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

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core 3 305 compare to the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL in overall benchmark standing?

A: The Core 3 305 has a percentile rank of 72 versus all CPUs in the database, while the Ultra 7 165UL sits at the 50th percentile. The Core 3 305 also has a recorded average benchmark score of 18302, whereas the Ultra 7 165UL currently has no recorded benchmark entries.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has 12 cores and 14 threads, giving it a 2x core advantage and more than 2x thread count.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 7 165UL reaches a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, compared to the Core 3 305's 4.30 GHz. The base clocks are 1.70 GHz for the Ultra 7 165UL and 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 305.

Q: How do the cache configurations differ between these two processors?

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 Ultra 7 165UL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache, which doubles the shared L3 capacity.

Q: What memory bandwidth figures are recorded for each?

A: The Core 3 305 supports single-channel memory with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Ultra 7 165UL supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which is 29.9 GB/s higher.

Q: What process nodes are used for each chip?

A: The Core 3 305 is built on a 3 nm process. The Ultra 7 165UL uses a 7 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains a full benchmark suite for the Intel Core 3 305, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL has no recorded benchmark scores. This creates an asymmetric comparison where the Core 3 305's results stand alone. The Core 3 305's average benchmark score is 18302, placing it within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E (18230) and within 0.2% of the Intel Core 5 330 (18345). Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-14100, scores 18318, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the Core 3 305 trails that chip by a negligible margin.

In Cinebench R23, the Core 3 305 records a multicore score of 13123 and a singlecore score of 1852. The multicore figure is roughly 7.1 times the singlecore figure, which reflects the chip's 6-core, 6-thread design without simultaneous multithreading. Cinebench R20 results show a multicore score of 5511 and a singlecore score of 777. Cinebench R15 yields a multicore score of 1322 and a singlecore score of 186. The scaling pattern across these Cinebench versions is consistent: singlecore scores remain in a narrow band relative to multicore, confirming that the workload scales with physical cores rather than threads.

PassMark results for the Core 3 305 show a multithread score of 15439 and a singlethread score of 3977. The floating point math score is 42284, while integer math is 32295. Data compression reaches 146857, data encryption is 11019, and extended instructions score 13543. Find prime numbers scores 115, physics scores 1233, and random string sorting scores 17623. The floating point advantage over integer math is 29.9% higher, which indicates the architecture handles FP workloads more efficiently than integer tasks. The data compression score is particularly high relative to the multithread score, suggesting strong memory subsystem performance within the chip's single-channel configuration.

Since the Ultra 7 165UL has no entries in the head-to-head benchmark table, the wins are zero for each side. The recorded data only permits an analysis of the Core 3 305's absolute performance and its position among nearest rivals. The Core 3 305 outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 2600E by 0.4% in average score, while trailing the Intel Core i3-14100 by 0.1%, the Intel Core 5 330 by 0.2%, and the Intel Core 7 360 by 0.4%. These deltas are all within 1%, placing the Core 3 305 in a tightly contested performance band.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL uses the Meteor Lake-PS codename with a 7 nm process node. The generational labels reflect this split: the Core 3 305 is classified as Core 3 (Wildcat Lake), and the Ultra 7 165UL is classified as Ultra 7 (Meteor Lake-PS). The process node difference is substantial, with the 3 nm node representing a newer manufacturing technology compared to the 7 nm node.

Core counts differ significantly. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, indicating no hyperthreading. The Ultra 7 165UL has 12 cores and 14 threads, which implies that 2 cores support an additional thread each, following Intel's hybrid architecture pattern from the Meteor Lake generation. The core organization for the Ultra 7 165UL is not specified in the database, but the thread count indicates a heterogeneous core layout.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Core 3 305 lists 192 KB of L1 cache as a single aggregate figure, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 165UL lists 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 cache on the Ultra 7 165UL is 2 MB, which when multiplied across the core count yields a total L2 capacity well above the Core 3 305's 2.5 MB aggregate. The shared L3 cache on the Ultra 7 165UL is double that of the Core 3 305.

The integrated graphics differ. The Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core. The Ultra 7 165UL uses Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units. The Arc branding indicates a higher-tier graphics solution compared to the Xe3 branding, and the 64 EU count suggests a more capable iGPU for graphics workloads.

Memory architecture diverges on bus width. The Core 3 305 uses a single-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s and supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory. The Ultra 7 165UL uses a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s and supports DDR5 with capacity dependent on the motherboard. The dual-channel configuration on the Ultra 7 165UL provides a 50% bandwidth advantage over the single-channel Core 3 305.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra 7 165UL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra 7 165UL offers 2 additional PCIe lanes for CPU-attached devices.

