Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus vs Intel Core 3 304
79Single-core59.2
86.8Multi-core30.6
44.4Efficiencyspec-based93
60.5iGPU40.4
73.9Platformspec-based37.2
15 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus2 spec wins — Intel Core 3 304
InnoReviews verdict
Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins this laptop processor face-off, 73.9 to 49.1, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+56) and iGPU (+20). Intel Core 3 304 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Stronger single-core score: 79 vs 59
- Stronger multi-core score: 87 vs 31
- Stronger iGPU score: 61 vs 40
- 700% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 1
- 653% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 39,617 vs 5,263
Reasons to pick the Intel Core 3 304
- 73% lower Base TDP: 15 W vs 55 W
- 33% lower process: 2 nm vs 3 nm
General
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2026 |
| Process | 3 nm | 2 nm+33% |
| Base TDP | 55 W | 15 W+73% |
| Max TDP | 160 W+357% | 35 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 24+380% | 5 |
| Performance cores | 8+700% | 1 |
| Efficiency cores | 16+300% | 4 |
| Threads | 24+380% | 5 |
| Base clock | 2.7 GHz+80% | 1.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.5 GHz+28% | 4.3 GHz |
| L3 cache | 36 MB+500% | 6 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 304 |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3-core) |
| iGPU clock | 2,000 MHz | 2,300 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR5-6400 | LPDDR5X-7467 / DDR5-6400 |
| Max memory | 256 GB+300% | 64 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core 3 304 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,198+33%Top 10% | 2,407Bottom 40% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 21,581+260%Top 8% | 5,987Bottom 14% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 2,340+33%Top 2% | 1,765Top 43% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 39,617+653%Top 1% | 5,263Bottom 16% |
| PassMark | 58,672+381%Top 1% | 12,194Bottom 22% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | 1,855+146%Top 37% | 753Bottom 30% |
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