Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 305 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL occupy very different positions in the mobile and desktop computing landscape. The Core 3 305, a Wildcat Lake part aimed at the mobile segment, has a complete benchmark suite recorded in the database. The Core Ultra 7 165HL, a Meteor Lake-PS desktop processor, currently has no recorded benchmark scores, which limits direct comparison of measured performance.

Looking at the available data, the Core 3 305 wins in every measurable category simply because it has recorded scores while the Core Ultra 7 165HL does not. The database shows the Core 3 305 achieving a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13123 and a single-core score of 1852. Its Passmark single-thread score sits at 3977, and its multithread score reaches 15439. These are the only concrete performance figures available for either processor.

The Core Ultra 7 165HL, by contrast, has a completely empty benchmark array. The database records zero wins for it, zero benchmark scores, and no average benchmark score. This means the Core 3 305, despite having fewer cores and threads, is the only processor in this pairing with demonstrated performance data. The Core 3 305 holds a 72nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL sits at the 50th percentile with no supporting scores.

The use-case split is therefore driven by data availability rather than measured head-to-head results. The Core 3 305 wins on every recorded workload, from Cinebench render tests to Passmark encryption and compression tasks. The Core Ultra 7 165HL, with its higher core count and boost clock, may be positioned for heavier workloads, but the database contains no measurements to confirm this.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and use different process nodes. The Intel Core 3 305 is built on a 3 nm process at Intel's foundry, using the Wildcat Lake architecture. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL is a Meteor Lake part, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS variant, manufactured on a 7 nm node. This node difference suggests the Core 3 305 uses a more advanced manufacturing process, which typically allows for better power efficiency per transistor.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyperthreading support. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has 16 cores and 22 threads, indicating a hybrid architecture with some cores contributing extra threads. The Core Ultra 7 165HL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1 family, which historically uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not break down the core types.

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 7 165HL lists 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 figure on the Ultra 7 means its total L2 is significantly larger across 16 cores, and its shared L3 is four times the size of the Core 3 305's pool.

Memory support also separates the two. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 165HL supports DDR5 with capacity depending on the motherboard, uses a dual-channel bus, and achieves 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Ultra 7 has a clear bandwidth advantage, which can matter for memory-intensive workloads.

PCIe connectivity differs in lane count. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. Both use the same PCIe generation, but the Ultra 7 has two additional lanes for expansion.

Integrated graphics are another differentiator. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with one Xe core. The Core Ultra 7 165HL uses Arc Xe-LPG with 128 execution units, a substantially larger graphics engine. The database does not record graphics benchmark scores for either, so the practical impact remains unquantified.

The Core 3 305 targets the mobile market segment with a 15 W TDP, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL is a desktop part rated at 45 W TDP. The socket types reflect this: the Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, a soldered mobile socket, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL uses Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Because the Core Ultra 7 165HL has no recorded benchmark scores, the head-to-head comparison relies entirely on the Core 3 305's measured results and the rival comparisons stored in the database. The Core 3 305's average benchmark score is 18302, which places it in a tight cluster of competitors.

The nearest rival to the Core 3 305 is the Intel Core i3-14100, which scores 18318 on average, a delta of -0.1 percent from the Core 3 305. That means the Core 3 305 trails the i3-14100 by a negligible 0.1 percent, effectively a statistical tie. The Intel Core 5 330 averages 18345, putting it 0.2 percent ahead of the Core 3 305. The Intel Core 7 360 averages 18374, 0.4 percent ahead. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E averages 18230, which is 0.4 percent behind the Core 3 305.

These rival comparisons give context to the Core 3 305's performance. Despite having only 6 cores and 6 threads, it lands within a fraction of a percent of processors that include the Core 7 360, which carries a higher series designation. The Core 3 305's single-core performance appears strong relative to its average score, as its Passmark single-thread score of 3977 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1852 contribute to a competitive overall average.

In specific workloads, the Core 3 305 shows notable strengths. Its Passmark data compression score is 146857, its data encryption score is 11019, and its extended instructions score is 13543. Floating point math reaches 42284, integer math reaches 32295, and random string sorting hits 17623. The physics score is 1233, and prime number finding is 115. These figures have no counterpart from the Core Ultra 7 165HL, so no direct win margins can be calculated.

The Core 3 305's Cinebench results show a multicore score of 1322 in R15, 5511 in R20, and 13123 in R23. Single-core scores are 186 in R15, 777 in R20, and 1852 in R23. The ratio between multicore and single-core in R23 is roughly 7.1 to 1, which reflects the modest core count of 6 threads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has 16 cores and 22 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz from a base of 1.50 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL boosts to 5.00 GHz from a base of 1.40 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR5. The Core 3 305 also supports LPDDR5X, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL's memory support depends on the motherboard.

Q: Which processor has the higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL has 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth over a dual-channel bus. The Intel Core 3 305 has 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus.

Q: Are benchmark scores available for both processors?

A: No. The database contains a full set of benchmark scores for the Intel Core 3 305, but the Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL currently has no recorded benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification category. The Intel Core 3 305 uses 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165HL uses 16 cores and 22 threads. Base clocks are close, with the Core 3 305 at 1.50 GHz and the Core Ultra 7 165HL at 1.40 GHz, but boost clocks diverge with 4.30 GHz versus 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power shows a threefold difference. The Core 3 305 is rated at 15 W, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL is rated at 45 W. Socket compatibility separates them entirely: the Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the Core Ultra 7 165HL uses Intel Socket 1851.

The manufacturing process differs by node size, with the Core 3 305 on 3 nm and the Core Ultra 7 165HL on 7 nm. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL uses Meteor Lake-PS. The Core Ultra 7 165HL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1 family, a designation the Core 3 305 does not carry.

Cache configurations are structured differently. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7's per-core L2 design scales with its 16 cores.

Memory bandwidth and channel configuration favor the Ultra 7. The Core 3 305 uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s, while the Core Ultra 7 165HL uses a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s. PCIe lane counts also differ: 6 CPU lanes for the Core 3 305 versus 8 CPU lanes for the Core Ultra 7 165HL.

Integrated graphics differ in architecture and scale. The Core 3 305 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Core Ultra 7 165HL has Arc Xe-LPG with 128 execution units. Market segments differ, with the Core 3 305 targeting mobile and the Core Ultra 7 165HL targeting desktop.

Release dates are separated by two years. The Core Ultra 7 165HL was released on April 7, 2024, while the Core 3 305 was released on April 15, 2026. Both processors are currently listed as active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The launch MSRP for the Core 3 305 is $309, and the launch MSRP for the Core Ultra 7 165HL is $459.