The sockets are incompatible. The Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, a soldered mobile socket. The Ultra 7 165UL uses Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket. This aligns with the market segments: the Core 3 305 is listed as Mobile, while the Ultra 7 165UL is listed as Desktop.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Ultra 7 165UL has 12 cores and 14 threads. Base clock is 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 305 and 1.70 GHz for the Ultra 7 165UL. Boost clock is 4.30 GHz for the Core 3 305 and 4.90 GHz for the Ultra 7 165UL.

Both have a TDP of 15 watts, which is one of the few matching specifications. Both are unlocked multipliers set to false, and neither supports ECC memory. Both are produced by Intel and have Active production status.

The process node is 3 nm for the Core 3 305 and 7 nm for the Ultra 7 165UL. The socket is Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 305 and Intel Socket 1851 for the Ultra 7 165UL. The codename is Wildcat Lake versus Meteor Lake-PS.

Cache figures differ in representation and capacity. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The Ultra 7 165UL has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3.

Memory support shows DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 3 305, while the Ultra 7 165UL lists DDR5 with motherboard dependence. Memory bus is single-channel for the Core 3 305 and dual-channel for the Ultra 7 165UL. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s.

PCIe is Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 3 305 and Gen 4 with 8 lanes for the Ultra 7 165UL. Integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) for the Core 3 305 and Arc Xe-LPG 64EU for the Ultra 7 165UL.

Market segment is Mobile for the Core 3 305 and Desktop for the Ultra 7 165UL. Release dates are 2026-04-15 for the Core 3 305 and 2024-04-07 for the Ultra 7 165UL. The launch MSRP is $309 for the Core 3 305 and $447 for the Ultra 7 165UL. Part numbers are SAE3L and SRN95 respectively.

The Ultra 7 165UL belongs to the Core Ultra Series 1 family and has a Meteor Lake architecture, while the Core 3 305 has no listed series or architecture field beyond its codename.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 3 305 wins on process technology. Its 3 nm node is more advanced than the 7 nm node of the Ultra 7 165UL, which typically translates to better power efficiency per transistor and higher transistor density. The Core 3 305 also wins on integrated graphics branding with Xe3 Graphics, though the Ultra 7 165UL's 64 EU Arc solution likely offers higher raw graphics throughput based on execution unit count.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 165UL wins on raw core count and thread count. With 12 cores and 14 threads versus 6 cores and 6 threads, the Ultra 7 165UL has double the physical cores and more than double the logical threads. This gives it a structural advantage in heavily threaded workloads such as video rendering, compilation, and scientific computing, provided the software can utilize the additional cores.

The Ultra 7 165UL wins on clock speeds. Its base clock of 1.70 GHz is 0.20 GHz higher than the Core 3 305's 1.50 GHz, and its boost clock of 4.90 GHz is 0.60 GHz higher than the Core 3 305's 4.30 GHz. Higher boost clocks typically benefit single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads.

The Ultra 7 165UL wins on memory subsystem capacity. Its dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth is 50% higher than the Core 3 305's single-channel 59.7 GB/s. The 12 MB shared L3 cache is double the Core 3 305's 6 MB. These factors favor memory-intensive workloads.

The Ultra 7 165UL wins on PCIe lane count with 8 lanes versus 6 lanes. This provides additional bandwidth for CPU-attached peripherals.

The Core 3 305 wins on benchmark presence. The database contains 17 benchmark scores for the Core 3 305, including Cinebench and PassMark suites, while the Ultra 7 165UL has no recorded benchmarks. The Core 3 305's percentile rank of 72 versus 50 for the Ultra 7 165UL indicates that, based on available data, the Core 3 305 positions higher against the general CPU population.

The Core 3 305 also wins on release recency, with a 2026-04-15 date versus 2024-04-07 for the Ultra 7 165UL. The Core 3 305's nearest rivals are tightly clustered within a 0.8% spread, indicating it competes in a dense performance tier. The Ultra 7 165UL has no nearest rival data, so its competitive positioning cannot be assessed from the database.

For workloads that depend on single-thread performance, clock speed, and memory bandwidth, the Ultra 7 165UL has the specification advantage. For workloads that depend on manufacturing efficiency, integrated graphics generation, and measured benchmark results, the Core 3 305 has the recorded advantage. The absence of benchmark data for the Ultra 7 165UL means any performance comparison beyond specifications remains unresolved in the database.