CPU Comparison
Intel Core 3 304 vs Intel Core 3 305
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. Intel Core 3 304 is a five-core mobile processor from the Wildcat Lake (Core Series 3) family, built on Intel 18A, with one Cougar Cove P-core and four Darkmont low-power E-cores. It delivers up to 4.3 GHz P-core boost, 15 W base / 35 W turbo power, an NPU 5 block rated at 15 TOPS (INT8), and a single Xe3 graphics core at 2.3 GHz capable of 9 TOPS. It targets affordable thin-and-light laptops, mini PCs, and edge AI devices with single-channel LPDDR5X up to 7467 MT/s or DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s, six PCIe 4.0 lanes, Thunderbolt 4, and a 4 MB memory-side cache to reduce memory latency.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Virtualization
Fine for a single light VM or container, but limited threads and memory channels restrict more serious virtualization use cases.
Limited by 6 GB total addressable RAM on many value laptops and only 6 PCIe lanes; adequate for light VMs but not for serious lab work.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- NPU 5 provides 15 TOPS for on‑device AI, supporting Windows Studio Effects and lightweight local inference.
- Combined CPU + GPU + NPU platform TOPS (about 25 TOPS) suits basic AI PC scenarios, though below Copilot+ PC NPU thresholds.
- Developers can target NPU 5 via OpenVINO, ONNX RT, WebNN, and related frameworks supported on the chip.
- Platform-level AI TOPS vary by SKU (family up to ~40 TOPS with GPU+NPU+CPU). For Core 3 305, ARK does not list NPU TOPS; the GPU alone contributes 9 TOPS (Int8), and CPU DLBoost adds some CPU TOPS for supported instructions.
- Suitable for running small models and inference tasks via OpenVINO, DirectML, or WebNN, and for UI AI enhancements (background blur, eye gaze).
- Not targeted for large local LLMs or sustained AI training workloads.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Single Xe3 graphics core constrains GPU throughput.
- Single‑channel memory bandwidth limits heavy 3D workloads.
- Suitable for light e‑sports or older titles at low settings; not intended for AAA gaming.
- Single Xe3 core (16 EUs) with 2.3 GHz max clock provides only light gaming capability.
- Single-channel memory reduces available bandwidth for GPU workloads.
- Suitable for older or very light e-sports at low resolutions and settings; not designed for modern AAA gaming.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Modern hybrid architecture with Cougar Cove and Darkmont cores.
- Intel 18A compute tile with good performance per watt.
- NPU 5 with 15 TOPS for on‑device AI features.
- Low base power (15 W) and minimum assured power (10 W) enabling fanless designs.
- Modern connectivity (Thunderbolt 4, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0).
- 4 MB memory‑side cache helps mitigate single‑channel memory latency.
- Supports up to 64 GB memory and fast LPDDR5X/DDR5 speeds.
Cons
- Single‑channel memory limits bandwidth‑sensitive workloads.
- Only one Xe3 graphics core constrains gaming and heavy GPU tasks.
- No Hyper‑Threading (5 cores/5 threads).
- No SIPP or vPro support on this SKU.
- Only six PCIe 4.0 lanes from the platform controller tile.
Pros
- Modern 18A compute and GPU in a small, 35×25 mm FCBGA1516 package.
- Hybrid 2P+4LP-E design delivers responsive single-thread performance and good efficiency.
- Single-channel DDR5/LPDDR5X with 4 MB memory-side cache helps everyday memory latency.
- Up-to-date I/O: six PCIe 4.0 lanes, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7 (R2), Bluetooth 6.0.
- Low power envelope (10–35 W) enables fanless or ultra-portable designs.
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading (6 cores/6 threads) limits heavily threaded workloads.
- Single-channel memory caps bandwidth; memory-sensitive workloads suffer despite the 4 MB MSC.
- Only one Xe3 core (16 EUs) for graphics—insufficient for serious 3D gaming.
- Only six PCIe 4.0 lanes constrain storage and expansion options.
- NPU TOPS are lower than higher-tier Core Ultra 3 parts; Core 3 305 is not designed as a Copilot+ PC.
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core 3 304
- AMD Ryzen 5 8500GERival
Value mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 4Rival
Thin‑and‑light ARM
- Intel Processor N200Rival
Budget E‑core mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core 5 315Rival
Higher‑end Wildcat Lake
- MediaTek Kompanio 8000 seriesRival
Chromebook/value laptop ARM
- Intel Core 7 350/360Alt
If budget allows, stepping up increases cores, Xe3 graphics cores, and NPU TOPS significantly.
Intel Core 3 305
- AMD Ryzen 5 8540URival
Value/Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Intel Core 5 320 (Wildcat Lake)Rival
Value/Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Intel Core 3 304 (Wildcat Lake)Rival
Ultra-Budget Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core (X1P-42-100)Rival
Arm-based Windows Thin-and-Light
- Intel Processor N250 (Alder Lake-N)Rival
Ultra-Budget Mobile/Mini PCs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-coreAlt
Arm-based Windows option with strong efficiency and AI capabilities; choose if you prioritize battery life and app compatibility in the Arm ecosystem over x86 app breadth.
Our Verdict on Each
The Core 3 304 brings modern architectures (Cougar Cove and Darkmont on Intel 18A) and useful AI capabilities to budget systems. Single-channel memory and a single Xe3 graphics core limit heavy gaming and creator workloads, but for everyday computing, battery life, and basic AI features it offers a well-balanced entry point into the Wildcat Lake lineup.
Best for: Budget laptops and mini PCs for school, office, and basic edge AI where battery life and modern I/O matter more than gaming or heavy content creation.
Read the full reviewA competent, efficiency-first SoC that brings modern architectural ideas to entry-level Windows systems. It delivers solid single-thread performance and very good efficiency for everyday tasks, but single-channel memory and a trimmed Xe3 iGPU limit heavy workloads and 3D gaming.
Best for: If you need an affordable laptop or embedded/edge device for office work, web apps, digital signage, or kiosks, and you value modern I/O and battery life over raw multi-core throughput.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core 3 304 or Intel Core 3 305?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core 3 305 comes out ahead with a score of 7.6/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Do Intel Core 3 304 and Intel Core 3 305 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCBGA1516 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core 3 305 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core 3 304 (5 cores), Intel Core 3 305 (6 cores).