Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, which wins 15 of the 17 recorded comparisons. However, the Intel Core 3 305 claims the two most significant single-test victories, including the largest margin in the entire dataset. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 3 305 scores 13,123 against 9,240 for the Core Ultra 7 255H, a 42% advantage. That result is striking because the Core Ultra 7 255H otherwise dominates in almost every other multi-threaded workload.

The Core 3 305 also edges out the Core Ultra 7 255H in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1,852 versus 1,843, a slim 0.5% margin. That near-tie in the newest Cinebench single-core test stands in contrast to the older Cinebench releases, where the Core Ultra 7 255H holds clear leads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core Ultra 7 255H posts 251 against 186, a 25.9% gap. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 900 versus 777, a 13.7% edge. The R15 multi-core test shows a 12.7% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H (1,515 versus 1,322), and R20 multi-core shows a 13.6% lead (6,381 versus 5,511).

PassMark results heavily favor the Core Ultra 7 255H. Data compression shows the largest gap: 298,850 versus 146,857, a 50.9% difference. Data encryption follows at 23,395 versus 11,019, a 52.9% deficit for the Core 3 305. Floating point math delivers 98,796 versus 42,284, a 57.2% gap, while integer math shows 77,975 versus 32,295, a 58.6% gap. The Core Ultra 7 255H also wins extended instructions by 43% (23,755 versus 13,543), prime number finding by 62% (303 versus 115), multithread by 49.7% (30,703 versus 15,439), physics by 45.3% (2,254 versus 1,233), and random string sorting by 51.1% (36,058 versus 17,623). In PassMark single-thread, the Core Ultra 7 255H leads 4,317 versus 3,977, a 7.9% margin.

The average benchmark score reinforces this split. The Core Ultra 7 255H records an average of 33,537, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. The Core 3 305 averages 18,302, sitting in the 72nd percentile. The Core 3 305's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i3-14100 (average 18,318, a 0.1% gap), the Intel Core 5 330 (18,345, 0.2% ahead), and the Intel Core 7 360 (18,374, 0.4% ahead). The Core Ultra 7 255H sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 240 (33,542, 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS (33,667, 0.4% ahead), and the AMD Ryzen 5 7645HX (33,668, 0.4% ahead).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design lineages. The Intel Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 3 generation. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H uses the Arrow Lake-H codename, built on the Arrow Lake architecture, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 family. Both are manufactured on a 3 nm process, but the foundry differs: the Core 3 305 is fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 7 255H is fabricated by TSMC.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Core Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores and 16 threads, also without hyperthreading, giving it 10 additional physical cores. Clock speeds favor the Core Ultra 7 255H: its base clock is 2.00 GHz against 1.50 GHz for the Core 3 305, and its boost clock reaches 5.10 GHz versus 4.30 GHz.

Cache hierarchies are distinct. The Core 3 305 carries 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 255H lists 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The shared L3 difference is notable: 24 MB versus 6 MB.

Memory support is similar in type, with both accepting DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but the memory bus and bandwidth differ. The Core 3 305 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 255H uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 255H also supports ECC memory, while the Core 3 305 does not.

PCIe connectivity favors the Core Ultra 7 255H. It provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU-only lanes, while the Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses Arc Graphics 140T.

Physical specifications diverge as well. The Core 3 305 has a TDP of 15 W and uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket. The Core Ultra 7 255H has a TDP of 28 W and uses the Intel BGA 2049 socket. The Core 3 305 launched on 2026-04-15 with a launch MSRP of $309. The Core Ultra 7 255H launched on 2025-01-12. Both remain in active production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The workload split is stark. The Core Ultra 7 255H wins in every PassMark category recorded, and it also wins all Cinebench R15 and R20 tests. Its largest advantages appear in compute-heavy integer and floating-point math, where it leads by roughly 57% to 59%, and in prime number finding, where it leads by 62%. Data compression and encryption also show advantages near or above 50%. These results align with the Core Ultra 7 255H's higher core count, higher clocks, larger L3 cache, and dual-channel memory bandwidth.

The Core 3 305 wins only in Cinebench R23, both multi-core and single-core. The multi-core win is substantial at 42%, but the single-core win is negligible at 0.5%. That makes the R23 multi-core result an outlier relative to the rest of the dataset. In R15 and R20, the Core Ultra 7 255H leads by margins between 12.7% and 25.9%. The recorded data does not provide an explanation for why the R23 multi-core result reverses the trend so sharply, but the single-core near-tie in R23 suggests the two processors are essentially matched in that specific rendering workload.

For users focused on PassMark-style workloads, including data compression, encryption, extended instruction sets, math operations, and multithreaded throughput, the Core Ultra 7 255H is the clear choice. For users looking at Cinebench R23 specifically, the Core 3 305 delivers a strong multi-core result despite its smaller core count. The single-thread PassMark result also favors the Core Ultra 7 255H, but only by 7.9%, which is a smaller gap than the multi-threaded PassMark differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 scores 13,123, which is 42% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H's 9,240.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H boosts to 5.10 GHz. The Intel Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core 3 305 supports 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H supports 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel bus.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 3 305 does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has an average benchmark score of 33,537, placing it in the 83rd percentile. The Intel Core 3 305 averages 18,302, placing it in the 72nd percentile.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H as the stronger overall processor. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, holds a 45.3% to 62% edge in most PassMark workloads, and leads in every Cinebench R15 and R20 test. Its 16 cores, 5.10 GHz boost clock, 24 MB of shared L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and ECC support give it a broad advantage across the benchmark suite. The 83rd percentile average score, compared to the 72nd percentile for the Core 3 305, reflects that gap.

The Intel Core 3 305 is not without merit. Its 42% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the single largest margin in the entire comparison, and it matches the Core Ultra 7 255H almost exactly in R23 single-core. It also operates at a lower TDP of 15 W versus 28 W, and its launch MSRP of $309 provides a reference point for positioning. However, the data shows that outside of Cinebench R23, the Core 3 305 trails by double-digit margins in nearly every test.

The verdict follows the numbers. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is the processor for users who need consistent multi-threaded throughput, high-bandwidth memory access, and strong performance across a wide range of workloads. The Intel Core 3 305 is the processor for users whose primary workload is Cinebench R23 multi-core rendering, where it outperforms the more expensive and higher-core-count part. For everything else in the recorded data, the Core Ultra 7 255H delivers the higher scores.