AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX and Intel Core 5 330 occupy opposite ends of the mobile performance spectrum. The data shows a decisive victory for the AMD part across every recorded benchmark, with the Ryzen 9 9955HX winning all 15 head-to-head tests. However, the two chips are engineered for fundamentally different workloads and power envelopes, and their benchmark scores reflect that split.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is a 16-core, 32-thread processor in the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with a 55 W TDP. It is designed to deliver maximum throughput for demanding applications like rendering, scientific computing, and heavy multitasking. In contrast, the Intel Core 5 330 is a 6-core, 6-thread part with a 15 W TDP, built on the Wildcat Lake architecture. It targets efficiency and lightweight productivity, where its lower power draw is more critical than raw performance.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX wins every category where the database has comparable scores. Its largest advantages appear in integer math, data compression, and extended instruction workloads. The Intel Core 5 330 does not win any of the fifteen head-to-head tests, but its single-threaded performance is relatively close to the AMD chip, suggesting that for basic, short-lived tasks the gap narrows considerably.

For applications that scale with core count, the AMD chip is in a different class. The Ryzen 9 9955HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. This 10-core and 26-thread difference translates directly into multi-threaded workloads like video encoding, 3D rendering, and code compilation. The passmark_multithread score shows a 263.1% advantage for AMD, and the Cinebench R23 multi-core score shows a 182.6% advantage.

The Intel Core 5 330 does have a meaningful role for fanless or ultra-portable designs. Its 15 W TDP is drastically lower than the AMD part's 55 W TDP, making it suitable for passive cooling and long battery life. In single-threaded tests, the gap narrows to 7.5% in PassMark single-thread and 17.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core, which means everyday responsive tasks like web browsing and document editing will feel similar on both. The Intel chip also supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, whereas the AMD chip only lists DDR5, which could matter for low-power memory configurations.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 37159 versus 13150 for the Intel Core 5 330, a delta of 182.6%. In PassMark multithread, the AMD chip scores 56171 versus 15471, a delta of 263.1%.

Q: Is the Intel Core 5 330 competitive in single-threaded tests?

A: It is closer, but still behind. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD chip scores 4393 versus 4088, a 7.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 2174 versus 1856, a 17.1% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has a TDP of 55 W. The Intel Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 330 does not.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX supports DDR5 memory. The Intel Core 5 330 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX scores 212598 versus 33258 for the Intel Core 5 330, a delta of 539.2%. This test heavily favors the AMD chip's Zen 5 integer execution resources and 16 cores. Data compression shows a similar pattern: AMD scores 731998 versus 145287, a 403.8% advantage. Extended instructions show a 352.4% delta (57946 vs 12808), and random string sorting shows a 338.3% delta (77890 vs 17771).

Cinebench R15 multi-core is another huge gap: AMD scores 5905 versus 1325, a 345.7% delta. This test is older and scales well with core count, so the 16-core AMD part dominates. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 182.6% delta (37159 vs 13150), which is closer but still a massive margin. PassMark multithread shows a 263.1% delta (56171 vs 15471), confirming the multi-core trend.

The AMD chip also leads in encryption and floating-point math. PassMark data encryption shows a 237% delta (37330 vs 11076), and floating-point math shows a 211.5% delta (136682 vs 43885). Physics simulation shows a 126.5% delta (2720 vs 1201), and prime number finding shows a 151.8% delta (287 vs 114).

The closest results are in single-threaded tests. PassMark single-thread shows a 7.5% delta (4393 vs 4088), and Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 17.1% delta (2174 vs 1856). Cinebench R15 single-core shows a larger 80.6% delta (336 vs 186), which is an outlier likely due to the older test's sensitivity to clock speed and architecture efficiency. The AMD chip boosts to 5.40 GHz versus 4.60 GHz for Intel, which explains part of the single-core advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification. The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for AMD and 1.50 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks are 5.40 GHz and 4.60 GHz, respectively. TDP is 55 W for AMD and 15 W for Intel.

Socket types differ: AMD uses Socket FL1, Intel uses BGA 1516. The AMD chip is unlocked (multiplierUnlocked is true), while the Intel chip is locked. The AMD chip supports ECC memory; the Intel chip does not. PCIe support differs: AMD has Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while Intel has Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only).

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. AMD lists 89.6 GB/s with dual-channel memory, while Intel lists 59.7 GB/s with single-channel memory. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses Radeon 610M, Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The release dates are also different: AMD launched on 2025-01-05, Intel on 2026-04-15. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $309; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX uses the Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC. It has a codename of Fire Range and belongs to the Ryzen 9 generation. Its transistor count is 16,630 million, and its die size is listed as 2x 70.6 mm². The cache hierarchy is 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 64 MB of shared L3.

The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process from Intel. It belongs to the Core 5 generation. Its cache is listed as 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Intel part does not have a listed transistor count or die size.

The AMD chip has a much larger L3 cache (64 MB versus 6 MB), which benefits workloads with large working sets like database queries and scientific simulations. The AMD chip also has a higher TDP (55 W versus 15 W), allowing it to sustain higher clocks across all cores. The Intel chip uses a smaller process node (3 nm versus 4 nm), but the database does not provide enough data to determine if this yields a power efficiency advantage in real workloads.

The AMD chip's PCIe Gen 5 support with 28 lanes is a significant architectural advantage for connecting fast NVMe storage and discrete GPUs. The Intel chip's PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes is more limited. The AMD chip also includes ECC memory support, which is important for reliability in professional use. The Intel chip's support for LPDDR5X memory allows for lower-power memory configurations, which aligns with its 15 W TDP target.

The integrated graphics differ in architecture generation: AMD uses Radeon 610M, while Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so their relative performance cannot be assessed from the recorded data. The Intel chip is not unlocked, meaning its clock speeds cannot be adjusted by the user, while the AMD chip allows multiplier adjustment.