AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive advantage for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D across every recorded test. The head-to-head comparison includes 15 individual benchmarks, and the AMD processor wins all 15. The Intel Core 5 330 does not win a single test in the recorded data.

The largest margin appears in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 243209 against 33258 for the Intel Core 5 330, a delta of 631.3%. Data compression shows a similar gap, with the AMD part scoring 908421 versus 145287, a 525.3% advantage. Extended instructions testing puts the AMD processor at 73011 against 12808, a 470% lead, and the random string sorting test shows 95423 versus 17771, a 437% difference.

Cinebench results tell the same story. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 42018 while the Intel Core 5 330 scores 13150, a 219.5% delta. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows 6536 versus 1325, a 393.3% lead. Even in single-core tests, where the gap is smaller, the AMD part still leads clearly. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2259 versus 1856, a 21.7% advantage, while Cinebench R15 single-core shows 350 versus 186, an 88.2% lead.

PassMark multithread results put the AMD processor at 70255 versus 15471, a 354.1% delta. Floating point math shows 159724 against 43885, a 264% lead. Data encryption shows 44536 versus 11076, a 302.1% advantage. Prime number finding scores 613 versus 114, a 437.7% delta. Physics testing shows 5670 versus 1201, a 372.1% gap.

The closest margin in the entire comparison is PassMark single-thread performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 4737, and the Intel Core 5 330 scores 4088, a 15.9% delta. That remains a solid win for AMD, but it is the only test where the Intel part comes within a single-digit multiple. It suggests that the Intel Core 5 330 has a reasonably capable single-thread design, but it is still behind in every recorded metric.

The average benchmark score for the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is 75779, placing it in the 95th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755 at 75738 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 9755X3D at 75716 (0.1% behind), the AMD EPYC 8224P at 75582 (0.3% behind), and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285 at 75488 (0.4% behind). The Intel Core 5 330 sits in a different performance class entirely, with its nearest rivals being the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18318 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core 7 360 at 18374 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18380 (0.2% ahead), and the Intel Core 3 305 at 18302 (0.2% behind).

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D uses the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename and belongs to the Ryzen 9 generation. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC and contains 16,630 million transistors across a die size of 2x 70.6 mm². The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with the Core 5 generation designation. It is built on a 3 nm process at Intel, and the database records no transistor count or die size for it.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The AMD processor has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel processor has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel part has no hyper-threading support in the recorded data, which explains part of the multicore gap. Cache layouts also differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache total, 2.5 MB of L2 cache total, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Clock speeds show a clear separation. The AMD processor has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.70 GHz. The Intel processor has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD part also has a 170 W TDP, while the Intel part has a 15 W TDP. That difference reflects their intended market segments: the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel Core 5 330 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1516.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD processor supports DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus and 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It also supports ECC memory. The Intel processor supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It does not support ECC memory. The AMD part uses PCIe Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The AMD processor includes Radeon Graphics as integrated graphics, and the Intel processor includes Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Core 5 330 does not. The AMD part carries the part number 100-000000719, and the Intel part carries the part number SAE3G. The AMD processor was released on 2025-01-05, and the Intel processor has a release date of 2026-04-15. Both parts are listed as Active in production status. The database records a launch MSRP of $699 for the AMD processor and $309 for the Intel processor.

The Verdict

The recorded data leaves no ambiguity. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D outperforms the Intel Core 5 330 in every benchmark in the head-to-head set. The smallest lead is 15.9% in single-thread performance, and the largest is 631.3% in integer math. The AMD part sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel part sits in the 72nd percentile.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the choice for any workload that benefits from high thread counts, large cache, or raw compute throughput. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with 128 MB of L3 cache and a 5.70 GHz boost clock, produce results that the Intel Core 5 330 cannot approach. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 42018 versus 13150 shows a 219.5% gap, and the PassMark multithread score of 70255 versus 15471 shows a 354.1% gap.

The Intel Core 5 330 does have favorable characteristics in other areas, but not in the measured benchmarks. Its 15 W TDP and mobile socket make it suitable for low-power systems, and its single-thread score of 4088 is within 15.9% of the AMD part. It also uses a 3 nm process, which is a more advanced node than the AMD part's 4 nm process. Those factors do not translate into benchmark wins, but they do define the Intel part's intended role.

For desktop performance, the data points clearly to the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D. For mobile or low-power applications, the Intel Core 5 330 offers a different trade-off, but the database shows no performance category where it leads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 6 |

| Threads | 32 | 6 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.70 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 170 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Not recorded |

| Codename | Granite Ridge | Wildcat Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 16,630 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 2x 70.6 mm² | Not recorded |

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

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

| L3 cache | 128 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, 24 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

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

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $699 | $309 |

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

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread testing, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 4737 and the Intel Core 5 330 scores 4088, a 15.9% advantage for AMD. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is 21.7%, with scores of 2259 and 1856.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 128 MB of L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 330 has 192 KB of total L1 cache, 2.5 MB of total L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 330 does not.

Q: Which processor uses a more advanced manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 is built on a 3 nm process at Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC.

Q: What are the market segments for these chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM5 with a 170 W TDP. The Intel Core 5 330 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1516 with a 15 W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D wins every benchmark in the head-to-head dataset. For heavily multithreaded workloads, the margin is enormous. Cinebench R23 multicore shows a 219.5% lead, PassMark multithread shows a 354.1% lead, and PassMark integer math shows a 631.3% lead. Any task that scales across cores, such as rendering, compilation, or scientific computing, will favor the AMD part based on the recorded data.

The AMD part also wins in memory-bandwidth-sensitive scenarios. Its dual-channel memory bus delivers 89.6 GB/s, compared to 59.7 GB/s for the Intel part. The 128 MB of L3 cache on the AMD processor dwarfs the 6 MB shared L3 on the Intel processor, which helps explain the large data compression and encryption margins. The PassMark data compression score of 908421 versus 145287 is a 525.3% gap.

The Intel Core 5 330 does not win any benchmark, but its profile suggests specific strengths outside the measured tests. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for fanless or passively cooled mobile designs, and its support for LPDDR5X memory aligns with low-power laptop configurations. The 3 nm process node indicates a newer manufacturing technology. Its single-thread score of 4088 is the closest any Intel result comes to the AMD part, and the 15.9% gap in PassMark single-thread is the smallest delta in the dataset.

For a desktop builder prioritizing compute performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the only choice supported by the data. For a mobile system designer prioritizing power efficiency and a compact socket, the Intel Core 5 330 offers a 15 W envelope that the AMD part cannot match. The recorded benchmarks do not include power efficiency or battery-life tests, so those areas remain outside the comparison, but the TDP figures alone define the Intel part's role.