For office work and occasional light gaming, we recommend the Intel Core 5 320 when memory capacity, storage, and pricing are comparable. Choose the Core 3 304 if your needs are mainly email, documents, web browsing, and ordinary spreadsheets—and the complete system costs meaningfully less.

The Core 5 320 adds a second performance core and a larger integrated GPU. These are useful differences for a computer that handles several applications during the day and a few games after work.

The main differences are CPU cores and integrated graphics.

Both processors belong to Intel’s Core Series 3 family, code-named Wildcat Lake. They are different options within the same generation.

Sources: Intel Core 3 304 specifications and Intel Core 5 320 specifications. 

Choose the Core 3 304 for basic office work; consider the Core 5 320 for a busier workday.

If you mainly write documents, answer email, browse websites, and use ordinary spreadsheets, the Core 3 304 is a reasonable option. A lower-priced configuration with sufficient RAM can meet those needs without paying for capabilities you rarely use.

The Core 5 320 becomes more attractive when tasks overlap. A video meeting with screen sharing, an active spreadsheet, and several browser applications create a different workload from editing a document on its own.

For that combination, we favor the Core 5 320 because its additional performance core provides more CPU capacity. This recommendation is based on the processor configuration; it is not a measured performance difference between two otherwise identical mini PCs.

Memory should remain part of the decision. We recommend starting with 16GB of RAM for a Windows mini PC intended for office multitasking and occasional gaming. If your current work already uses more memory, prioritize sufficient capacity before paying for a higher CPU tier.

Choose the Core 5 320 if light gaming is part of the plan.

The Core 5 320’s larger integrated GPU gives it a stronger specification for games than the Core 3 304. It is the more sensible choice of the two for a machine that will serve both work and entertainment.

Published testing helps show what that means in practice. Notebookcheck tested a Dell XPS 13 with a Core 5 320 and 8GB of LPDDR5X-7467 memory:

The practical distinction is between occasional gaming with flexible settings and buying a computer primarily to play games. The tested system produced usable results in Dota 2, while the more demanding Final Fantasy XV benchmark remained slow at 1080p.

For older or less demanding games, shortlist the Core 5 320 and check performance in your specific titles. For demanding modern games or consistently high frame rates, compare systems with stronger graphics.

Compare the price of the configuration you actually need.

A cheaper listing is not necessarily better value if it includes less RAM or a smaller SSD. Compare the two systems with similar memory, storage, and warranty coverage before deciding how much extra the Core 5 320 costs.

For example, a Core 3 304 machine with sufficient memory may be preferable to a Core 5 320 model with too little non-upgradeable RAM. Once both configurations meet your memory needs, the Core 5 320’s additional CPU and graphics resources become a stronger reason to choose it.

Check the display connections as well. If your desk uses two monitors, confirm that the selected model supports both at the resolution and refresh rate you need. A missing connection can affect everyday use more than the difference between these processors.

A Core 5 320 option: KAMRUI P2

Choose according to your main workload.

For a mini PC that needs to cover both office work and light gaming, choose the Core 5 320 with sufficient RAM at a competitive price. For a machine dedicated to basic office tasks, choose the Core 3 304 when the saving is meaningful.