Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX Comparison

The Intel Core 3 305 and Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX are both active mobile processors from Intel, but the recorded data separates them clearly. Across the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, the Core Ultra 5 245HX wins every test, while the Core 3 305 records 0 wins. The gap is consistent across Cinebench and PassMark workloads, although the size of the deficit varies from a narrow single-thread margin to a very large prime number gap.

Where Each One Wins

There is no use-case split in the recorded results because the Core Ultra 5 245HX wins all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The Core 3 305 has no benchmark win in any category. The closest result is the PassMark single-thread test, where the Core 3 scores 3977 against 4481 for the Core Ultra 5, a deficit of 11.2%. That is still a loss, but it is the narrowest margin in the comparison.

The Cinebench family shows a uniform gap: all 6 tests have deltas between -59.4% and -59.6%. The PassMark suite shows a wider spread, from -11.2% in single-thread to -68% in find prime numbers. The Core Ultra 5 dominates most heavily in integer math, floating point math, data encryption, data compression, and prime number calculation. The Core 3 305 does not lead in any of these workload types, so the only meaningful distinction is that its single-thread deficit is smaller than its multi-thread and math-heavy deficits.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a 3 nm process node but differ in foundry and architecture. The Core 3 305 is built by Intel and uses the Wildcat Lake codename, with no recorded series and a generation listed as Core 3 (Wildcat Lake). The Core Ultra 5 245HX is built by TSMC, uses the Arrow Lake architecture with the Arrow Lake-HX codename, and belongs to Core Ultra Series 2, generation Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake-HX).

Core configuration separates them sharply. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 for the Core 3 and 3.10 for the Core Ultra 5. Boost clocks are 4.30 and 5.10 respectively. The Core 3 has a 15 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 5 has a 55 W TDP. The Core 3 uses socket Intel BGA 1516, and the Core Ultra 5 uses Intel BGA 2114. The Core 3 has a locked multiplier, while the Core Ultra 5 has an unlocked multiplier. Part numbers are SAE3L for the Core 3 and SRVFM for the Core Ultra 5.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. 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 245HX has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 also records 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 3 has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database.

Memory support also differs. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 245HX supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The Core 3 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are also different: the Core 3 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe, and the Core Ultra 5 has Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48EU.

Release timing and platform details add context. The Core 3 305 was released on 2026-04-15, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX was released on 2025-01-12. Both are active. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309. The Core Ultra 5 does not have a recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head table contains 17 entries, and every entry is won by the Core Ultra 5 245HX. The delta values are negative for the Core 3 305 in all rows, meaning it trails in each recorded test.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core 3 scores 1322 and the Core Ultra 5 scores 3261, a deficit of -59.5%. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the scores are 186 and 460, a deficit of -59.6%. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 5511 against 13590, a deficit of -59.4%. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows 777 against 1918, a deficit of -59.5%. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 13123 against 32358, a deficit of -59.4%. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 1852 against 4568, a deficit of -59.5%. The consistency across all 6 Cinebench tests indicates a uniform performance advantage in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads.

The PassMark results show wider variation. In data compression, the Core 3 scores 146857 and the Core Ultra 5 scores 393071, a deficit of -62.6%. In data encryption, the scores are 11019 and 30022, a deficit of -63.3%. Extended instructions show 13543 against 31212, a deficit of -56.6%. Find prime numbers shows 115 against 359, a deficit of -68%, the largest deficit in the entire comparison. Floating point math shows 42284 against 120735, a deficit of -65%. Integer math shows 32295 against 92150, also a deficit of -65%. Multithread shows 15439 against 38069, a deficit of -59.4%. Physics shows 1233 against 2526, a deficit of -51.2%. Random string sorting shows 17623 against 47616, a deficit of -63%. PassMark single-thread shows 3977 against 4481, a deficit of -11.2%, the smallest deficit in the comparison. The duplicate PassMark single-thread entry records the same 3977 and 4481 scores with the same -11.2% delta.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head data. The Core 3 305 has an average benchmark score of 18302, while the Core Ultra 5 245HX has an average benchmark score of 48287. The Core 3 sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and the Core Ultra 5 sits in the 90th percentile.

The Verdict

The recorded data gives no scenario where the Core 3 305 wins. The Core Ultra 5 245HX is ahead in all 17 head-to-head tests, with a higher average benchmark score, a higher percentile ranking, and a consistent advantage across both Cinebench and PassMark workloads.

Nearest rival comparisons place the two processors in different groups. The Core 3 305 has an average score of 18302, which is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18318, 0.2% behind the Intel Core 5 330 at 18345, 0.4% behind the Intel Core 7 360 at 18374, and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E at 18230. The Core Ultra 5 245HX has an average score of 48287, which is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235A at 48201, 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 at 48171, 0.4% behind the AMD EPYC 4345P at 48470, and 0.7% behind the Intel Core i5-14600K at 48618. These numbers show that the Core 3 competes with processors averaging near 18230 to 18374, while the Core Ultra 5 competes with processors averaging near 48171 to 48618.

For any workload represented by these benchmarks, the data supports selecting the Core Ultra 5 245HX. The Core 3 305 has a lower 15 W TDP and a different platform, but no performance measurement in the database favors it. The 17 to 0 win count is the clearest summary: the Core Ultra 5 is the faster processor in every recorded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Core Ultra 5 scores 4481 and the Core 3 scores 3977, a deficit of 11.2% for the Core 3. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Core Ultra 5 scores 4568 and the Core 3 scores 1852, a deficit of 59.5%.

Q: What are the cache differences?

A: 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 245HX has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do the two processors support the same memory?

A: No. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 245HX supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What do the average scores and percentiles show?

A: The Core 3 305 has an average benchmark score of 18302 and is in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 5 245HX has an average benchmark score of 48287 and is in the 90th percentile.

Q: Which processor has the larger recorded die and transistor count?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245HX records 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die size. The Core 3 305 has no recorded transistor count or die size in the database.