AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT and Intel Core 5 330 occupy different corners of the processor market, and the benchmark data reflects that split clearly. The AMD part, a desktop chip on Socket AM4, wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel mobile processor takes 3. The scale of those wins matters as much as the count: the Ryzen leads by double digits in most workloads, but the Intel chip counters in specific single-thread scenarios. The database shows two fundamentally different designs aimed at different physical environments, and the scores align with those roles.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT dominates in multi-threaded and throughput-oriented work. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 18,724 against the Intel Core 5 330’s 13,150, a 42.4% advantage. The pattern repeats across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, with the AMD part winning every multi-core iteration by roughly 42%. PassMark multithread shows a 44% gap (22,283 vs. 15,471). Integer math is the most lopsided result: the AMD chip scores 71,063 versus 33,258, a 113.7% lead. Data compression also favors AMD heavily, 257,118 to 145,287, a 77% margin. These are workloads where core count, thread count, and cache depth matter, and the Ryzen’s 12 threads against the Intel’s 6 threads explains much of the gap.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins in two specific areas: floating-point math and single-thread PassMark tests. In PassMark floating point, Intel scores 43,885 versus AMD’s 40,537, a 7.6% edge. In PassMark single-thread, Intel posts 4,088 against AMD’s 3,469, a 15.1% advantage. The Intel chip also edges out AMD in PassMark physics, 1,201 to 1,322? No, that is AMD’s win at 10.1%. The Intel advantages are narrow but real, and they point to a design that favors per-core efficiency over parallel throughput. The mobile chip’s low 15W TDP and 1.50 GHz base clock suggest a power-constrained environment where burst performance matters more than sustained multi-core work.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different process nodes and foundries. AMD uses TSMC’s 7 nm process with a 74 mm² die and 4,150 million transistors. Intel uses its own 3 nm process, though the transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The Ryzen is built on Zen 3 architecture with the Vermeer codename, part of the 5000 series. The Intel chip uses Wildcat Lake, part of the Core 5 generation. Both have 6 physical cores, but the AMD chip has 12 threads via SMT, while the Intel chip has 6 threads with no hyperthreading.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD chip uses 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB shared L3. The Intel chip has 192 KB total L1, 2.5 MB total L2, and 6 MB shared L3. That 32 MB versus 6 MB L3 gap is a major factor in the AMD chip’s integer and compression wins, as larger shared caches reduce memory access pressure in data-heavy workloads. The Intel chip’s cache is smaller but the single-thread PassMark score suggests its per-core efficiency is higher.

Memory support diverges as well. AMD supports DDR4 with dual-channel access and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with single-channel access and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, but no ECC. The Intel chip’s higher bandwidth despite single-channel is notable, yet the AMD chip’s dual-channel layout likely helps multi-core scenarios. PCIe lanes also differ: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, Intel offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The AMD chip is an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. Intel includes integrated graphics (Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores), while AMD has none.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest AMD win is PassMark integer math at 113.7% ahead. That score, 71,063 versus 33,258, indicates the Ryzen’s 12 threads and larger cache deliver far more integer operations per second. Data compression is next at 77% (257,118 vs. 145,287), followed by random string sorting at 50.2% (26,693 vs. 17,771). Encryption shows a 44% lead (15,944 vs. 11,076), identical to the multithread margin. Extended instructions show a 36.2% edge (17,450 vs. 12,808). Prime number finding shows a 25.4% lead (143 vs. 114). Physics is the smallest AMD win at 10.1% (1,322 vs. 1,201).

The Intel wins are concentrated in two PassMark categories. Single-thread shows Intel at 4,088 versus AMD’s 3,469, a 15.1% lead. Floating-point math shows Intel at 43,885 versus AMD’s 40,537, a 7.6% edge. These are the only two tests where the Intel chip beats the AMD chip, and both are single-thread or lightly threaded workloads. The Cinebench single-core tests tell a different story: AMD wins every one by about 43%, with R23 single-core at 2,643 versus 1,856. That discrepancy is puzzling at first glance, but the PassMark single-thread test may weight clock behavior differently than Cinebench. The Intel chip boosts to 4.60 GHz, close to the AMD chip’s 4.70 GHz, but the mobile chip’s base clock is far lower at 1.50 GHz versus 3.70 GHz.

FAQ

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both chips have 6 physical cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT has 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT boosts to 4.70 GHz. The Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz, a 0.10 GHz difference.

Q: What memory types do the two chips support?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR4 with dual-channel access and ECC. The Intel chip supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with single-channel access and no ECC.

Q: Is there a large cache difference?

A: Yes. The AMD chip has 32 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 6 MB shared L3. The AMD chip also has per-core L1 and L2, while the Intel chip has pooled L1 and L2 totals.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core 5 330 includes integrated graphics, specifically Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD chip has no iGPU.

Q: How does the overall benchmark average compare?

A: The AMD chip has an average benchmark score of 28,940, while the Intel chip averages 18,345. The AMD chip sits at the 81st percentile of all CPUs, the Intel chip at the 72nd.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT as the stronger multi-threaded processor by a wide margin. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head tests, often by 40% or more. The Intel Core 5 330 counters in floating-point math and PassMark single-thread, but those wins are narrow (7.6% and 15.1%) compared to the AMD chip’s dominant leads. The AMD chip’s 12 threads, 32 MB L3, and dual-channel memory give it a structural advantage in parallel workloads. The Intel chip’s 3 nm process and 15W TDP make it a mobile-oriented part, and its single-thread PassMark result suggests it handles short bursts efficiently. For desktop users prioritizing multi-core performance, the AMD chip is the clear choice based on the recorded benchmarks. For a low-power mobile context where single-thread PassMark performance and integrated graphics matter, the Intel chip has a narrower but real case. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: 28,940 for AMD versus 18,345 for Intel, a 57.7% gap in overall throughput.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT | Intel Core 5 330 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base clock | 3.70 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 15W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (Intel) |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB |

| L2 cache | 512 KB per core | 2.5 MB |

| L3 cache | 32 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | N/A | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | None | $309 |