AMD Ryzen 5 40 vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data draws a remarkably clean dividing line between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core 5 330 wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database, securing 15 wins out of 15 recorded tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 does not win a single benchmark in this matchup. That outcome is unusual for a processor comparison, as most chips at least claim a niche in specific workloads. Here, the data shows no such counterweight.

The Intel Core 5 330 builds its advantage across every category the database tracks. It leads in raw multi-threaded rendering, single-thread performance, integer math, floating-point math, encryption, compression, and physics simulations. The margin varies from a narrow 2.6% in data compression to a dominant 82.5% in prime number finding. This is not a case of one chip winning synthetic tests while the other takes real-world tasks; the sweep is total.

For workloads like Cinebench rendering, which stress sustained multi-core throughput, the Intel part is in another class. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13150 against 4841 represents a 63.2% deficit for the AMD chip. Similarly, the PassMark physics test shows the Intel processor scoring 1201 versus 432, a 64% gap. These are the kinds of numbers that separate a chip capable of demanding productivity work from one limited to lighter duties.

The AMD Ryzen 5 40 does demonstrate respectable absolute scores in a few areas. Its PassMark data compression result of 141533 is close to the Intel figure of 145287, and the integer math test shows 31598 versus 33258, a gap of only 5%. These are the closest contests in the entire dataset. But close is not a win, and the database records no benchmark where the AMD part comes out ahead.

Architecture Differences

The two processors take fundamentally different design paths, which explains the performance spread. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Mendocino codename, fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The thermal design power is 15 watts. The chip uses 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 4 MB shared L3 cache. The die size is 100 mm².

The Intel Core 5 330, codenamed Wildcat Lake, is built on a 3 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It offers 6 cores but only 6 threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading. Base clock sits at 1.50 GHz, which is much lower than the AMD part, but the boost clock reaches 4.60 GHz, slightly higher. The TDP is also 15 watts. Cache configuration differs substantially: 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3.

Memory architecture diverges as well. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, yielding a theoretical bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X but uses a single-channel memory bus, capping bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s. That is a significant difference on paper, yet the Intel processor still wins every memory-sensitive benchmark in the database. The single-channel limitation does not appear to hold it back in these tests.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The AMD part provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel chip offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The Intel integrated graphics are newer as well: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores versus the AMD Radeon 610M. Both chips are mobile parts on proprietary sockets: AMD Socket FT6 for the Ryzen 5 40, Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 330. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

The release dates tell a story of timing. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 launched on 2025-09-30, while the Intel Core 5 330 arrived later on 2026-04-15. The Intel chip benefits from a newer process node, a newer microarchitecture generation, and a later release window. The database lists the Intel part with a launch MSRP of $309, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results establish the clearest hierarchy. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel Core 5 330 scores 13150 against 4841 for the AMD Ryzen 5 40, a 63.2% gap. That is the largest Cinebench margin in the dataset. The single-core R23 test shows 1856 versus 1150, a 38% deficit for AMD. Cinebench R15 follows the same pattern: multicore 1325 versus 790 (40.4% gap), single-core 186 versus 165.5 (11% gap). The R15 single-core margin is the smallest Cinebench difference, but it is still a clear win for Intel.

PassMark tests reveal where the Intel chip excels most. The floating-point math test shows 43885 versus 15194, a 65.4% gap. The physics test delivers 1201 versus 432, a 64% gap. Prime number finding, which measures instruction efficiency on a specific workload, shows 114 versus 20, an 82.5% gap, the largest of any test. Extended instructions score 12808 versus 6437, a 49.7% gap. Data encryption shows 11076 versus 6646, a 40% gap. Multithread score is 15471 versus 9341, a 39.6% gap.

The closest results offer some insight into the AMD chip's strengths. Data compression: 145287 versus 141533, only 2.6% apart. Integer math: 33258 versus 31598, just 5% apart. Random string sorting: 17771 versus 15124, a 14.9% gap. These are workloads where the AMD part's dual-channel memory bandwidth and Zen 2 integer throughput keep it within striking distance. But the Intel chip still wins all three.

The PassMark single-thread tests show 4088 for Intel versus 2477 for AMD, a 39.4% gap. That is a substantial single-core advantage, driven by the Intel chip's 4.60 GHz boost clock and newer architecture. The AMD part's 4.30 GHz boost cannot compensate for the older Zen 2 design.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the database?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 records 0 wins.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two chips?

A: The PassMark find prime numbers test shows the Intel Core 5 330 scoring 114 against 20 for the AMD Ryzen 5 40, a gap of 82.5%.

Q: How do the core counts differ between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 40 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which chip has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 40 supports dual-channel LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 330 uses single-channel DDR5 or LPDDR5X with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 40 boosts to 4.30 GHz. The Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark percentile?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile versus all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 sits at the 70th percentile.

The Verdict

The database points to one conclusion: the Intel Core 5 330 is the stronger processor in every measured workload. The 15-0 win record leaves no ambiguity. The Intel chip leads by 63.2% in Cinebench R23 multicore, 65.4% in floating-point math, and 82.5% in prime number finding. Its average benchmark score of 18345 sits well above the AMD part's 15882. The Intel chip also ranks higher in the overall percentile, at 72 compared to 70.

The AMD Ryzen 5 40 is not without merit in absolute terms. It posts a respectable PassMark multithread score of 9341 and a single-thread score of 2477. Its dual-channel memory controller provides 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is 47% higher than the Intel chip's 59.7 GB/s figure. In data compression and integer math, the AMD part comes within 5% of the Intel chip. Those are real capabilities for a 15-watt mobile processor.

But the comparative data is decisive. The Intel Core 5 330 offers 6 cores on a 3 nm process versus 4 cores on 6 nm, a newer architecture, a higher boost clock, and a larger L3 cache of 6 MB versus 4 MB. The single-channel memory bus is a notable handicap on paper, yet the benchmark results do not reflect any penalty. The Intel chip wins every test regardless.

For a user selecting between these two mobile parts strictly on recorded performance, the Intel Core 5 330 is the clear choice. It delivers higher scores across rendering, computation, encryption, and general productivity. The AMD Ryzen 5 40 would be the pick only in a scenario where its specific advantages, such as dual-channel memory bandwidth or the earlier release date, matter more than the substantial performance deficits recorded in the database.