Core i3-N305 vs Ryzen 3 5300U

Core i3-N305 vs Ryzen 3 5300U Performance Spectrum

Core i3-N305

8 / 8

9,600

+1.6%

9,453

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i3-N305 vs Ryzen 3 5300U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-N305 vs Ryzen 3 5300U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-N305

2023

Why buy it

✅+1.6% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1264 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 3 5300U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $309 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 5300U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 5300U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 3 5300U

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 6, while Core i3-N305 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,453 vs 9,600).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i3-N305 moves to FCBGA1264 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-N305 better than Ryzen 3 5300U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 3 5300U is ahead with a 4.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-N305 pulls ahead with 1.6% better PassMark. Core i3-N305 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-N305 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-N305 is the better buy right now. Core i3-N305 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $309 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.6% better PassMark. The compromise is that Ryzen 3 5300U is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 4.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (31.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-N305 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA1264 and DDR5 instead of FP6, 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i3-N305 vs Ryzen 3 5300U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i3-N305

The Core i3-N305 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 0.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1264. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 9,600 points. Launch price was $309.

Ryzen 3 5300U

The Ryzen 3 5300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,453 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-N305 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 3 5300U offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i3-N305 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i3-N305 versus 3.8 GHz on the Ryzen 3 5300U — identical boost frequencies (base: 0.1 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i3-N305 uses the Alder Lake-N (2023) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 3 5300U uses Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-N305 scores 9,600 against the Ryzen 3 5300U's 9,453 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i3-N305. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-N305 vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 5300U.

Feature	Core i3-N305	Ryzen 3 5300U
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+100%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	0.1 GHz	2.6 GHz+2500%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)+50%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per module)	512K (per core)+25500%
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-N (2023)	Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021)
PassMark	9,600+2%	9,453
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	5,522
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,457
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,526

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-N305 uses the FCBGA1264 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 3 5300U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-N305	Ryzen 3 5300U
Socket	FCBGA1264	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-N305) / Yes (Ryzen 3 5300U). The Ryzen 3 5300U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 6), while the Core i3-N305 requires a dedicated GPU.