AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX vs Intel Core 5 330 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear overall victor: the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX wins 9 of the 11 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 330 takes the remaining 2. The magnitude of AMD's victories is substantial, frequently exceeding triple-digit percentage deltas. In contrast, Intel's wins are narrow, with a delta of only 5.1%.

The most lopsided result appears in PassMark integer math, where the Ryzen 7 8745HX scores 100,328 against the Core 5 330's 33,258. That is a 201.7% advantage, the largest delta in the entire comparison. Data compression and random string sorting also show massive gaps: AMD scores 363,759 and 44,494 respectively, while Intel scores 145,287 and 17,771, both at a 150.4% delta. Extended instructions follow closely, with AMD at 27,638 versus Intel's 12,808, a 115.8% difference.

Multi-threaded performance reinforces the pattern. The PassMark multithread test shows AMD at 31,517 versus Intel at 15,471, a 103.7% lead. Data encryption shows a 97.2% delta, with AMD at 21,840 and Intel at 11,076. Floating point math delivers a 41.2% advantage for AMD, scoring 61,972 versus 43,885. Physics and prime number tests show narrower but still decisive wins: AMD leads physics by 40% (1,681 vs. 1,201) and prime numbers by 39.5% (159 vs. 114).

The Intel Core 5 330 wins both single-threaded tests, which are the same test recorded under two names: passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread. In both, Intel scores 4,088 against AMD's 3,879, a 5.1% margin. This is the only category where Intel demonstrates superiority, and the margin is modest compared to the scale of AMD's wins.

The average benchmark score in the database puts the Ryzen 7 8745HX at 60,104, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 330 averages 18,345, sitting in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals in the database contextualize these figures: the Ryzen 7 8745HX sits within 0.8% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D and 0.2% of the Intel Core i9-14900F, while the Core 5 330 trades places within 0.2% of the Intel Core 3 305 and Intel Core 7 360.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is the stronger processor for essentially every compute-heavy workload measured. Its 9 wins include all multi-threaded, encryption, compression, and math tests, with deltas ranging from 39.5% to 201.7%. The Core 5 330 only claims single-thread performance, and even that margin is slim at 5.1%.

The Ryzen 7 8745HX achieves an average benchmark score of 60,104, which places it in the 92nd percentile, directly alongside flagship desktop parts like the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX and Intel Core i9-14900F according to the nearest rivals data. The Core 5 330, with an average of 18,345, sits in the 72nd percentile, closer to budget desktop chips like the Intel Core i3-14100 and Core i3-13100.

The choice depends on workload priority. For users processing large datasets, running encryption, compiling code, or rendering, the Ryzen 7 8745HX delivers more than double the integer math throughput and over 100% more multi-threaded performance. For users whose primary metric is single-thread responsiveness, the Core 5 330 offers a marginal edge, but the 5.1% delta is unlikely to outweigh the massive multi-thread deficit.

The Core 5 330 also targets a different power envelope, with a 15 TDP versus the Ryzen's 55, which explains some of the performance gap. However, the benchmark results are unambiguous: the Ryzen 7 8745HX dominates in aggregate compute capability.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has an average benchmark score of 60,104, while the Intel Core 5 330 averages 18,345.

Q: In which test does the Intel Core 5 330 outperform the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 wins the PassMark single-thread test, scoring 4,088 versus the Ryzen's 3,879, a delta of 5.1%.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX scores 100,328 against the Intel Core 5 330's 33,258, a 201.7% advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in data compression?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX scores 363,759 in PassMark data compression, while the Intel Core 5 330 scores 145,287, giving AMD a 150.4% lead.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX ranks in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core 5 330 ranks in the 72nd percentile.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in core configuration and power characteristics. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 uses 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning the Intel part has no hyperthreading. Base clocks differ significantly: the Ryzen runs at 3.60 GHz, while the Core 5 330 runs at 1.50 GHz. Boost clocks are closer but still distinct: 5.10 GHz for AMD versus 4.60 GHz for Intel.

Thermal design power shows a major divergence. The Ryzen 7 8745HX is rated at 55 TDP, while the Core 5 330 is rated at 15 TDP. The Ryzen is also multiplier-unlocked, whereas the Core 5 330 is locked. The Ryzen 7 8745HX uses AMD Socket FL1, while the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516. The Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth; the Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X but only on a single-channel bus, with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The Ryzen 7 8745HX offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 5 330 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the Ryzen uses the Radeon 610M, while the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores.

The release dates in the database are separated by nearly a year: the Ryzen 7 8745HX has a release date of 2025-04-22, and the Core 5 330 has a release date of 2026-04-15. The Core 5 330 has a listed launch MSRP of $309.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Dragon Range codename, part of the 8000 series. It uses a 5 nm process node from TSMC, with 6,570 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename with a 3 nm process node from Intel, and the database lists no transistor count or die size for this part.

Cache hierarchies differ in both structure and size. The Ryzen 7 8745HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of total L1 cache, 2.5 MB of total L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen's per-core L3 allocation is substantially larger, and its total L3 is more than five times the Intel part's.

The Ryzen 7 8745HX supports 16 threads from 8 cores using SMT, while the Core 5 330 has no thread-doubling. The Ryzen's generation is listed as "Ryzen 7 (Zen 4 (Dragon Range))", while the Core 5 330 is listed as "Core 5 (Wildcat Lake)". The Intel part uses the newer 3 nm process, but the benchmark data does not show a corresponding performance advantage in any test except single-thread.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX wins every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workload in the database. For integer-heavy computing, the 201.7% lead in PassMark integer math makes it the clear choice. For data compression and string sorting, both at 150.4% deltas, the Ryzen delivers more than double the throughput. Encryption workloads favor the Ryzen at 97.2% ahead, and extended instructions at 115.8% ahead. Floating point math, physics simulation, and prime number finding all favor the Ryzen with deltas between 39.5% and 41.2%. The multithread test shows a 103.7% lead, confirming the Ryzen's advantage in parallel workloads.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only the single-thread test, with a 5.1% margin over the Ryzen. This makes it the better choice for workloads that are strictly serial and cannot utilize additional cores or threads. The 15 TDP also indicates a much lower power draw, which may suit fanless or ultra-portable designs, though the database does not include power consumption measurements beyond the TDP figures.

For users choosing between the two, the decision hinges on whether single-thread speed or aggregate throughput matters more. The Ryzen 7 8745HX offers a 92nd-percentile average score and rivals flagship desktop processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX and Intel Core i9-14900F. The Core 5 330 offers a 72nd-percentile score and aligns with entry-level desktop parts like the Intel Core i3-14100 and Core i3-13100. The data does not support the Core 5 330 for any multi-threaded use case, but its single-thread edge and lower TDP define its niche.