Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF Comparison
Intel Core 3 305
Core Ultra 5 245KF
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
The Verdict
The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF is the clear performance leader across every recorded benchmark in this comparison. The data shows zero wins for the Intel Core 3 305 in all 17 head-to-head tests, with the Core Ultra 5 245KF winning every single one. The Core Ultra 5 245KF also sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core 3 305 sits in the 72nd percentile.
The Core 3 305 is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, built for a different physical environment entirely. It uses a BGA 1516 socket, which means it is soldered to the board. The Core Ultra 5 245KF is a desktop part on Socket 1851 with a 125 W TDP and an unlocked multiplier, meaning it is user-overclockable. The Core 3 305 has integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core; the Core Ultra 5 245KF has no integrated graphics at all.
The benchmark scores make the positioning clear. The Core Ultra 5 245KF delivers a 64.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core score, and it leads by 64.2% in R23 single-core as well. In PassMark integer math the gap expands to 67.3%, and in prime number search it reaches 72.4%. The Core 3 305 is not competitive in raw throughput, but its 15 W TDP and integrated graphics target a segment where those features matter more than absolute scores.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different architectural families with different physical designs. The Core 3 305 is based on Wildcat Lake, listed in the database as a 3 nm part manufactured by Intel. The Core Ultra 5 245KF is based on Arrow Lake, also on a 3 nm node, but the foundry is TSMC, and it carries the Arrow Lake-S codename. The Core Ultra 5 245KF has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die; the Core 3 305 has no transistor or die size data recorded.
Core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 5 245KF has 14 cores and 14 threads, also without hyperthreading, but with more than double the physical cores. Clock speeds follow the same pattern: the Core 3 305 has a 1.50 GHz base clock and a 4.30 GHz boost clock, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF runs at 4.20 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost.
Cache configuration also separates the two. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245KF lists 192 KB per core of L1, 3 MB per core of L2, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 245KF therefore carries four times the L3 capacity of the Core 3 305.
Memory support is another division. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 245KF supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory.
PCIe capability differs by generation and lane count. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 5 245KF provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The Core 3 305 integrates Intel Xe3 Graphics with a single Xe core, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF has no integrated graphics, which is why the "F" suffix appears in its name. The Core 3 305 is a mobile part with release date of April 15, 2026, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF is a desktop part released on October 23, 2024. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309, and the Core Ultra 5 245KF has a launch MSRP of $294.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Core Ultra 5 245KF dominates every recorded test, but the margins vary significantly by workload. The closest result is PassMark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 4715 against 3977 for the Core 3 305, a 15.7% advantage. That is the only test where the Core 3 305 stays within a single-digit deficit range; every other test shows a gap of at least 58.9%.
Cinebench results are consistent across all three versions of the suite. In R15 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 3693 versus 1322, a 64.2% lead. In R15 single-core, it scores 521 versus 186, a 64.3% lead. R20 multi-core shows 15391 versus 5511, a 64.2% lead. R20 single-core shows 2172 versus 777, also 64.2%. R23 multi-core shows 36647 versus 13123, and R23 single-core shows 5173 versus 1852, both 64.2% gaps. These numbers indicate that the per-core advantage of the Core Ultra 5 245KF is large and consistent, not just a product of more cores.
The PassMark suite shows where the Core Ultra 5 245KF stretches its lead further. Data compression scores 460123 versus 146857, a 68.1% gap. Data encryption scores 33381 versus 11019, a 67% gap. Extended instructions score 37912 versus 13543, a 64.3% gap. Prime number search shows the largest differential at 72.4%, with 416 versus 115. Floating point math scores 131546 versus 42284, a 67.9% gap. Integer math scores 98854 versus 32295, a 67.3% gap. Random string sorting scores 55206 versus 17623, a 68.1% gap. The PassMark multi-thread score is 43110 versus 15439, a 64.2% gap, and physics scores 2998 versus 1233, a 58.9% gap.
The physics test is the only benchmark where the Core Ultra 5 245KF's lead drops below 60%. The single-thread tests show the smallest gaps, but they still favor the Core Ultra 5 245KF decisively. The overall pattern is that the Core Ultra 5 245KF wins by roughly two-thirds in multi-threaded and memory-heavy workloads, and by smaller but still clear margins in single-threaded tasks.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU has more cores?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.
Q: What is the clock speed difference?
