AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show a lopsided contest. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U wins 13 of the 17 compared tests, with the Intel Core 5 330 taking only four. The margins, however, tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Every Cinebench iteration favors AMD by a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen scores 2014 against Intel's 1325, a 52% advantage. Single-core R15 shows 284 versus 186, a 52.7% gap. The pattern holds through R20 (8392 vs 5523, 51.9% multicore; 1184 vs 779, 52% single-core) and R23 (19982 vs 13150, 52% multicore; 2821 vs 1856, 52% single-core). The consistency of that ~52% delta across all six Cinebench tests suggests a fundamental throughput difference rather than a workload-specific quirk.

PassMark integer math delivers the single largest victory for AMD. The Ryzen posts 74875 against Intel's 33258, a 125.1% delta. This is the kind of result that points to a decisive architectural edge in basic ALU work. Floating point math is far closer: 45265 vs 43885, a narrow 3.1% win for AMD. The near-parity in FP math, contrasted with the massive integer gap, implies the two processors allocate resources very differently.

Data compression and random string sorting are also AMD strongholds. Compression shows 260925 vs 145287, a 79.6% lead. Random string sorting shows 32114 vs 17771, an 80.7% lead. Both are memory- and cache-sensitive workloads, which aligns with the Ryzen's larger shared L3 (16 MB versus 6 MB). Data encryption goes to AMD at 15843 vs 11076, a 43% edge. Extended instructions follow at 19130 vs 12808, a 49.4% margin.

The Intel Core 5 330 claims its wins in a few specific PassMark subtests. Prime number finding shows Intel at 114 versus AMD's 78, a 31.6% advantage. Physics favors Intel 1201 to 1154, a modest 3.9% lead. The single-thread PassMark score goes to Intel at 4088 versus 3732, an 8.7% margin. The two single-thread entries are duplicated in the data, so this win appears twice.

The multithread PassMark aggregate shows AMD ahead 22795 to 15471, a 47.3% delta. The average benchmark score reinforces the same ordering: AMD sits at 30254, Intel at 18345. AMD's percentile rank among all CPUs is 81, while Intel holds the 72nd percentile. In the nearest rival tables, AMD's closest competitors cluster around 30,213 to 30,422 in average score, while Intel's closest rivals sit near 18,302 to 18,380.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread PassMark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 records 4088 in PassMark single-thread, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U records 3732. That gives Intel an 8.7% advantage in this specific test, though the Cinebench single-core results all favor AMD by about 52%.

Q: How large is the gap in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U scores 19982 in Cinebench R23 multicore, compared to 13150 for the Intel Core 5 330. This is a 52% delta in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel chip beat AMD in any PassMark subtest?

A: Yes. Intel wins PassMark find prime numbers (114 vs 78, a 31.6% advantage), PassMark physics (1201 vs 1154, a 3.9% advantage), and PassMark single-thread (4088 vs 3732, an 8.7% advantage). The single-thread result is duplicated as PassMark singlethread.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U has an average benchmark score of 30254, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345, placing it in the 72nd percentile.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 330 does not.

Q: How do the memory bus configurations differ?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U uses a dual-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a single-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U dominates in rendering workloads. All three Cinebench generations (R15, R20, R23) show the Ryzen ahead by roughly 52% in both multicore and single-core. For any task that resembles CPU rendering or heavily threaded content creation, the recorded data points firmly to AMD.

The AMD chip also wins in data-heavy operations. Compression, random string sorting, encryption, and extended instructions all favor the Ryzen by margins from 43% to 80.7%. Integer math is the standout, with AMD more than doubling Intel's score. These results suggest workloads involving archives, databases, or cryptographic operations will run noticeably faster on the AMD part.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins in prime number finding by 31.6%, which points to workloads with heavy divide or modulo-style integer loops. The physics subtest advantage, though small at 3.9%, hints that certain simulation or constraint-solver patterns may slightly favor Intel. The single-thread PassMark result (8.7% ahead) indicates Intel holds an edge in some lightly threaded, high-frequency scenarios, even though Cinebench single-core tests tell the opposite story.

