Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core 7 150U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors along clear workload lines. The Intel Core 5 330 wins 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 7 150U takes 6. The Core 5 330 dominates in Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core workloads, extended instruction sets, prime number finding, floating point math, encryption, physics, and single-threaded PassMark tests. The Core 7 150U counters with wins in Cinebench R15, integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and a narrow single-core Cinebench R23 victory.

The most decisive split appears in multi-core rendering. The Core 5 330 posts a 48% lead over the Core 7 150U in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the largest margin in the entire comparison. That gap reverses in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Core 7 150U leads by 12%. The two processors also diverge sharply in integer versus floating point performance. The Core 7 150U leads integer math by 34.9%, while the Core 5 330 leads floating point math by 27.6%. Users running mixed workloads will see different winners depending on the instruction mix.

The Core 5 330 shows particular strength in encryption, leading by 10.5%, and in extended instructions, where it posts a 46.4% advantage. Prime number finding favors the Core 5 330 by an enormous 96.6%, the second-largest margin in the dataset. The Core 7 150U's wins are concentrated in memory-latency-sensitive or integer-heavy tasks: data compression (8.4% ahead), integer math (34.9% ahead), random string sorting (2.7% ahead), and Cinebench R15 tests. The single-thread picture is mixed as well: the Core 5 330 wins PassMark single-thread by 16.5%, while the Core 7 150U wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 1% and Cinebench R15 single-core by 26.8%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations and manufacturing nodes. The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm process, while the Core 7 150U uses Raptor Lake on a 10 nm process. Both are built by Intel and target mobile systems. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads with no hyperthreading, while the Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads, indicating a hybrid configuration with efficiency cores. The Core 5 330's base clock is 1.50 GHz with a boost of 4.60 GHz; the Core 7 150U runs at 1.80 GHz base and 5.40 GHz boost. Both have a 15 W TDP.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core 7 150U lists 80 KB per core L1, 1.25 MB per core L2, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 330's cache figures represent total capacity, while the Core 7 150U's per-core figures scale with its 10 cores. Memory support also differs: the Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 7 150U supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with no bandwidth figure recorded. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory controller, which may constrain memory-bound workloads despite its newer process node.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes; the Core 7 150U provides Gen 4 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core 7 150U uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The Core 5 330 uses socket Intel BGA 1516, and the Core 7 150U uses Intel BGA 1744. The Core 5 330 has a recorded launch MSRP of $309; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core 7 150U. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The Core 5 330's release date is recorded as 2026-04-15, while the Core 7 150U's release date is 2024-01-07.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win belongs to the Core 5 330 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. It scores 13150 against the Core 7 150U's 8883, a 48% advantage. This result indicates that the newer Wildcat Lake design delivers substantially better sustained multi-threaded rendering performance despite having fewer cores and threads. The Core 5 330 also leads Cinebench R20 multi-core by 5.2% (5523 versus 5248) and Cinebench R20 single-core by 5.3% (779 versus 740). The Cinebench R15 results flip: the Core 7 150U leads multi-core by 12% (1505.5 versus 1325) and single-core by 26.8% (254 versus 186). The single-core R23 result is nearly tied, with the Core 7 150U ahead by 1% (1875.5 versus 1856).

PassMark results show a clear pattern. The Core 5 330 wins single-thread by 16.5% (4088 versus 3508), multithread by 5.2% (15471 versus 14700), physics by 18.7% (1201 versus 1012), floating point math by 27.6% (43885 versus 34405), extended instructions by 46.4% (12808 versus 8748), encryption by 10.5% (11076 versus 10025), and prime numbers by 96.6% (114 versus 58). The Core 7 150U wins integer math by 34.9% (51057 versus 33258), data compression by 8.4% (158622 versus 145287), and random string sorting by 2.7% (18269 versus 17771). The Prime number result is particularly lopsided: 114 versus 58, a near doubling of performance.

The overall average benchmark scores place the Core 5 330 at 18345 with a 72nd percentile rank among all CPUs, while the Core 7 150U averages 17395 with a 71st percentile. The Core 5 330's nearest rivals by average score include the Intel Core i3-14100 (18318, 0.1% behind), Intel Core 7 360 (18374, 0.2% ahead), Intel Core i3-13100 (18380, 0.2% ahead), and Intel Core 3 305 (18302, 0.2% behind). The Core 7 150U's nearest rivals are all AMD parts: Ryzen 5 4500 (17333, 0.4% behind), Ryzen 3 210 (17321, 0.4% behind), Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE (17482, 0.5% ahead), and Ryzen 5 4600G (17507, 0.6% ahead). The two processors sit close in overall standing, but their workload profiles could not be more different.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward choice based on workload. The Intel Core 5 330 is the stronger processor for multi-core rendering, floating point computation, encryption, physics simulation, and single-threaded PassMark tasks. Its 48% Cinebench R23 multi-core lead and 96.6% prime number advantage are decisive. The Intel Core 7 150U is the better choice for integer-heavy workloads, data compression, and the Cinebench R15 benchmark suite. Its 34.9% integer math lead and 8.4% data compression win indicate a different optimization target.

The Core 5 330's 3 nm process and newer Wildcat Lake architecture likely explain its efficiency in multi-core Cinebench R23 despite fewer threads. The Core 7 150U's hybrid 10-core, 12-thread configuration with a 5.40 GHz boost clock explains its integer math and compression strengths. For users running modern rendering workloads or floating point applications, the Core 5 330 delivers the better results. For users running integer-heavy code or older Cinebench versions, the Core 7 150U holds advantages. The overall average scores are close (18345 versus 17395, a 5.5% gap), but the workload-specific margins are large enough to matter.

The Core 5 330's lower core count does not hurt it in multi-core tests, which suggests the Wildcat Lake cores are substantially more efficient per thread. The Core 7 150U's higher boost clock and dual-channel memory support give it advantages in latency-sensitive and integer workloads. Neither processor is universally faster. The recorded data shows a split along architectural lines: newer process and core design versus higher core count and clock speed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 scores 13150 versus the Intel Core 7 150U's 8883, a 48% lead for the Core 5 330.

Q: How do the two compare in single-thread performance?

A: Results vary by test. The Core 5 330 wins PassMark single-thread by 16.5% (4088 versus 3508) and Cinebench R20 single-core by 5.3% (779 versus 740). The Core 7 150U wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 26.8% (254 versus 186) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 1% (1875.5 versus 1856).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core 7 150U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 150U boosts to 5.40 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz. The Core 5 330 has a 1.50 GHz base clock; the Core 7 150U has a 1.80 GHz base clock.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core 7 150U uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units.

Q: Which processor has a higher overall benchmark average?

A: The Core 5 330 averages 18345 with a 72nd percentile rank. The Core 7 150U averages 17395 with a 71st percentile rank.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 330 | Intel Core 7 150U |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 6 | 12 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| Process node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Raptor Lake-U |

| Generation | Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) | Core 7 (Raptor Lake-U) |

| L1 cache | 192 KB | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 6 MB shared | 12 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Release date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SAE3G | SRMYP |