A: The Core 3 305 has a 1.50 GHz base clock and a 4.30 GHz boost clock. The Core Ultra 5 245KF has a 4.20 GHz base clock and a 5.20 GHz boost clock.
Q: Does either CPU have integrated graphics?
A: The Core 3 305 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Core Ultra 5 245KF has no integrated graphics, indicated by the "F" in its name.
Q: Which CPU is better in single-threaded performance?
A: The Core Ultra 5 245KF leads in PassMark single-thread with 4715 versus 3977 for the Core 3 305, a 15.7% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core Ultra 5 245KF scores 5173 versus 1852, a 64.2% lead.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each CPU?
A: The Core 3 305 has a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 245KF has a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: Which CPU is in the higher performance percentile?
A: The Core Ultra 5 245KF is in the 91st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 3 305 is in the 72nd percentile.
Where Each One Wins
The Core Ultra 5 245KF wins every recorded benchmark, so the practical question is where each processor fits based on the data available. The Core Ultra 5 245KF is the only choice for raw compute throughput. It wins all Cinebench tests by 64.2% or more, all PassMark math tests by at least 67.3%, and data compression by 68.1%. Its 14 cores, 24 MB of L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and 5.20 GHz boost clock combine to produce an average benchmark score of 55093, compared to 18302 for the Core 3 305.
The Core 3 305 has no performance wins in this dataset, but it occupies a distinct physical niche. It is a mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, a BGA 1516 socket, and integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics. The Core Ultra 5 245KF draws 125 W, uses Socket 1851, and requires a discrete graphics card because it has no iGPU. The Core 3 305 also supports LPDDR5X memory in addition to DDR5, which suits compact mobile designs, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF is limited to DDR5.
The nearest rivals in the database reinforce the positioning. The Core 3 305 sits within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E and within 0.2% of the Intel Core 7 360, with the Core i3-14100 just 0.1% ahead and the Core 5 330 0.2% ahead. The Core Ultra 5 245KF sits 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D, 1.9% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, and within 1.6% of the Intel Core i9-14900HX. Neither processor is an outlier relative to its immediate competition; both are right in line with their expected performance tiers.
For workloads that depend on single-thread speed, the Core Ultra 5 245KF still wins, but the margin is smaller. The 15.7% PassMark single-thread lead indicates that the Core 3 305's Wildcat Lake architecture has competitive per-core efficiency for a 15 W part, even though it cannot match the 5.20 GHz boost clock of the desktop chip. The Cinebench single-core results show a much larger 64.2% gap, suggesting that the Core Ultra 5 245KF's advantage grows under sustained AVX-style loads.
For multi-threaded rendering, compilation, encryption, or compression workloads, the Core Ultra 5 245KF is the clear choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36647 is nearly three times the Core 3 305's 13123. Its data compression score of 460123 is more than three times the Core 3 305's 146857. The Core 3 305 cannot close that gap with its 6 cores and single-channel memory.
For mobile deployment, the Core 3 305 is the only option between the two because the Core Ultra 5 245KF is a desktop processor. The 15 W TDP, integrated graphics, and LPDDR5X support make it suitable for battery-powered systems, while the 125 W TDP of the Core Ultra 5 245KF requires desktop cooling and a power supply. The Core 3 305 also uses Gen 4 PCIe with 6 lanes, which is sufficient for mobile peripheral setups, whereas the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes for expansion-heavy desktop builds.
The unlocked multiplier on the Core Ultra 5 245KF adds another dimension. The Core 3 305 has a locked multiplier, so users cannot overclock it. The Core Ultra 5 245KF allows multiplier adjustment, which means the recorded benchmark scores represent a baseline that can potentially be improved. The data does not include overclocked results, but the capability itself is present.
The release timeline also separates the two. The Core Ultra 5 245KF launched on October 23, 2024, while the Core 3 305 is dated April 15, 2026. The Core 3 305 is the newer part by design, targeting a lower-power mobile segment with a newer integrated graphics block, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF has been on the market longer and occupies the high-performance desktop lane. Both are listed as Active in production status.
The final split is simple. The Core Ultra 5 245KF is the performance winner in every measured dimension, with a 91st percentile standing and an average benchmark score of 55093. The Core 3 305 is a 72nd percentile mobile processor with an average score of 18302, but it brings integrated graphics, a 15 W TDP, and LPDDR5X support that the Core Ultra 5 245KF cannot offer. Users who need desktop compute should choose the Core Ultra 5 245KF. Users who need a low-power mobile chip with graphics built in should choose the Core 3 305.