AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U and Intel Core 5 330 are both six-core mobile processors, but they target different segments of the embedded and low-power laptop market. The Ryzen chip is built on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture with simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel part relies on a newer process node but lacks Hyper-Threading. Benchmark data for the Intel Core 5 330 shows a strong overall average score of 18,345, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs tested. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, so the comparison relies on architectural specifications and the Intel part’s measured results.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 330 wins in every measured benchmark category because it is the only one of the two with recorded test results. The database contains 16 benchmark entries for the Intel Core 5 330, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, plus a suite of PassMark tests. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13,150 and single-core score of 1,856 indicate a balanced performer for both threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The PassMark multithread score of 15,471 and single-thread score of 4,088 confirm that the chip handles both parallel and single-threaded tasks competently.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has no benchmark entries in the database, so the analysis cannot assign it any wins based on measured performance. However, its architectural specifications suggest where it might excel. With 12 threads from six cores, the Ryzen part offers twice the thread count of the Intel Core 5 330, which has six threads from six cores. In heavily multithreaded workloads such as video rendering, scientific simulation, or server-side virtualization, the extra threads could provide a meaningful advantage, though no measured data supports this claim.

The Intel Core 5 330, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz, shows strong single-core performance in the data. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,856 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,088 place it well above typical low-power mobile processors. The Ryzen 8640U has a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz and a base clock of 3.50 GHz, which could translate to faster single-threaded execution, but again, no benchmark scores exist to verify this.

For workloads that rely on memory bandwidth, the AMD part has a clear specification advantage. The Ryzen 8640U supports dual-channel DDR5 with a theoretical bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus capped at 59.7 GB/s. The database shows that memory-intensive tasks like integer math, floating-point math, and data compression are common in PassMark tests, and the Intel part scores 33,258, 43,885, and 145,287 respectively. The Ryzen’s wider memory bus could improve performance in such tasks, but the lack of measured results means this remains speculative.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U uses a 4 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. Its Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Hawk Point, is a mature design with a 16 MB shared L3 cache, 1 MB L2 per core, and 64 KB L1 per core. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a 3 nm process node from Intel’s own foundry, with the Wildcat Lake codename. It has a smaller cache hierarchy: 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3.

The thread count difference is critical. The Ryzen 8640U supports simultaneous multithreading, so its six cores handle 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has six cores and six threads, meaning each core works on a single task. For parallel workloads that scale with thread count, the Ryzen part has a theoretical 100% more threads. However, the Intel chip compensates with a higher process node efficiency and a boost clock that reaches 4.60 GHz, close to the Ryzen’s 4.90 GHz.

Memory support differs significantly. The Ryzen 8640U supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel configuration and ECC memory capability. The Intel Core 5 330 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but only in single-channel mode, and it lacks ECC support. The Ryzen’s ECC capability is a notable feature for embedded or server applications where data integrity is paramount. The Intel part’s support for LPDDR5X allows for lower-power memory in compact devices, but the single-channel limitation reduces bandwidth.

PCIe lane allocation also diverges. The Ryzen 8640U provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Core 5 330 offers only 6 Gen 4 lanes. For embedded systems that need to connect multiple peripherals such as NVMe drives, network cards, or accelerators, the Ryzen’s higher lane count is a substantial advantage. The Intel part’s limited lanes constrain expansion options.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 8640U uses a Radeon 760M, while the Intel Core 5 330 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The database does not provide benchmark scores for either GPU, so graphical performance cannot be compared numerically. Both are integrated solutions appropriate for basic display output and light media acceleration, but the Radeon part may offer higher shader throughput based on its naming convention, though no data supports this.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has 12 threads from 6 cores due to simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 threads from 6 cores, with no SMT support.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Ryzen 8640U supports dual-channel DDR5 with a theoretical bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core 5 330 uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with a maximum bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 330 does not support ECC.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The Ryzen 8640U boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz. The base clocks are 3.50 GHz for the AMD part and 1.50 GHz for the Intel part.

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 330 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18,345. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-14100, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core 3 305, and 0.2% behind both the Intel Core 7 360 and Intel Core i3-13100.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core 5 330 provides only 6 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base clock | 3.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 15 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Not specified |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Wildcat Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not specified |

| Die size | 178 mm² | Not specified |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB |

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

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 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 4, 20 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 760M | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Release date | 2024-04-01 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $309 |

| Part number | Unknown | SAE3G |

The Intel Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has no launch MSRP listed in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark comparisons between these two processors. The only measured scores belong to the Intel Core 5 330, which has 16 individual benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen Embedded 8640U has zero recorded scores, so a direct numerical comparison is impossible.

The Intel Core 5 330’s strongest results appear in the PassMark suite. Its data compression score of 145,287 is the highest among its recorded PassMark tests, followed by floating-point math at 43,885 and integer math at 33,258. These scores indicate solid performance in computational workloads common in embedded systems, such as encryption, sorting, and numerical analysis. The data encryption score of 11,076 and extended instructions score of 12,808 show moderate capability in cryptographic and SIMD-heavy tasks.

In Cinebench tests, the Intel Core 5 330 achieves 13,150 in R23 multicore and 1,856 in R23 single-core. The R20 results are 5,523 multicore and 779 single-core, while R15 scores are 1,325 multicore and 186 single-core. These Cinebench numbers suggest that the chip scales reasonably well with multi-threaded rendering workloads, though its lack of SMT means each core handles one thread. The single-core scores are modest but consistent with a low-power 15 W TDP design.

The Ryzen 8640U, with a 28 W TDP, has a higher power envelope and more threads. Its base clock of 3.50 GHz is more than double the Intel part’s 1.50 GHz base clock, which could lead to faster sustained performance in short bursts. The boost clock difference is smaller: 4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. The Ryzen’s dual-channel memory support and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth could improve performance in memory-bound tasks, but the absence of benchmark data prevents quantification.

The Intel Core 5 330’s nearest rival in the database is the Intel Core i3-14100, with an average score of 18,318, just 0.1% lower. The Core 7 360 scores 18,374, which is 0.2% higher, and the Core i3-13100 scores 18,380, also 0.2% higher. The Core 3 305 scores 18,302, 0.2% lower. These deltas are tiny, indicating that the Core 5 330 performs within a narrow band of its closest competitors. Its percentile rank of 72 places it above the median CPU in the database, confirming that it is a competent mid-range mobile processor.

Given the lack of measured data for the AMD part, the only meaningful comparison comes from specifications. The Ryzen 8640U offers more threads, higher clocks, wider memory bandwidth, ECC support, more PCIe lanes, and a larger L3 cache. The Intel Core 5 330 counters with a smaller process node, lower TDP, LPDDR5X support, and a later release date. For applications that prioritize raw multi-threaded throughput and memory bandwidth, the Ryzen part has the architectural edge. For power-sensitive, compact designs that need lower thermal output and support for low-power memory, the Intel part may be more suitable, though its single-channel memory and limited PCIe lanes are constraints.

The database shows that the Intel Core 5 330 performs well in absolute terms, with an average benchmark score of 18,345. The Ryzen 8640U’s performance cannot be assessed from the recorded data, so any claims about its speed would be speculative. What is clear from the specification sheet is that the two processors take fundamentally different approaches to the same six-core mobile segment: AMD uses a mature, high-bandwidth design with SMT, while Intel uses a newer, lower-power process with a simpler core layout.