Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V Comparison

The Verdict

The data splits this pairing into two clear roles. The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is the stronger processor in nearly every measured workload, winning 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. It delivers a consistently higher average benchmark score of 23297 against the Core 3 305's 18302, and it sits at the 76th percentile of all CPUs versus the Core 3 305's 72nd. The Core 3 305 wins only the PassMark single-thread test by a margin of 0.9%, a narrow result that does not offset the broader performance gap.

The Core Ultra 7 266V is the pick for anyone who needs sustained multi-core throughput, data compression, encryption, or floating-point math. Its closest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and Intel Core i9-11900F, with delta percentages of 0.1% and 0.2% respectively, meaning it trades blows with older high-end desktop chips. The Core 3 305, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core 5 330, with deltas of -0.1% and -0.2%, placing it in a lower performance tier entirely. The Core 3 305 suits a lightweight mobile system where the single-thread PassMark edge of 3977 versus 3943 and the lower 15 W TDP matter more than raw compute.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm node fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses Lunar Lake on a 3 nm node fabricated by TSMC. The Core 3 305 is a 6-core, 6-thread part with no hyperthreading, while the Core Ultra 7 266V is an 8-core, 8-thread part. Both lack an unlocked multiplier and both are mobile-market chips with active production status.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 266V has 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The per-core L2 allocation on the Ultra 7 is particularly notable because it gives each of its 8 cores its own 2.5 MB slice, whereas the Core 3 305 shares a total of 2.5 MB across all cores. That difference helps explain the Ultra 7's lead in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Core 3 305 uses a single-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while the Core Ultra 7 266V uses dual-channel memory with 136.5 GB/s. Both support LPDDR5X, although the Ultra 7's support is noted as depending on the motherboard. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity favors the Ultra 7 with Gen 5 and 4 CPU lanes, while the Core 3 305 is limited to Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe unit, while the Ultra 7 266V uses Arc 140V. The Core 3 305 uses socket Intel BGA 1516, the Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2833. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Ultra 7 266V.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 7 266V wins across every Cinebench generation recorded, both single-core and multi-core. In Cinebench R23, it scores 16544 multi-core versus 13123 for the Core 3 305, a 20.7% advantage. In single-core R23, it scores 2335 versus 1852, also a 20.7% lead. The same pattern holds in R15 and R20, with deltas between -20.7% and -20.9%. This makes the Ultra 7 the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, compilation, and any workload that scales with cores and cache.

The Ultra 7 also dominates PassMark compute tests. Data compression shows 187050 versus 146857, a 21.5% lead. Floating-point math shows 56923 versus 42284, a 25.7% lead. Integer math shows 41558 versus 32295, a 22.3% lead. Find prime numbers shows 191 versus 115, a 39.8% lead, which is the largest single delta in the entire comparison. Extended instructions show 15928 versus 13543, a 15% lead. Physics shows 1608 versus 1233, a 23.3% lead. Random string sorting shows 22905 versus 17623, a 23.1% lead. Data encryption shows 13822 versus 11019, a 20.3% lead. Multithread shows 19461 versus 15439, a 20.7% lead.

The Core 3 305 wins only the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 3977 against 3943, a 0.9% margin. That result appears under both the single_thread and singlethread test names. The margin is small enough that it may come down to workload-specific behavior rather than a fundamental architectural advantage. For a user whose primary application is lightly threaded and runs on a single core, the Core 3 305 offers a marginal edge while drawing less power, with a 15 W TDP versus 17 W for the Ultra 7.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 191 versus 115 for the Core 3 305, a 39.8% advantage.

Q: Does the Core 3 305 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark single-thread with 3977 versus 3943 for the Core Ultra 7 266V, a 0.9% margin.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Core Ultra 7 266V supports dual-channel memory with 136.5 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 3 305 uses single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The Core Ultra 7 266V has an average benchmark score of 23297, while the Core 3 305 has an average of 18302.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 7 266V boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Core 3 305 boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 7 266V wins every Cinebench test by a nearly uniform margin. R15 multi-core shows 1667 versus 1322, a 20.7% delta. R15 single-core shows 235 versus 186, a 20.9% delta. R20 multi-core shows 6948 versus 5511, a 20.7% delta. R20 single-core shows 980 versus 777, a 20.7% delta. R23 multi-core shows 16544 versus 13123, a 20.7% delta. R23 single-core shows 2335 versus 1852, a 20.7% delta. The consistency of the delta across all six Cinebench tests suggests the performance difference is structural, tied to the extra two cores, larger L3 cache, and dual-channel memory rather than a single workload quirk.

PassMark results follow the same direction but with more variation. Data compression favors the Ultra 7 by 21.5%, with 187050 versus 146857. Data encryption favors it by 20.3%, with 13822 versus 11019. Extended instructions show the smallest PassMark gap at 15%, with 15928 versus 13543. Floating-point math shows a 25.7% gap, with 56923 versus 42284. Integer math shows a 22.3% gap, with 41558 versus 32295. Physics shows a 23.3% gap, with 1608 versus 1233. Random string sorting shows a 23.1% gap, with 22905 versus 17623. Multithread shows a 20.7% gap, with 19461 versus 15439. Find prime numbers shows the largest gap at 39.8%, with 191 versus 115.

The only reversal is PassMark single-thread. The Core 3 305 records 3977, the Core Ultra 7 266V records 3943, giving the Core 3 305 a 0.9% win. The same pair of scores appears under both the single_thread and singlethread test labels, confirming the result. Even with that win, the Core 3 305 trails in 15 of 17 tests, and its average score of 18302 is 27.3% below the Ultra 7's 23297. The percentile ranks reflect the same hierarchy: the Ultra 7 sits at the 76th percentile of all CPUs, the Core 3 305 at the 72nd.

Specification Differences

The Core Ultra 7 266V uses 8 cores and 8 threads; the Core 3 305 uses 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks differ, with the Core 3 305 at 1.50 GHz and the Ultra 7 at 2.20 GHz. Boost clocks differ, with the Core 3 305 at 4.30 GHz and the Ultra 7 at 5.00 GHz. TDP differs by 2 W, with the Core 3 305 at 15 W and the Ultra 7 at 17 W. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 305, Intel BGA 2833 for the Ultra 7.

Cache hierarchies are not comparable in layout. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The Ultra 7 has 192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory channels differ, with the Core 3 305 at single-channel and the Ultra 7 at dual-channel. Memory bandwidth differs by more than double, with the Core 3 305 at 59.7 GB/s and the Ultra 7 at 136.5 GB/s. PCIe generations and lane counts differ: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 3 305, Gen 5 with 4 lanes for the Ultra 7. Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 3 305 using Intel Xe3 Graphics (1 Xe) and the Ultra 7 using Arc 140V.

Release dates differ by roughly a year and a half. The Core Ultra 7 266V was released on 2024-09-23, while the Core 3 305 was released on 2026-04-15. Production status for both is listed as Active. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309; the Ultra 7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Both parts have locked multipliers. The Core 3 305 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, the Ultra 7 uses Lunar Lake, and their foundries differ, with Intel fabricating the Core 3 305 and TSMC fabricating the Ultra 7. Neither supports ECC memory.