Intel Core 3 305 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

The Intel Core 3 305 and Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus occupy different tiers of the mobile processor stack, and the recorded data reflects a wide performance gap. The Core 3 305 is a 6-core, 6-thread part built on the Wildcat Lake architecture, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is a 20-core, 20-thread processor from the Arrow Lake-HX Refresh family. Both use a 3 nm process node, but they diverge sharply in nearly every other measurable specification. Benchmark results show the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus winning all 17 head-to-head tests, with the largest deltas in multi-threaded workloads and the smallest in single-thread performance. These processors are not direct competitors; they serve distinctly different mobile segments.

Architecture Differences

The two chips share a 3 nm manufacturing process, but the underlying designs are fundamentally different. The Core 3 305 uses Intel as the foundry, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is fabricated by TSMC. The Core 3 305 is based on the Wildcat Lake codename, whereas the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus comes from Arrow Lake-HX Refresh. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading support. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus packs 20 cores and 20 threads, a massive increase in parallel execution capacity.

Cache hierarchies are also very different. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus lists 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The per-core L2 allocation on the Core Ultra 7 is notably larger, which helps with data locality and multi-threaded scaling. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus also carries 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 3 305 does not have transistor or die size data recorded.

Memory architecture separates the two further. The Core 3 305 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, achieving 102.4 GB/s. That is a 71.5% bandwidth advantage, which directly impacts memory-intensive workloads. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 3 305 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, a substantial upgrade for high-throughput devices. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 3 305 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Core Ultra 7 has an unlocked multiplier, the Core 3 305 does not.

The Core 3 305 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 15 W TDP. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus runs at 2.40 GHz base and 5.30 GHz boost, with a 55 W TDP. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 305, Intel BGA 2114 for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. Release dates are close, with the Core 3 305 arriving on 2026-04-15 and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus on 2026-03-16.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. The Core 3 305 sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus reaches the 93rd percentile. The average benchmark score for the Core 3 305 is 18,302, compared to 61,834 for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus, a 3.4x gap. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins every single head-to-head benchmark, 17 out of 17. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the Core 3 305 outperforms the larger chip.

The Core 3 305 is a low-power, entry-level mobile processor. It uses a single-channel memory bus, has 6 threads, and a 15 W TDP. It is suited for basic productivity and light workloads where battery life and thermal headroom matter more than raw throughput. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus, with 20 threads, dual-channel memory, and a 55 W TDP, is a high-performance part intended for demanding tasks. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900KF and Core i9-13900K, which shows the performance class it targets. The Core 3 305's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core 5 330, confirming it competes at the lower end.

For a user choosing between these two, the decision is dictated by workload and power envelope. The Core 3 305 is a capable air-cooled, fanless-friendly option for thin-and-light machines. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is for mobile workstations and performance laptops that can sustain 55 W. There is no overlap in their intended use cases.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the head-to-head benchmark data, the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins in every category. There are zero wins for the Core 3 305 across all 17 recorded tests. The closest margin is in single-threaded PassMark tests, where the Core Ultra 7 leads by 16.5%. The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 7 leads by 76.1%.

The Core 3 305's relative strengths are in single-core efficiency and power consumption. It has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, which is not far off the Core Ultra 7's 5.30 GHz, but the 15 W TDP means it can sustain lower thermals. Its single-thread PassMark score of 3,977 is respectable for a low-power chip, though the Core Ultra 7 still beats it at 4,764.

The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus dominates multi-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 41,913 is 3.2x higher than the Core 3 305's 13,123. PassMark multithread shows 48,270 versus 15,439, a 3.1x difference. Data compression, encryption, floating-point math, and integer math all show similar 3.5x to 4x advantages. The Core Ultra 7's 20 threads and dual-channel memory bandwidth make it the clear choice for rendering, compiling, and scientific computation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus delivers 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus. The Core 3 305 provides 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus that supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: How do their Cinebench R23 multi-core scores compare?

A: The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus scores 41,913, while the Core 3 305 scores 13,123. The Core Ultra 7 is 68.7% ahead in this test.

Q: Are these processors on the same socket?

A: No. The Core 3 305 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses Intel BGA 2114.

Q: Do either of these processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Core 3 305 and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Core 3 305 has a 15 W TDP, and the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has a 55 W TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The data shows consistent dominance across both Cinebench and PassMark suites.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 7 scores 4,224 versus 1,322 for the Core 3 305, a 68.7% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 596 versus 186, also 68.8% ahead. Cinebench R20 multicore results are 17,603 versus 5,511, and R20 single-core is 2,485 versus 777, both with 68.7% deltas. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 41,913 versus 13,123, and R23 single-core shows 5,917 versus 1,852, again 68.7% apart.

PassMark results follow the same pattern. Data compression: 493,179 versus 146,857, a 70.2% lead. Data encryption: 37,813 versus 11,019, a 70.9% lead. Extended instructions: 39,283 versus 13,543, a 65.5% lead. Find prime numbers: 482 versus 115, a 76.1% lead. Floating-point math: 163,567 versus 42,284, a 74.1% lead. Integer math: 122,449 versus 32,295, a 73.6% lead. Multithread: 48,270 versus 15,439, a 68% lead. Physics: 3,843 versus 1,233, a 67.9% lead. Random string sorting: 60,020 versus 17,623, a 70.6% lead.

The smallest gap is in PassMark single-thread, where the Core Ultra 7 scores 4,764 and the Core 3 305 scores 3,977, a 16.5% difference. This indicates that while the Core Ultra 7 is far ahead in multi-core scaling, its single-core advantage is more modest. The Core 3 305's boost clock of 4.30 GHz helps keep it closer in lightly threaded tasks.

The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is 61,834, placing it at the 93rd percentile. The Core 3 305 averages 18,302, at the 72nd percentile. The Core Ultra 7's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i9-13900KF, Core i9-13900K, Core i9-13900T, and Intel Xeon 636, all within 0.8% of its average score. The Core 3 305's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100, Core 5 330, Core 7 360, and AMD Ryzen 5 2600E, all within 0.4% of its average.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification. The Core 3 305 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads. Base clock is 1.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, and boost clock is 4.30 GHz versus 5.30 GHz. TDP is 15 W versus 55 W.

Socket types differ: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 3 305, Intel BGA 2114 for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. The codenames are Wildcat Lake versus Arrow Lake-HX Refresh. The foundry is Intel for the Core 3 305 and TSMC for the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. The Core Ultra 7 has recorded transistor count of 17,800 million and die size of 243 mm²; the Core 3 305 has no such data.

Cache configurations are different. The Core 3 305 has 192 KB total L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. Memory support: the Core 3 305 uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X single-channel, while the Core Ultra 7 uses DDR5 dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s.

PCIe generation and lanes differ: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 3 305, Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the Core Ultra 7. Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 1 Xe core versus Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The multiplier is unlocked only on the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. The Core 3 305 has a launch MSRP of $309; the Core Ultra 7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates are 2026-04-15 for the Core 3 305 and 2026-03-16 for the Core Ultra 7. Both are active in production and target the mobile market segment.