5511), and 48.7% in R23 (25598 versus 13123). Single-core Cinebench tests show nearly identical gaps: 48.9% in R15 (364 versus 186), 48.8% in R20 (1517 versus 777), and 48.7% in R23 (3613 versus 1852). These consistent margins indicate the Core Ultra 5 235H scales its advantage uniformly across rendering workloads.

The narrowest margin appears in PassMark single-thread tests, where the Core Ultra 5 235H leads by only 8.8% (4359 versus 3977). This suggests the single-thread advantage of the Core Ultra 5 235H is real but modest compared to its multi-thread scaling. PassMark extended instructions show a 42% gap (23354 versus 13543), and PassMark physics shows the smallest multi-thread delta at 37.9% (1985 versus 1233). PassMark multithread scores 30091 versus 15439, a 48.7% difference.

The Core 3 305 records zero wins across all 17 head-to-head tests. Its best relative showing comes in the PassMark single-thread test, where it trails by less than 9%. The data indicates the Core Ultra 5 235H delivers between 1.6x and 2.3x the performance of the Core 3 305 depending on the workload, with the largest gaps in integer-heavy and floating-point tasks. The percentile rankings reinforce this: 85th percentile versus 72nd percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rival comparisons confirm each chip competes in its own tier, with the Core 3 305 matching entry-level desktop parts like the Core i3-14100 within 0.1%, while the Core Ultra 5 235H trades within 0.6% of high-end desktop and mobile processors like the Core i9-13900HK and Core i5-13600K.