Intel Core 5 120 vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 120 scores 18,255 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 38.8% ahead of the Intel Core 5 330's 13,150.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 330 win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes. The Core 5 330 wins PassMark single-thread (4,088 vs 3,595, a 12.1% advantage) and PassMark find prime numbers (114 vs 77, a 32.5% advantage).

Q: How do the two chips compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Core 5 120 averages 25,362 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 330 averages 18,345, placing it in the 72nd percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each chip according to the database?

A: The Core 5 120 sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-13400F. The Core 5 330 is within 0.2% of the Intel Core 7 360 and 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 5 120 supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core 5 120 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different design lineages. The Intel Core 5 120 is built on Raptor Lake-R architecture, part of the Raptor Lake Refresh generation, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform and targets the desktop market. The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, built on a 3 nm process, and is designed for mobile systems with a BGA 1516 socket.

Core counts are identical at six physical cores, but thread handling diverges sharply. The Core 5 120 supports Hyper-Threading with 12 threads total, while the Core 5 330 operates with 6 threads, one per core. This threading difference largely explains the multi-core performance gap seen across Cinebench and PassMark tests.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Core 5 120 allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, while the Core 5 330 provides 192 KB of L1 and 2.5 MB of L2 in aggregate. The L3 cache favors the desktop part by a wide margin: 18 MB shared versus 6 MB shared.

Platform capabilities separate the two further. The Core 5 120 runs on a dual-channel memory bus supporting DDR4 and DDR5, with PCIe Gen 5 and 16 CPU lanes. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel bus supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X, with a measured memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s and PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 120 carries UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 5 330 integrates Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

Clock behavior favors the mobile chip in raw boost ceiling. The Core 5 120 has a 2.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The Core 5 330 runs a much lower 1.50 GHz base but a slightly higher 4.60 GHz boost. Thermal design power tells the efficiency story: 65 W for the desktop part versus 15 W for the mobile part. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 120 dominates the Cinebench suite with remarkable consistency. Every single Cinebench result, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multi-core, lands within a narrow 38.8% to 39.2% advantage for the desktop chip. The largest Cinebench margin appears in R15 single-core at 39.2%, while R20 multi-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core all show 38.8% leads. This uniformity suggests the advantage comes from the thread count and cache capacity rather than any test-specific quirk.

PassMark results paint a more varied picture. The biggest win for the Core 5 120 comes in integer math, where it scores 60,462 against 33,258, a massive 81.8% advantage. Data compression shows a 51.1% lead with scores of 219,535 versus 145,287. Random string sorting favors the desktop part by 21%, multithread by 20.2%, and extended instructions by 11.4%. Floating point math is closer at 3.4%, and data encryption is essentially a tie, with the Core 5 120 ahead by just 0.5%.

The Core 5 330 claims two clear victories. Its PassMark single-thread score of 4,088 beats the Core 5 120's 3,595 by 12.1%. This result appears twice in the database under slightly different test names, confirming the mobile chip's single-thread edge. The find prime numbers test also goes to the Core 5 330 by 32.5%, with scores of 114 versus 77. In physics, the Core 5 120 wins by 11%, scoring 1,333 against 1,201.

Overall, the Core 5 120 wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The average benchmark score reflects this: 25,362 versus 18,345, a difference of roughly 38%. The Core 5 330's wins are concentrated in workloads that favor its higher boost clock and more efficient architecture, but those wins are too narrow to offset the desktop chip's broad multi-threaded dominance.

The Verdict

The data draws a clear separation between these two processors. The Intel Core 5 120 is the stronger performer in nearly every measured category, particularly in multi-threaded workloads. Its 18 MB L3 cache, dual-channel memory support, and 12 threads give it decisive advantages in Cinebench R23 multi-core (38.8% ahead) and PassMark integer math (81.8% ahead). The database places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with its closest rivals being the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D and Intel Core i5-13400F, both within 0.3%.

The Intel Core 5 330 occupies a different niche entirely. Its 15 W TDP and mobile BGA socket position it for portable systems where efficiency matters more than raw throughput. It wins PassMark single-thread by 12.1% and find prime numbers by 32.5%, showing that its 4.60 GHz boost clock and 3 nm process deliver tangible single-thread capability. Its closest rivals, the Intel Core i3-14100 and Core 7 360, sit within 0.2%, confirming its position in the 72nd percentile.

Pick the Core 5 120 for desktop builds where multi-threaded performance, larger cache, and dual-channel memory matter. Pick the Core 5 330 for mobile designs where the 15 W power envelope, single-thread speed, and integrated Xe3 Graphics take priority. The benchmark data supports both choices within their respective segments.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 120 | Intel Core 5 330 |

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

| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 1.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-R | Wildcat Lake |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2025-07-30 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $211 | $309 |

| Part Number | SA35V | SAE3G |