AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant performance profile for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X across every shared benchmark. Of the 15 head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins all 15, with the Intel Core 5 330 failing to secure a single victory. The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the Ryzen 7 9700X scores 120,142 against 33,258 for the Intel part, a delta of 261.2%. That result indicates a massive advantage in workloads driven by integer arithmetic.

Data compression follows closely behind. The AMD chip records 437,140 in PassMark data compression versus 145,287 for the Intel Core 5 330, a 200.9% gap. Extended instruction performance shows a 175.7% delta, with scores of 35,318 and 12,808 respectively. Random string sorting delivers a 163.2% advantage, as the Ryzen 7 9700X posts 46,782 against 17,771.

Multi-threaded workloads reinforce the same pattern. PassMark multithread scores sit at 37,161 for the AMD processor and 15,471 for the Intel part, a 140.2% difference. Cinebench R15 multicore shows the Ryzen 7 9700X at 3,178 versus 1,325, a 139.8% lead. Cinebench R23 multicore narrows the gap somewhat, with 20,485 against 13,150, a 55.8% delta. The floating point math test yields an 80% advantage, with 78,999 versus 43,885.

Single-thread performance tells a closer story. PassMark single thread has the AMD chip at 4,654 and the Intel chip at 4,088, a 13.8% delta. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 2,211 against 1,856, a 19.1% advantage. The largest single-thread margin appears in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where the Ryzen 7 9700X leads by 86% with 346 versus 186.

Encryption and prime number workloads also favor AMD. PassMark data encryption records 21,815 against 11,076, a 97% delta. PassMark find prime numbers shows 192 versus 114, a 68.4% gap. Physics simulation completes the sweep, with 2,241 against 1,201, an 86.6% advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors occupy different market segments with fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a desktop part from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It uses a 4 nm process from TSMC and fits the AMD Socket AM5. The Intel Core 5 330 is a mobile processor with the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry, and uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Ryzen 7 9700X provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 provides 6 cores and 6 threads. That means the AMD part has simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel part does not. Clock speeds also differ, with the AMD chip boosting to 5.50 GHz from a 3.80 GHz base, and the Intel chip boosting to 4.60 GHz from a 1.50 GHz base. The lower base clock on the Intel part reflects its mobile design and 15 W TDP, compared to the 65 W TDP of the AMD desktop chip.

Cache layouts are not directly comparable. The Ryzen 7 9700X uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core 5 330 lists 192 KB of L1 total, 2.5 MB of L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support also differs: the AMD processor uses dual-channel DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Intel part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the AMD chip but not on the Intel chip.

PCIe connectivity favors the desktop part. The Ryzen 7 9700X provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well, with AMD using Radeon Graphics and Intel using Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. Release dates place the AMD processor in August 2024 and the Intel processor in April 2026.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X records an average benchmark score of 37,943, while the Intel Core 5 330 records 18,345. The AMD chip also sits at the 86th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 72nd percentile for the Intel part.

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 330 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has an average score of 18,345, which places it within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18,318, within 0.2% of the Intel Core 3 305 at 18,302, and about 0.2% below the Intel Core 7 360 at 18,374 and the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18,380.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two processors?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X leads by 261.2% with a score of 120,142 versus 33,258 for the Intel Core 5 330.

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

A: No. Across all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X wins every test. The Intel Core 5 330 has zero wins in the recorded data.

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

A: The smallest gap appears in PassMark single thread, where the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X leads by 13.8% with 4,654 versus 4,088. The PassMark singlethread result shows the same 13.8% delta.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X rank against its own nearest rivals?

A: The AMD chip scores 37,943, which is 0.1% above the Intel Core i9-14901E at 37,911 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 at 37,904, 0.3% above the Intel Core 5 211E at 37,829, and 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P132 at 37,804.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 9700X | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 6 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 192 KB total |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 2.5 MB total |

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

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

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

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC support | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2024-08-07 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $359 | $309 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X wins every recorded benchmark category, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude of its advantages rather than by any Intel victory. For integer math, data compression, extended instructions, and multithreaded rendering, the AMD part delivers leads between 140% and 261%. Those workloads benefit from the 8-core, 16-thread configuration, the dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, and the larger 32 MB shared L3 cache.

For single-thread tasks, the AMD advantage shrinks to a 13.8% delta in PassMark single thread and 19.1% in Cinebench R23 singlecore. The Intel Core 5 330 remains competitive in lightly threaded work despite its 6-core, 6-thread layout and lower 4.60 GHz boost clock. The Intel part also carries a 15 W TDP and mobile socket, which indicates a power envelope suited to portable systems, whereas the AMD chip targets desktop builds with a 65 W TDP and Socket AM5.

The Intel Core 5 330 does offer features the AMD part lacks, including LPDDR5X memory support and a 3 nm process node. Its integrated Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores differs from AMD's Radeon Graphics. Those traits, combined with the single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, position the Intel chip for efficiency-focused mobile designs rather than compute-heavy desktop workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X outperforms the Intel Core 5 330 in every shared benchmark, with margins ranging from 13.8% in single-thread PassMark to 261.2% in integer math. Its 86th percentile ranking versus the Intel part's 72nd percentile confirms the separation in overall CPU performance.

The Intel Core 5 330 belongs to a different product category entirely. Its 6 cores, 6 threads, 15 W TDP, single-channel memory, and mobile socket describe a low-power processor for portable devices. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, with 8 cores, 16 threads, dual-channel DDR5, and a 65 W TDP, is a desktop processor designed for sustained multi-threaded work. The benchmark data shows the AMD chip leading by 140.2% in PassMark multithread and 55.8% in Cinebench R23 multicore.

For buyers choosing between these two specific models, the recorded measurements favor the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X in every workload tested. The Intel Core 5 330 offers a lower launch MSRP of $309 against $359, a 3 nm node, and mobile-specific features such as LPDDR5X and a BGA socket, but none of those traits translate into a benchmark win in the shared test suite. The verdict from the database is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is the faster processor by every measured metric, while the Intel Core 5 330 serves a different, power-constrained market segment where its 15 W TDP and compact socket matter more than raw compute scores.