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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap between the Intel Core 3 305 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T. Across all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Core Ultra 5 245T wins every single comparison. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 245T is 38194, placing it at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 3 305 averages 18302 and sits at the 72nd percentile.

The largest margins appear in integer-heavy workloads. In PassMark integer math, the Core Ultra 5 245T scores 88676 against 32295 for the Core 3 305, a 63.6% advantage. Floating point math shows a similar pattern: 108499 versus 42284, a 61% gap. Prime number finding is the most lopsided test, with the Core Ultra 5 245T scoring 324 versus 115, a 64.5% lead.

Cinebench results confirm the same hierarchy. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 245T scores 26208 while the Core 3 305 manages 13123, a 49.9% difference. The single-core R23 test shows 3699 versus 1852, also a 49.9% gap. Cinebench R20 multi-core delivers 11007 against 5511, and R15 multi-core delivers 2641 against 1322, both with the same 49.9% delta. The single-core R20 and R15 tests each show exactly 50% gaps, with scores of 1553 versus 777 and 372 versus 186 respectively.

The narrowest margin is in single-thread performance. PassMark single-thread shows the Core Ultra 5 245T at 4367 versus 3977 for the Core 3 305, an 8.9% lead. This indicates the Core 3 305 has competitive single-core capability, but it cannot overcome the multi-core deficit.

Memory-sensitive workloads also favor the Core Ultra 5 245T decisively. Data compression scores 283812 versus 146857, a 48.3% gap. Random string sorting shows 34931 versus 17623, a 49.5% gap. Data encryption delivers 23656 versus 11019, a 53.4% gap. Extended instructions score 22071 versus 13543, a 38.6% gap. PassMark multi-thread shows 30833 versus 15439, a 49.9% gap, and physics simulation scores 2278 versus 1233, a 45.9% gap.

The nearest rivals data places each processor in its own performance tier. The Core 3 305 sits within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E (18230) and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100 (18318). It trails the Intel Core 5 330 (18345) by 0.2% and the Intel Core 7 360 (18374) by 0.4%. The Core Ultra 5 245T sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-13600KF (38103), within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-14490F (38149), and within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-13600HX (38261). It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 250 (38221) by 0.1%. These results confirm that the Core Ultra 5 245T operates in a completely different performance class, roughly double the average score of the Core 3 305.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T wins with a score of 26208 against 13123 for the Intel Core 3 305, a 49.9% advantage.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: The narrowest gap is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the Core Ultra 5 245T scores 4367 versus 3977 for the Core 3 305, a difference of 8.9%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in encryption workloads?

A: PassMark data encryption shows the Core Ultra 5 245T at 23656 versus 11019 for the Core 3 305, giving the Core Ultra 5 245T a 53.4% lead, the second-largest margin recorded.

Q: Which processor has the larger cache configuration?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 3 305 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 245T also lists 3 MB of L2 per core versus 2.5 MB total L2 for the Core 3 305.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for each processor?

A: The Core 3 305 sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 245T sits at the 86th percentile.

Q: Does the Core 3 305 win any benchmark test?

A: No. The recorded data shows the Core Ultra 5 245T wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Core 3 305 recording zero wins.

The Verdict

The data indicates the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T is the stronger processor by a substantial margin. Its average benchmark score of 38194 is more than double the 18302 average of the Intel Core 3 305. The Core Ultra 5 245T wins every single test in the benchmark suite, from single-thread workloads to multi-core rendering and data processing tasks.

The Core 3 305 does show reasonable single-core capability, trailing by only 8.9% in PassMark single-thread. However, this is the only test where the gap is below 38%, and in most workloads the Core Ultra 5 245T leads by roughly half or more. For users who need multi-threaded performance, the Core Ultra 5 245T delivers approximately double the throughput in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, as well as in PassMark multi-thread.

The Core 3 305 appears in the same performance neighborhood as the Intel Core i3-14100 and AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, all within 0.4% of each other in average score. The Core Ultra 5 245T matches the performance class of the Intel Core i5-13600KF and Intel Core i5-14490F, all within 0.2%. The gap between these two tiers is consistent across the entire benchmark suite.

The Core Ultra 5 245T is the appropriate choice when peak performance in rendering, data compression, encryption, and math-intensive workloads is the priority. The Core 3 305 is suitable for scenarios where the single-thread performance gap is acceptable and lower multi-core throughput is tolerable, though its 15 TDP rating indicates a lower power envelope. The Core Ultra 5 245T carries a 65 TDP rating and a launch MSRP of $270, while the Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The Core 3 305 uses 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 305 and 2.20 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 245T. Boost clocks reach 4.30 GHz on the Core 3 305 and 5.10 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245T. Thermal design power is 15 watts for the Core 3 305 and 65 watts for the Core Ultra 5 245T.

The sockets are incompatible: the Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Intel Socket 1851. Memory support differs as well. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 245T supports DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported on the Core 3 305 but is supported on the Core Ultra 5 245T.

PCIe connectivity shows a large gap. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 245T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EU.

Market segments differ as well. The Core 3 305 is a mobile processor, while the Core Ultra 5 245T is a desktop processor. The part numbers are SAE3L for the Core 3 305 and SRVFF for the Core Ultra 5 245T. The release dates differ by approximately one year, with the Core Ultra 5 245T released in January 2025 and the Core 3 305 in April 2026.

Architecture Differences

The Core 3 305 is based on the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 3 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The Core Ultra 5 245T is based on the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-S codename, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation.

Both processors are built on a 3 nm process node, but the foundry differs. The Core 3 305 is manufactured by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 245T is manufactured by TSMC. The Core Ultra 5 245T lists 17,800 million transistors and a die size of 243 mm². These figures are not recorded for the Core 3 305.

Cache hierarchies are substantially different. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2 cache, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 245T has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 allocation on the Core Ultra 5 245T gives it a significantly larger cache pool relative to its core count.

The Core Ultra 5 245T carries more than double the core count of the Core 3 305, explaining its consistent dominance in multi-threaded workloads. The higher base and boost clocks also contribute to its single-thread advantage. The dual-channel memory bus on the Core Ultra 5 245T, combined with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth versus 59.7 GB/s, accounts for the large gaps in data compression and random string sorting tests.

The architecture differences also extend to PCIe capabilities. The Gen 5 interface with 20 lanes on the Core Ultra 5 245T versus Gen 4 with 6 lanes on the Core 3 305 indicates a substantially different platform positioning. The Core Ultra 5 245T supports ECC memory, which the Core 3 305 does not. These architectural distinctions explain the benchmark results: the Core Ultra 5 245T is a desktop-class processor with a more capable platform, while the Core 3 305 is a mobile-class processor with a narrower feature set.