AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant performance gap between the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Intel Core 5 330. Out of 17 shared benchmark comparisons, the AMD processor claims 15 wins, while the Intel part takes only 2. The magnitude of the AMD advantage varies wildly by workload, from a modest 42.8% lead in Passmark physics to a crushing 433.9% lead in Passmark integer math.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT delivers a nearly uniform advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 37,373 against 13,150 for the Intel Core 5 330, a 184.2% delta. Single-core R23 shows a similar story: 5,276 versus 1,856, a 184.3% gap. The Cinebench R15 and R20 tests follow the same pattern, with the AMD part leading by 184.2% to 185.5% across all four other Cinebench variants. This consistency indicates that the AMD processor’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental throughput and single-thread performance superiority.

The Passmark suite reveals where the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT truly separates itself. Integer math shows the largest delta: the AMD scores 177,566 versus the Intel’s 33,258, a 433.9% lead. Data compression follows at 311.5% (597,862 versus 145,287). Random string sorting shows a 251.9% gap (62,537 versus 17,771). Data encryption delivers a 241.4% lead (37,814 versus 11,076). Extended instructions come in at 205.6% (39,141 versus 12,808). Floating point math shows a 126.5% advantage (99,398 versus 43,885). Even the smaller wins are decisive: find prime numbers shows a 79.8% lead (205 versus 114), and Passmark physics shows a 42.8% lead (1,715 versus 1,201). The Passmark multi-thread score confirms the overall picture: 43,810 versus 15,471, a 183.2% delta.

The only two tests where the Intel Core 5 330 wins are Passmark single-thread and Passmark singlethread, which are duplicate measurements. Both show the Intel scoring 4,088 against the AMD’s 3,474, a 15% delta in favor of Intel. This is a notable result because it shows the Intel part has a higher peak single-thread throughput in the Passmark methodology, even though its Cinebench single-core scores are far lower (531 versus 186 in R15, 2,215 versus 779 in R20, 5,276 versus 1,856 in R23). The discrepancy between Passmark single-thread and Cinebench single-core suggests the two test suites measure different aspects of single-thread performance, with Passmark favoring the Intel’s architecture in its specific instruction mix.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design points. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer codename) built on a 7 nm TSMC process. It has 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename built on a 3 nm Intel process. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD part has a 105 W TDP, while the Intel part has a 15 W TDP.

Cache configurations show a stark difference. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT provides 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 330 provides 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB of shared L3. The AMD’s L3 cache is more than ten times larger, which directly contributes to its benchmark dominance in multi-threaded workloads.

Memory support diverges completely. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 330 uses DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, and it does not support ECC memory. Despite the Intel part having higher raw memory bandwidth, the AMD part’s dual-channel configuration and larger cache compensate in real-world throughput.

PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The AMD part has no integrated graphics, while the Intel part includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel processor uses Intel BGA 1516. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked. The AMD part is a desktop segment processor released on 2024-07-30, while the Intel part is a mobile segment processor released on 2026-04-15.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT outperforms the Intel Core 5 330 in the overwhelming majority of tests. The AMD part wins 15 of 17 comparisons, and in many cases by margins exceeding 200%. The average benchmark score for the AMD part is 50,718, placing it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18,345, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The Intel part’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100 (delta 0.1%), Intel Core 7 360 (delta -0.2%), Intel Core i3-13100 (delta -0.2%), and Intel Core 3 305 (delta 0.2%). The AMD part’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-13850HX (delta -0.1%), AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370 (delta 0.5%), Intel Core i9-14900T (delta -0.6%), and Intel Core i9-13980HX (delta 0.6%).

From the data, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the clear choice for any workload that benefits from high core counts and large cache. The Intel Core 5 330 only wins in Passmark single-thread tests, where it leads by 15%. However, that single-thread win does not translate into Cinebench single-core victories, where the AMD part leads by over 184%. The Intel part’s lower TDP and integrated graphics make it suitable for mobile applications, but its performance profile is far below the AMD part in essentially every compute-intensive benchmark.

The launch MSRP for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is $349, and the launch MSRP for the Intel Core 5 330 is $309. The data shows that the AMD part delivers substantially higher performance across nearly all measured tests, with the only Intel wins being narrow single-thread Passmark results.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 105 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | (not specified) |

| Codename | Vermeer | Wildcat Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 8,300 million | (not specified) |

| Die Size | 2x 74 mm² | (not specified) |

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

| L2 Cache | 512 KB per core | 2.5 MB total |

| L3 Cache | 64 MB | 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 |

| Release Date | 2024-07-30 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $349 | $309 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT scores 37,373 versus the Intel Core 5 330’s 13,150, a 184.2% delta in favor of AMD.

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

A: Yes, the Intel Core 5 330 wins Passmark single-thread and Passmark singlethread (duplicate tests), scoring 4,088 against the AMD’s 3,474, a 15% delta.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has a 105 W TDP, while the Intel Core 5 330 has a 15 W TDP.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has 64 MB L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD part also has 512 KB L2 per core, versus 2.5 MB total L2 for the Intel part.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT has no integrated graphics (N/A).

Q: What is the memory channel configuration for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT uses dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 330 uses single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT wins in every multi-threaded and most single-threaded benchmark categories. Its largest advantages are in Passmark integer math (433.9% lead), data compression (311.5%), random string sorting (251.9%), data encryption (241.4%), and extended instructions (205.6%). It also wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both multi-core and single-core) with deltas between 184.2% and 185.5%. The AMD part also wins Passmark multi-thread (183.2%), floating point math (126.5%), find prime numbers (79.8%), and physics (42.8%). The AMD part’s 16 cores, 32 threads, and 64 MB L3 cache drive these results, making it the preferred processor for content creation, data processing, and any compute-heavy desktop workload.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only in Passmark single-thread and the duplicate Passmark singlethread test, with a 15% lead over the AMD part. This indicates that in the specific Passmark single-thread instruction mix, the Intel architecture sustains a higher peak throughput. The Intel part also carries integrated graphics, a lower 15 W TDP, and a mobile socket (BGA 1516), which positions it for portable systems where power consumption and graphics output matter more than raw compute. Its single-channel memory bus and 6 MB L3 cache limit its multi-threaded capability, as confirmed by its 15,471 Passmark multi-thread score versus the AMD’s 43,810.

In summary, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT is the clear winner for desktop compute performance, with all 15 of its benchmark victories being decisive. The Intel Core 5 330’s two wins are narrow single-thread Passmark results, but its mobile design, integrated graphics, and lower TDP give it a distinct role in battery-driven systems. The data does not show any scenario where the Intel part outperforms the AMD part in multi-threaded or Cinebench workloads.