AMD Ryzen 5 8500G vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data contains 17 benchmark comparisons. AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins 13 of those, while Intel Core 5 330 takes 4. The pattern of victories is clear: the AMD part dominates in multi-threaded and memory-sensitive workloads, while the Intel part wins in a narrow set of math and single-thread tests.

Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD scores 18368 against Intel's 13150, a 39.7% advantage. That same margin repeats across the entire Cinebench suite: R23 singlecore shows 2593 versus 1856 (39.7%), R20 multicore shows 7714 versus 5523 (39.7%), R20 singlecore shows 1089 versus 779 (39.8%), R15 multicore shows 1851 versus 1325 (39.7%), and R15 singlecore shows 261 versus 186 (40.3%). The consistency of the delta, roughly 40% across every Cinebench test, indicates a fundamental throughput gap rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark multithread confirms the trend. The AMD scores 21610 to Intel's 15471, again a 39.7% delta. PassMark integer math shows the largest single advantage: AMD scores 63123 against 33258, an 89.8% lead. That is nearly double the throughput in integer operations. PassMark data compression also heavily favors AMD at 250197 versus 145287, a 72.2% gap. Random string sorting shows a 65.5% advantage (29407 versus 17771). Extended instructions favor AMD by 49.1% (19098 versus 12808). Data encryption shows a more modest but still solid 28.4% lead (14220 versus 11076). Physics simulation favors AMD by 9.7% (1318 versus 1201).

The Intel Core 5 330 wins are concentrated in arithmetic and single-thread tests. PassMark find prime numbers goes to Intel by 23.7% (114 versus 87). PassMark floating point math goes to Intel by 11% (43885 versus 39074). PassMark single thread goes to Intel by 4.8% (4088 versus 3891). The singlethread variant shows the same result, a 4.8% Intel lead.

Interpreting these results, the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is the clear choice for workloads that scale with core count, cache, or memory bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 330 has a narrow edge in prime number calculation and floating point math, which suggests its execution units handle those specific instruction patterns more efficiently. However, the margin in those wins is far smaller than the AMD leads in integer math and compression. The 89.8% integer math lead is the single most decisive data point in the comparison. The 39.7% Cinebench margin appears consistently across all six Cinebench tests, making it a reliable indicator of multi-core rendering performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has an average benchmark score of 20425, while the Intel Core 5 330 has an average score of 18345. The AMD part also sits at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 72nd percentile for Intel.

Q: How do the two processors compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G scores 18368, which is 39.7% higher than the Intel Core 5 330's 13150. This matches the approximate 40% delta seen across all Cinebench versions.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 330 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins 4 of the 17 head-to-head tests. It leads in PassMark find prime numbers by 23.7%, floating point math by 11%, and single thread by 4.8%. The singlethread variant shows the same 4.8% lead.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G scores 63123 versus 33258 for Intel, a 89.8% advantage. The second largest is in data compression at 72.2% in favor of AMD.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G has 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 threads. Both have 6 physical cores.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G sits near the AMD EPYC 9454P (0% delta), Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (-0.1% delta), and AMD Ryzen 5 5600 (-0.2% delta). The Intel Core 5 330 sits near the Intel Core i3-14100 (0.1% delta), Intel Core 7 360 (-0.2% delta), and Intel Core i3-13100 (-0.2% delta).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix2 codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD die contains 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. Both have 6 physical cores, but AMD enables simultaneous multithreading for 12 threads, while Intel runs 6 threads with no hyperthreading. That thread count difference directly explains the consistent 39.7% multi-core deltas in Cinebench and PassMark multithread.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The AMD part provides 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3. The Intel part provides 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and a shared 6 MB L3. The AMD L3 cache is nearly three times larger. The per-core L2 allocation is also much larger on AMD (1 MB per core versus roughly 416 KB per core on Intel).

Memory support favors AMD. The Ryzen 5 8500G uses dual-channel DDR5 with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 330 uses single-channel memory with DDR5 and LPDDR5X support, yielding 59.7 GB/s. That bandwidth difference of roughly 39% aligns closely with the multi-core performance deltas. The AMD part also supports ECC memory; the Intel part does not.

PCIe lane counts differ. AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes. Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon 740M, Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

Process node and foundry choices are notable. Intel's 3 nm process is a smaller node than AMD's 4 nm. However, the benchmark data shows AMD achieving higher performance despite the larger node, which indicates architectural efficiency differences matter more than node size alone.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split in suitability. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G wins 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks and holds a 39.7% or greater advantage in every Cinebench test. Its integer math lead of 89.8% and data compression lead of 72.2% make it the stronger choice for productivity applications, database workloads, compression tasks, and any multi-threaded rendering. The 12 threads versus 6 threads, combined with dual-channel memory bandwidth and a 16 MB shared L3 cache, give it structural advantages that the benchmark results consistently confirm.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only in prime number finding, floating point math, and single-thread tests. The single-thread lead is 4.8%, which is modest. The floating point lead is 11%, and the prime number lead is 23.7%. These wins suggest the Intel part has a more efficient floating point unit and faster single-thread execution for certain math patterns. That could matter in scientific computing or financial simulation workloads that emphasize floating point throughput over integer operations.

For users whose primary workload is multi-threaded rendering, code compilation, data processing, or general productivity, the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is the stronger part based on the recorded data. For users who need maximum floating point math throughput or prime number calculation, the Intel Core 5 330 has the edge. The average benchmark score difference of 20425 versus 18345 (about 11% in favor of AMD) summarizes the overall balance. The percentile ranking also favors AMD at 74 versus 72.

One additional consideration from the data: the Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core i3-13100, which suggests it competes in a lower performance tier. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, which are more established mid-range parts. The recorded data shows the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G performing at a level comparable to server-class EPYC parts (the EPYC 9454P has a 0% delta), while the Intel Core 5 330 compares to entry-level desktop i3 parts.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification category.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 8500G | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process Node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (Intel) |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 192 KB (total) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB (total) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes | Gen 4, 6 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 740M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $179 | $309 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

The base clock difference is substantial: 3.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz. The boost clocks are closer at 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. The TDP difference is extreme, with AMD at 65 W and Intel at 15 W. That 50 W gap suggests very different power envelopes, though the database records no efficiency measurements. The release dates differ by over two years, with Intel launching in April 2026 versus AMD in January 2024.