AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep: AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins all 11 shared benchmark comparisons against Intel Core 5 330, with zero wins for the Intel part. The largest margin appears in integer math, where AMD scores 172943 against Intel's 33258, a 420% advantage. Data compression also heavily favors AMD at 662381 versus 145287, a 355.9% delta. Extended instructions show a 320.2% gap (53817 vs 12808), and random string sorting is 294.9% apart (70175 vs 17771). Multithread performance is 234.3% higher for AMD (51722 vs 15471), confirming the core and thread count advantage translates directly into parallel workloads.

The narrowest gap is single-thread performance, where AMD leads by only 9.1% (4461 vs 4088). This is notable because it indicates the Intel Core 5 330 has a reasonably competitive single-core design despite its lower overall positioning. In floating-point math, AMD scores 115062 versus 43885, a 162.2% delta. Prime number finding shows 323 versus 114 (183.3% ahead), data encryption 32139 versus 11076 (190.2% ahead), and physics simulation 3054 versus 1201 (154.3% ahead). Every measured category favors the AMD part, but the magnitude varies: integer-heavy tasks show the largest gaps, while single-threaded work shows the smallest.

Context from the database's nearest rivals helps interpret these scores. AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has an average benchmark score of 106413, placing it 0.2% ahead of Intel Xeon w7-3555 (106192), 0.5% ahead of Intel Xeon 6521P (105845), 3% ahead of AMD EPYC 8324P (103329), and 2.1% behind Intel Xeon w7-2595X (108663). Its 97th percentile versus all CPUs indicates it sits near the top of the overall distribution. Intel Core 5 330, by contrast, has an average score of 18345, nearly identical to Intel Core i3-14100 (18318, 0.1% ahead), Intel Core 3 305 (18302, 0.2% ahead), and Intel Core i3-13100 (18380, 0.2% behind), while trailing Intel Core 7 360 (18374) by 0.2%. The 72nd percentile shows a mid-pack position. The delta between these two processors is therefore not a marginal one; it spans multiple performance tiers.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX wins every recorded benchmark category, so a use-case split must be framed by the degree of advantage rather than by workload exclusivity. The largest deltas appear in integer math (420%), data compression (355.9%), and extended instructions (320.2%). These workloads typically respond to high core counts, high thread counts, and large caches, all of which the AMD part provides. Multithread rendering and encoding would see the 234.3% multithread advantage, while physics simulation, a frequently threaded workload, shows a 154.3% gain. The AMD part also leads in memory-sensitive tasks like random string sorting (294.9%), consistent with its dual-channel memory bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Intel Core 5 330 does not claim a single win, but its closest relative performance is in single-thread work, where the AMD advantage compresses to 9.1%. This suggests the Intel part is comparatively stronger in lightly threaded applications, though still behind. The Intel chip's 15 W TDP and 1.50 GHz base clock indicate a power-lean design, and its single-channel memory bus (59.7 GB/s) limits memory-heavy tasks. The data shows no category where Intel Core 5 330 takes the lead; the best case is a narrower deficit in single-threaded scenarios. The database lists no benchmark wins for Intel Core 5 330 across the 11 shared tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing nodes and design families. AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX uses Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a Fire Range codename and 16,630 million transistors across a 2x 70.6 mm² die configuration. It belongs to the 9000 series and is built for AMD Socket FL1. Intel Core 5 330 uses Wildcat Lake architecture on Intel's own 3 nm process, with no listed transistor count or die size, and uses Intel BGA 1516. The process node difference (4 nm vs 3 nm) does not translate into an Intel advantage in the measured results; AMD's larger chip with more compute resources outperforms it across all tests.

Core and thread configurations differ sharply. AMD provides 12 cores and 24 threads, while Intel provides 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning the Intel part has no simultaneous multithreading. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD versus 1.50 GHz for Intel, and boost clocks are 5.20 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. AMD has an unlocked multiplier, Intel does not. Cache hierarchies also diverge: AMD uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 MB L3, while Intel uses 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB shared L3. The L3 difference is substantial, 64 MB versus 6 MB, and helps explain AMD's advantage in data-heavy workloads.

Memory support shows another split. AMD supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory enabled. Intel supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. PCIe connectivity also differs: AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes, Intel offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Release dates place AMD at January 2025 and Intel at April 2026. Intel Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309. AMD's part number is 100-000001366; Intel's is SAE3G. Production status for both is listed as Active.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX outperforms Intel Core 5 330 in every recorded test, with margins ranging from 9.1% in single-thread to 420% in integer math. The AMD part's 12 cores, 24 threads, 64 MB L3 cache, and dual-channel memory bandwidth provide the structural basis for these results. Its 97th percentile versus all CPUs places it among the top tier, while Intel Core 5 330's 72nd percentile places it in the mid-range. The Intel part's nearest rivals are the Core i3-14100, Core i3-13100, Core 3 305, and Core 7 360, all with average scores within 0.2% of each other. AMD's nearest rivals are workstation and server-class Xeon and EPYC parts, indicating entirely different performance categories.

For workloads that depend on multithreading, large data sets, or heavy integer math, the AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX is the clear choice based on the data. The 234.3% multithread lead and 355.9% data compression lead leave no ambiguity. For single-threaded tasks, the AMD part still leads, but the 9.1% margin means the Intel Core 5 330 is not far behind in that specific area. Users prioritizing low power draw might note the Intel part's 15 W TDP versus AMD's 55 W TDP, but the database does not include power efficiency benchmarks, so no performance-per-watt conclusion can be drawn from the recorded data. The Intel Core 5 330, with its 6 cores, 6 threads, and 6 MB L3, occupies a much lower performance tier. The verdict, strictly from the numbers, is that AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX dominates this comparison.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX in multithread performance?

A: AMD scores 51722 in PassMark multithread, while Intel Core 5 330 scores 15471, giving AMD a 234.3% advantage.

Q: What is the closest benchmark result between the two?

A: The closest is single-thread performance. AMD scores 4461 and Intel scores 4088, a 9.1% difference.

Q: How do the two processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: AMD's average score of 106413 places it 0.2% ahead of Intel Xeon w7-3555 and 2.1% behind Intel Xeon w7-2595X. Intel Core 5 330's average of 18345 is 0.1% ahead of Intel Core i3-14100 and 0.2% behind Intel Core 7 360.

Q: Does Intel Core 5 330 support ECC memory?

A: No. Intel Core 5 330 does not support ECC memory, while AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX does.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX has 12 cores and 24 threads. Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX boosts to 5.20 GHz, while Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9850HX | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 24 | 6 |

| Base clock | 3.00 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.20 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FL1 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Wildcat Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB |

| L3 cache | 64 MB | 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 memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 28 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 610M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release date | 2025-01-05 | 2026-04-15 |

| Part number | 100-000001366 | SAE3G |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 97 | 72 |

| Average benchmark score | 106413 | 18345 |