AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 vs Intel Core 5 320 Comparison

AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 and Intel Core 5 320 are two mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, but the benchmark data reveals two very different performance profiles. The AMD chip wins in 4 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel chip takes 11 victories. The split is not about overall speed, but about workload type: the Ryzen AI 5 330 dominates in multi-threaded rendering and integer-heavy tasks, while the Core 5 320 leads in single-threaded bursts, encryption, floating-point math, and general mixed workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 establishes its strongest territory in multi-core CPU rendering. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 7840 against the Intel Core 5 320's 6197, a 26.5% advantage. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar pattern, with the AMD part at 1191 versus 1054, a 13% lead. These are the kind of workloads that scale with thread count and sustained power delivery, and the data indicates the Ryzen AI 5 330 is the better choice for content creation tasks that rely on all cores.

The AMD chip also wins in PassMark integer math, scoring 37771 versus 32323, a 16.9% margin. Data compression is a narrower victory, 152012 versus 148779, a 2.2% edge. These wins suggest the Ryzen AI 5 330 handles arithmetic-heavy, branchy code with greater efficiency, likely due to its simultaneous multithreading (8 threads versus 6 threads).

The Intel Core 5 320, by contrast, wins almost everywhere else. Its most decisive victory is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 110 versus 42, a 61.8% advantage. Floating-point math is another major win, 42440 versus 26196, a 38.3% lead. Physics simulation follows at 1221 versus 705, a 42.3% margin. Data encryption shows a 34% advantage for Intel (10984 vs 7251), and extended instructions give Intel a 16.1% edge (13262 vs 11124).

Single-threaded performance is firmly Intel's domain. Cinebench R15 single-core shows Intel at 276 versus 199.9, a 27.6% gap, while Cinebench R23 single-core is closer at 1926 versus 1812, a 5.9% lead. PassMark single-thread confirms the trend, 4045 versus 3515, a 13.1% difference. The Core 5 320 also wins in PassMark multithread (15450 vs 12797, 17.2% lead) and random string sorting (18038 vs 16188, 10.3% lead), which are more mixed workloads that do not purely scale with core count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different foundries and use different transistor nodes. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, while the Intel Core 5 320 uses a 3 nm node at Intel. Both are mobile parts, but their internal designs diverge significantly.

The AMD chip has 4 cores and 8 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture, specifically the Krackan Point 2 codename within the Ryzen AI 300 generation. It uses a hybrid arrangement of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores in that generation, though the exact core mix is not in the recorded data. Cache is organized as 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The memory interface is dual-channel, supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. PCIe connectivity is Gen 4 with 14 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading. It uses the Wildcat Lake codename in the Core 5 generation, built on Intel's 3 nm process. Cache totals are 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The memory bus is single-channel, which is a notable limitation, supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X at 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe is Gen 4 with only 6 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel part has a lower base clock of 1.50 GHz versus the AMD's 2.00 GHz, but a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. TDP ratings differ substantially: the Intel chip is rated at 15 watts, while the AMD chip is rated at 28 watts. This power difference likely explains some of the AMD's multi-core advantage, as it has more thermal headroom for sustained loads. The Intel part's single-channel memory and lower TDP suggest a design focused on efficiency and light tasks, while the AMD part is built for heavier compute in a similar form factor.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 uses a Radeon 820M, while the Intel Core 5 320 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Neither has a confirmed launch MSRP in the database, though the Intel part has a listed launch MSRP of $340, which can be stated once as a reference point.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win belongs to the Intel Core 5 320 in the find prime numbers test. Intel's score of 110 dwarfs AMD's 42, a 61.8% gap. This test is highly sensitive to single-core clock speed and branch prediction, and the Intel chip's 4.60 GHz boost clock likely explains the result.

