AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear overall victor in the Intel Core 5 330, which claims 12 of the 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The most lopsided results appear in multi-threaded and math-heavy workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part scores 13,150 against the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330's 7,840, a 40.4% deficit for AMD. Similarly, PassMark floating point math shows Intel at 43,885 versus AMD's 26,196, a 40.3% gap. The Intel chip also dominates PassMark physics with 1,201 points against AMD's 705, a 41.3% difference, and PassMark find prime numbers with 114 versus 42, a 63.2% swing.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 does secure three wins, and they are worth noting. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD leads with 199.9 against Intel's 186, a 7.5% advantage. PassMark integer math favors AMD at 37,771 versus 33,258, a 13.6% edge. Data compression also goes to AMD at 152,012 against 145,287, a 4.6% margin. These wins indicate that AMD's architecture retains an advantage in certain scalar and integer-bound tasks.

Other notable Intel victories include PassMark data encryption at 11,076 versus 7,251, a 34.5% gap, and PassMark multi-thread at 15,471 versus 12,797, a 17.3% difference. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows Intel ahead at 1,325 versus 1,191, a 10.1% margin. Extended instructions favor Intel at 12,808 versus 11,124, a 13.1% delta. Random string sorting goes to Intel at 17,771 versus 16,188, an 8.9% difference. In single-thread PassMark, Intel leads at 4,088 versus 3,515, a 14% gap, and the Cinebench R23 single-core test shows Intel at 1,856 versus 1,812, a 2.4% margin.

The aggregate picture is straightforward: the Intel Core 5 330 is substantially faster in most multi-core, encryption, and floating-point workloads, while the AMD part holds a narrower lead in a few specific single-thread and integer tasks. The average benchmark scores reflect this, with AMD at 18,811 and Intel at 18,345, though the head-to-head deltas are far more dramatic than the overall averages suggest.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 is decisively ahead. It scores 13,150 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 7,840 for the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330, a 40.4% advantage. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test also favors Intel at 1,325 versus 1,191.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any single-core tests?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R15 single-core the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 scores 199.9 versus 186 for Intel, a 7.5% lead. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel wins at 1,856 versus 1,812, and in PassMark single-thread, Intel leads at 4,088 versus 3,515.

Q: How do the two compare in encryption and compression tasks?

A: Intel dominates encryption, scoring 11,076 in PassMark data encryption versus AMD's 7,251, a 34.5% gap. AMD wins in data compression at 152,012 versus 145,287, a 4.6% margin.

Q: What is the overall benchmark percentile ranking for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 sits at the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 330 is at the 72nd percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 18,811 for AMD and 18,345 for Intel.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading to reach 8 threads.

Q: Are there any tests where the AMD chip wins by more than 10%?

A: Yes, PassMark integer math shows AMD ahead by 13.6%, scoring 37,771 versus 33,258. This is its largest winning margin. The other AMD wins are smaller: 7.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core and 4.6% in data compression.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 uses the Zen 5 architecture under the Krackan Point 2 codename, part of the Ryzen AI 300 generation. It is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename under the Core 5 generation, fabricated on Intel's 3 nm process.

AMD configures the Ryzen AI 5 330 with 4 cores and 8 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to double thread count. Intel's Core 5 330 has 6 physical cores but does not support multithreading, resulting in 6 threads. This core and thread difference explains part of the multi-core performance gap: Intel has two more physical cores, while AMD has two more threads but fewer physical execution units.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of L3 cache. Intel offers a total of 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The larger shared L3 on Intel likely contributes to its advantage in workloads that benefit from a bigger unified cache pool.

Memory architecture also diverges. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, but AMD uses a dual-channel memory bus delivering 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, while Intel uses a single-channel bus at 59.7 GB/s. Despite lower memory bandwidth, Intel still wins most throughput tests, suggesting its core count and cache are more decisive factors in these benchmarks.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. AMD provides Gen 4 with 14 lanes from the CPU, while Intel offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics units differ: AMD pairs with Radeon 820M, while Intel uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The production status for both is listed as active. The AMD part has a release date of July 15, 2025, while Intel's release date is April 15, 2026. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are a primary differentiator: AMD has 4 cores and 8 threads, Intel has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks differ, with AMD at 2.00 GHz and Intel at 1.50 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with AMD at 4.50 GHz and Intel at 4.60 GHz.

Thermal design power shows a notable split: AMD is rated at 28 W, while Intel is rated at 15 W. This suggests Intel achieves its higher multi-core scores at a lower TDP, though the benchmark data does not include power consumption measurements.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD uses AMD Socket FP8, Intel uses Intel BGA 1516. The process nodes differ (4 nm for AMD, 3 nm for Intel), and the foundries are different (TSMC for AMD, Intel for Intel).

Cache specifications vary in structure. AMD lists L1 as 80 KB per core, L2 as 1 MB per core, and L3 as 4 MB. Intel lists L1 as 192 KB total, L2 as 2.5 MB total, and L3 as 6 MB shared. Memory bus width differs (dual-channel for AMD, single-channel for Intel), and memory bandwidth is higher on AMD at 89.6 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s.

PCIe lane counts differ (14 for AMD, 6 for Intel). Integrated graphics models are different. The release dates are different, and the part numbers differ (100-000001897 for AMD, SAE3G for Intel). Intel has a launch MSRP of $309, while AMD has no listed launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear recommendation based on workload type. The Intel Core 5 330 is the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering, encryption, physics simulation, and floating-point math. Its 40.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 41.3% lead in PassMark physics are decisive. For users running heavily parallel workloads that scale with physical core count, Intel's 6 cores provide a substantial advantage over AMD's 4 cores.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 is preferable for specific integer-heavy and compression tasks. Its 13.6% win in PassMark integer math and 4.6% win in data compression indicate that certain scalar workloads run efficiently on the Zen 5 architecture. The AMD part also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 7.5%, though Intel takes the newer Cinebench R23 single-core test.

Given that Intel wins 12 of 15 head-to-head tests and holds an average benchmark score of 18,345 versus AMD's 18,811, the overall performance picture is nuanced. The average scores are close, but the distribution of wins is lopsided. Intel's victories tend to be large (many above 30%), while AMD's wins are smaller (below 14%). The Intel Core 5 330 is the more consistently fast processor across the measured workload spectrum.

The AMD chip does offer higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s) and a dual-channel memory bus, which could matter in memory-sensitive applications not captured in these benchmarks. However, the recorded data shows Intel winning the vast majority of throughput tests despite lower bandwidth. The Intel chip also operates at a lower 15 W TDP, which may be relevant for thermal-constrained designs, though the database does not include efficiency metrics.

For buyers prioritizing multi-core performance, encryption throughput, or physics calculations, the Intel Core 5 330 is the data-backed selection. For those focused on integer math, compression, or specific single-core legacy benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 holds its own. The overall win count and magnitude of Intel's victories make it the default recommendation from the benchmark evidence.