Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Core i5-8305G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i3-9350K across every shared benchmark. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i3-9350K scores 650 against 578 for the i5-8305G, a 12.5% advantage. Single-core performance in the same test follows the same pattern: 91 versus 81, a 12.3% lead. The margin remains consistent in Cinebench R20, where the i3-9350K posts 2711 multi-core and 382 single-core, compared to 2410 and 340 for the i5-8305G, both results landing at 12.5% and 12.4% ahead respectively.

The most recent rendering workload, Cinebench R23, reinforces this trend. The i3-9350K delivers 6456 multi-core and 911 single-core, while the i5-8305G manages 5739 and 810. The delta is again 12.5% in both cases. Notably, the i5-8305G does have additional Geekbench results in the database, but no head-to-head comparison exists for that test against the i3-9350K, so those scores cannot be directly compared here. Across the six shared tests, the i3-9350K wins all six, with no victories for the i5-8305G.

This consistent 12.4% to 12.5% gap across different Cinebench versions suggests a stable performance differential that scales uniformly with workload intensity. The i3-9350K does not merely edge out its rival in one specific test; it maintains the same relative advantage from older to newer rendering benchmarks. That uniformity points to a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar story: the i3-9350K sits at 1867, while the i5-8305G averages 1831. The i3-9350K's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v4 at 1869, a mere 0.1% difference, while the i5-8305G's nearest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U at 1832, effectively tied. Both CPUs occupy the 42nd percentile among all processors, but the i3-9350K's raw scores are consistently higher in every directly measured test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-9350K is the faster processor in every measured rendering workload. Anyone prioritizing raw CPU throughput in Cinebench-style applications should choose the i3-9350K without hesitation. The 12.5% multi-core lead and the 12.3% to 12.5% single-core lead are consistent and reproducible across three generations of the Cinebench test suite. The i3-9350K also holds a higher average benchmark score (1867 versus 1831) and a higher launch MSRP of $184, which was recorded at release.

However, the i5-8305G is not without its own rationale. It is a mobile part, listed as Active in production status, while the i3-9350K is End-of-life and exclusively desktop-oriented. The i5-8305G's lower TDP of 65 watts against 91 watts for the i3-9350K indicates a more power-efficient design, which matters in compact or battery-powered systems. The i5-8305G also integrates a Radeon RX Vega M GL GPU, whereas the i3-9350K relies on the UHD 630. For a user who needs a self-contained mobile platform with a stronger integrated graphics solution and lower power draw, the i5-8305G makes sense. For pure compute performance, the i3-9350K wins outright. The choice comes down to platform and power constraints versus raw speed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectural generations. The i3-9350K is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, while the i5-8305G uses Kaby Lake, in its Kaby Lake-G variant. Both use the same 14 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel, but the underlying design priorities diverge. The i3-9350K is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, and uses the Intel Socket 1151. The i5-8305G is a mobile chip soldered to the Intel BGA 2270 package, with a locked multiplier.

Cache configurations also differ notably. Both share the same L1 and L2 cache sizes per core: 64 KB and 256 KB respectively. The L3 cache, however, is larger on the i3-9350K at 8 MB shared, against 6 MB shared on the i5-8305G. That extra 2 MB of L3 cache likely contributes to the i3-9350K's consistent lead in single-threaded tests, where cache latency and capacity matter. The i3-9350K also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i5-8305G, which positions it closer to workstation territory.

The integrated graphics are another major architectural differentiator. The i3-9350K uses Intel UHD 630, a standard integrated graphics solution. The i5-8305G pairs its CPU cores with a Radeon RX Vega M GL, a significantly more powerful GPU solution designed for mobile gaming and media workloads. This is not a minor spec difference; it reflects a fundamentally different product philosophy. The i3-9350K is a pure compute chip with basic graphics, while the i5-8305G is a hybrid processor with a discrete-class GPU on the same package.

Specification Differences

The core count is the same at 4 cores, but thread count differs: the i3-9350K has 4 threads (no Hyper-Threading), while the i5-8305G has 8 threads (Hyper-Threading enabled). Despite having half the threads, the i3-9350K still leads in multi-core benchmarks, which indicates that its higher clock speeds more than compensate for the lack of simultaneous multithreading. The base clock is 4.00 GHz on the i3-9350K versus 2.80 GHz on the i5-8305G, and the boost clock is 4.60 GHz versus 3.80 GHz. That 0.8 GHz advantage in both base and boost clocks is the primary driver of the performance gap.

TDP is a major difference: 91 watts for the i3-9350K versus 65 watts for the i5-8305G. The memory bus is dual-channel on the i3-9350K, with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-8305G has no listed memory bus or bandwidth in the database. Both support DDR4 memory. The i3-9350K has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-8305G has no PCIe data recorded. The i3-9350K has a die size of 126 mm², while the i5-8305G has no die size recorded. Release dates also differ: the i5-8305G launched in January 2018, while the i3-9350K followed in April 2019. The i3-9350K has a part number (SRCZT), while the i5-8305G does not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350K wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 650 versus 578 in R15, 2711 versus 2410 in R20, and 6456 versus 5739 in R23, a 12.5% lead in each case.

Q: Does the i5-8305G have any performance advantage?

A: No. Across the six shared benchmark tests, the i5-8305G wins zero. The i3-9350K wins all six, with deltas ranging from 12.3% to 12.5%.

Q: Why does the i3-9350K win despite having fewer threads?

A: The i3-9350K has 4 threads versus 8 threads on the i5-8305G, but its base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz are substantially higher than the i5-8305G's 2.80 GHz and 3.80 GHz. Higher clocks overcome the thread deficit in these workloads.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The i5-8305G has a 65 watt TDP, while the i3-9350K has a 91 watt TDP. The i5-8305G draws less power, making it more suitable for mobile or compact systems.

Q: Can the i3-9350K be overclocked?

A: Yes. The multiplier is unlocked on the i3-9350K. The i5-8305G has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The i5-8305G integrates a Radeon RX Vega M GL, which is a more capable GPU than the UHD 630 found in the i3-9350K. The i5-8305G is designed for graphics-heavy mobile workloads.