Floating-point math is the second-largest margin, with Intel at 42440 versus 26196, a 38.3% lead. This workload benefits from wide SIMD execution and high clock speeds, areas where the Intel core design appears stronger in this pairing. Physics simulation follows at 42.3% in Intel's favor, 1221 versus 705, which also relies on floating-point throughput.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330's largest win is Cinebench R23 multi-core at 26.5% (7840 vs 6197). This is a pure multi-threaded render test, where the AMD chip's 8 threads versus Intel's 6 threads, combined with its higher 28-watt TDP, delivers a decisive advantage. Cinebench R15 multi-core confirms the pattern at 13% (1191 vs 1054), though the margin is smaller because the older test is less demanding.

Integer math is AMD's second-best win, 16.9% (37771 vs 32323). This test measures arithmetic operations that do not rely on floating-point units, and the AMD architecture shows a clear edge. Data compression is a narrow 2.2% win for AMD (152012 vs 148779), suggesting the two chips are nearly equal in this workload.

Single-core performance is consistently Intel-favored. The largest single-core gap is in Cinebench R15, where Intel leads by 27.6% (276 vs 199.9). Cinebench R23 single-core is much closer at 5.9% (1926 vs 1812), and PassMark single-thread shows a 13.1% lead for Intel (4045 vs 3515). The R15 single-core result is an outlier in magnitude, possibly reflecting a difference in how the older benchmark interacts with the newer architectures.

Data encryption swings Intel's way by 34% (10984 vs 7251), which points to dedicated AES instructions or better crypto throughput in the Intel core. Extended instructions give Intel a 16.1% edge (13262 vs 11124), covering AVX and other advanced operations. Random string sorting is a 10.3% Intel win (18038 vs 16188), and PassMark multithread is a 17.2% Intel win (15450 vs 12797), despite the AMD chip having more threads.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to two distinct user profiles. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 is the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads such as video encoding or 3D scene compilation, where its 26.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 13% lead in R15 multi-core translate into real time savings. It also handles integer-heavy computation with a 16.9% margin over Intel, making it suitable for programming, data processing, and general office work that involves arithmetic logic.

The Intel Core 5 320 is the better pick for single-threaded responsiveness and mixed-workload efficiency. Its 27.6% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 13.1% lead in PassMark single-thread suggest snappier day-to-day operation in applications that are not fully multi-threaded. The 38.3% advantage in floating-point math and 42.3% in physics simulation indicate stronger performance in scientific calculations, simulations, and any workload that relies on FPU throughput. The 34% lead in data encryption also makes it preferable for tasks involving frequent crypto operations.

Overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 has an average score of 18811, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 320 averages 18023, in the 72nd percentile. The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1355U at a 0.4% delta and the AMD EPYC 7643 at 0.6%, while the Intel chip sits within 0.7% of the Intel Core 5 120U and 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT. Neither processor is far ahead of the other in aggregate, so the choice depends entirely on workload priority.

The AMD part's higher TDP of 28 watts versus Intel's 15 watts suggests it will draw more power under load, which may matter for battery life in thin laptops. The Intel chip's single-channel memory limits its bandwidth to 59.7 GB/s versus AMD's dual-channel 89.6 GB/s, which could affect memory-sensitive tasks despite the Intel chip's other wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 wins both Cinebench multi-core tests. It scores 7840 in R23 multi-core versus Intel's 6197, a 26.5% advantage, and 1191 in R15 multi-core versus 1054, a 13% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 320 have better single-core performance?

A: Yes, the data shows Intel leads in all single-core tests. Cinebench R15 single-core shows Intel at 276 versus 199.9 (27.6% lead), R23 single-core shows 1926 versus 1812 (5.9% lead), and PassMark single-thread shows 4045 versus 3515 (13.1% lead).

Q: How do the two chips compare in floating-point math?

A: The Intel Core 5 320 is significantly ahead. It scores 42440 in PassMark floating-point math versus AMD's 26196, a 38.3% advantage. Physics simulation also favors Intel at 1221 versus 705, a 42.3% lead.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core 5 320 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel chip does not.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 320 uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are the overall benchmark scores similar?

A: Yes, the average benchmark scores are close. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 averages 18811 (73rd percentile), and the Intel Core 5 320 averages 18023 (72nd percentile). The AMD chip is within 0.7% of several rivals including the Intel Core i5-12400, and the Intel chip is within 0.7% of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT.