AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 also has 6 cores but only 6 threads. The AMD part supports simultaneous multithreading, the Intel part does not.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X boosts to 5.40 GHz, whereas the Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: What are the process nodes and foundries for these chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a 3 nm process at Intel.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core 5 330 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has dual-channel memory support with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X has an average benchmark score of 29,713, compared to 18,345 for the Intel Core 5 330. The AMD part sits at the 81st percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part is at the 72nd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded head-to-head data shows a one-sided comparison. Across all 15 shared benchmark tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X wins every single one. The Intel Core 5 330 records zero wins. This is not a case of trade-offs between workloads; the AMD processor takes every category measured.

The largest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where AMD leads by 170.4%. The smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread performance, where AMD leads by 11.8%. The pattern holds across rendering, physics, encryption, compression, and sorting workloads. The Intel Core 5 330 does not close the gap in any specific test type.

The closest result is the single-thread PassMark score: 4,570 for AMD versus 4,088 for Intel. Even there, the AMD part maintains a clear advantage. In multi-threaded workloads, the gap widens substantially. The PassMark multithread test shows AMD at 30,027 versus Intel at 15,471, a 94.1% delta.

For users selecting purely on measured performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is the stronger choice in every tested category. The Intel Core 5 330 has no benchmark win to point to in this database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X uses Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename, part of the 9000 series. It is built on a 4 nm TSMC process with 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm Intel process. The Intel part has no listed transistor count or die size in the database.

Cache layouts diverge sharply. The AMD processor provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, plus a shared 32 MB L3 cache. The Intel part lists 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and only 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has a much larger total cache footprint.

The AMD part is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM5 with 24 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part targets the mobile segment on Intel BGA 1516 with 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU. These are fundamentally different platforms.

Memory architecture also differs. AMD supports DDR5 in dual-channel mode with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel mode with 59.7 GB/s and no ECC. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel part does not.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD includes Radeon Graphics, while Intel includes Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

Specification Differences

The following table covers the key specification differences recorded in the database:

• Cores: Both 6, but AMD has 12 threads versus Intel's 6 threads
• Base clock: AMD 3.90 GHz, Intel 1.50 GHz
• Boost clock: AMD 5.40 GHz, Intel 4.60 GHz
• TDP: AMD 65 W, Intel 15 W
• Socket: AMD Socket AM5, Intel BGA 1516
• Process node: AMD 4 nm (TSMC), Intel 3 nm (Intel)
• L1 cache: AMD 80 KB per core, Intel 192 KB (total listed)
• L2 cache: AMD 1 MB per core, Intel 2.5 MB (total listed)
• L3 cache: AMD 32 MB shared, Intel 6 MB shared
• Memory support: AMD DDR5, Intel DDR5 and LPDDR5X
• Memory bus: AMD dual-channel, Intel single-channel
• Memory bandwidth: AMD 89.6 GB/s, Intel 59.7 GB/s
• ECC memory: AMD yes, Intel no
• PCIe: AMD Gen 5 with 24 lanes, Intel Gen 4 with 6 lanes
• Integrated graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics, Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe)
• Market segment: AMD desktop, Intel mobile
• Multiplier unlocked: AMD yes, Intel no
• Release date: AMD 2024-08-07, Intel 2026-04-15
• Launch MSRP: AMD $279, Intel $309

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show the AMD processor winning by a wide margin in older and newer versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2,691 versus Intel's 1,325, a 103.1% delta. In R15 single-core, AMD scores 342 versus 186, an 83.9% delta. The R23 multi-core test shows AMD at 17,528.5 versus Intel at 13,150, a 33.3% delta. R23 single-core shows AMD at 2,183.5 versus Intel at 1,856, a 17.6% delta.

The PassMark integer math test delivers the largest gap. AMD scores 89,918 versus Intel's 33,258, a 170.4% delta. The data compression test also heavily favors AMD: 341,021 versus 145,287, a 134.7% delta. Extended instructions show AMD at 28,023 versus 12,808, a 118.8% delta. Prime number finding shows AMD at 233 versus 114, a 104.4% delta. Random string sorting shows AMD at 35,946 versus 17,771, a 102.3% delta.

PassMark multithread shows AMD at 30,027 versus 15,471, a 94.1% delta. Physics shows AMD at 2,012 versus 1,201, a 67.5% delta. Data encryption shows AMD at 16,638 versus 11,076, a 50.2% delta. Floating point math shows AMD at 60,081 versus 43,885, a 36.9% delta. The single-thread PassMark tests show AMD at 4,570 versus 4,088, an 11.8% delta.

The Intel Core 5 330 has no winning benchmark in the head-to-head set. Every recorded delta favors the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, with the smallest advantage still above 11 percent.

The Verdict

The benchmark data consistently favors the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X. It wins all 15 shared tests, with deltas ranging from 11.8% to 170.4%. The average benchmark score of 29,713 versus 18,345 reflects this dominance. The AMD part also sits higher in the CPU percentile ranking at 81 versus 72.

For desktop users, the AMD processor offers more threads, higher clocks, a larger L3 cache, dual-channel memory with ECC, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. Its 65 W TDP is higher than the Intel part's 15 W, but the AMD chip is designed for desktop sockets where power delivery is less constrained.

The Intel Core 5 330 targets mobile systems with a 15 W TDP and a BGA socket. Its advantages are a smaller process node at 3 nm, support for LPDDR5X memory, and integrated Xe3 Graphics. However, the recorded benchmarks show it trailing in every measured workload.

Users seeking maximum multi-threaded throughput, cache capacity, and memory bandwidth should select the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X. The data shows no scenario in the tested set where the Intel Core 5 330 outperforms it. The Intel part may serve mobile power-constrained designs, but the measured performance record does not favor it.