Intel’s entry-level Core 3 304 Wildcat Lake processor scored close to Apple’s A18 Pro chip in the latest PassMark benchmark entries. The 5-core Intel processor trades blows with the 6-core Apple silicon in both single-thread and multi-thread workloads. These early benchmark runs come from only three tested samples of the Intel chip, so the average scores may shift later.
In single-thread testing, Apple’s A18 Pro inside the MacBook Neo averages 3,982 points across 111 samples. The Intel Core 3 304 averages 3,676 points, making it about 7.7% slower than the Apple chip. However, the third sample tested for the Core 3 304 reached a peak score of 3,982 points, tying the Apple A18 Pro average.
Also read: Chuwi UniBook $449 Intel Wildcat Lake Laptop
In multi-thread testing, the Core 3 304 scored 11,543 points, which is only 2.2% slower than the A18 Pro’s 11,804 points. This result comes even though the Intel processor uses only 5 cores, consisting of 1 performance core and 4 efficiency cores. By comparison, the Apple chip uses 6 physical cores to achieve its score.
Intel built the Wildcat Lake lineup for thin and light notebooks that focus on long battery life. Laptops using these chips, such as the HP StarBook Plus 14, target budget-friendly buyers. Laptop models like the HP OmniBook 3, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, and Chuwi UniBook are among the first to use the Core 3 304 CPU, and more options are expected to hit the market soon.
Source: PassMark