Floating point math is nearly a wash. AMD leads by only 3.1% (45265 vs 43885), so scientific or FP-heavy code should not be a deciding factor between these two. The multithread aggregate (47.3% for AMD) and the overall average score (30254 vs 18345) confirm that AMD's wins are broad while Intel's are narrow and specific.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ despite both chips having 6 cores. AMD provides 12 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while Intel provides 6 threads. Clock speeds also diverge: AMD's base clock is 3.50 GHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz, while Intel's base is 1.50 GHz with a boost of 4.60 GHz.

Thermal design power separates the two clearly. AMD lists a 28 W TDP, Intel lists 15 W. The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP7, Intel uses BGA 1516. Process nodes differ as well, with AMD on a 4 nm TSMC process and Intel on a 3 nm Intel process.

Memory support is a major split. AMD supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC memory. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. PCIe lanes also differ: AMD provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), Intel provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only).

Cache configurations are not directly comparable. AMD reports 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. Intel reports 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon 760M, Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $309. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

AMD's Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U belongs to the 8000 series and uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename. The processor is built by TSMC on a 4 nm process with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. Intel's Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is manufactured on a 3 nm process by Intel itself. The database lists no transistor count or die size for the Intel part.

The generational labels reflect these different designs. AMD lists its generation as "Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 (Hawk Point))", while Intel lists "Core 5 (Wildcat Lake)". The process node difference (4 nm versus 3 nm) places Intel on a nominally smaller geometry, though the benchmark results do not translate that into a performance advantage.

Cache architecture reveals a notable design philosophy difference. AMD allocates a per-core L1 of 64 KB and per-core L2 of 1 MB, then shares a 16 MB L3. Intel instead reports a single aggregate L1 of 192 KB, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The larger AMD L3 aligns with its strong showing in compression and sorting workloads, which benefit from larger working sets held on-chip.

Memory architecture further separates the two. AMD's dual-channel DDR5 controller with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth gives it a 50% bandwidth advantage over Intel's single-channel 59.7 GB/s. ECC support on AMD adds a reliability feature that Intel lacks. PCIe connectivity also favors AMD with 20 Gen 4 lanes versus 6 Gen 4 lanes on Intel.

The production status for both is Active. Release dates differ, with AMD recorded as 2024-04-15 and Intel as 2026-04-15. The launch MSRP field for Intel is $309, while AMD has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers differ as well: AMD lists 100-000001318 (FP7r2) and 100-000001378 (FP7), while Intel lists SAE3G.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U for users who prioritize raw compute throughput. Every Cinebench result, the multithread PassMark aggregate, and the average benchmark score (30254 vs 18345) favor AMD by wide margins. The 52% lead across all Cinebench tests, the 125.1% lead in integer math, and the 79.6% lead in data compression are decisive for rendering, number crunching, and data processing tasks.

The Intel Core 5 330 suits workloads that match its specific strengths. The 31.6% win in prime number finding and the 8.7% single-thread PassMark advantage suggest it has a place in certain math-heavy or lightly threaded routines. The 3.9% physics win is small but real. Its 15 W TDP also makes it the lower-power option, which may matter for thermally constrained mobile designs.

The memory and cache story reinforces AMD's position. A dual-channel bus at 89.6 GB/s, 16 MB shared L3, ECC support, and 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes give the Ryzen a platform-level advantage. Intel counters with LPDDR5X support and a smaller 3 nm process, but the recorded performance data does not turn those features into benchmark wins. The single-channel memory bus and 6 MB L3 likely contribute to Intel's losses in bandwidth-sensitive tests.

For multi-threaded productivity, rendering, encryption, and compression, the database shows a clear AMD victory. For niche single-threaded or prime-heavy workloads, the Intel part holds specific advantages. The 81st versus 72nd percentile ranking summarizes the overall standing: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640U is the stronger general-purpose processor in this pairing.