Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core 7 250H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in the Intel Core 7 250H, which takes 16 of the 17 recorded tests. The Intel Core 5 330 wins only a single test, PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 114 against 106, a 7.5% advantage. That is the sole bright spot for the smaller chip.

The most lopsided result appears in PassMark integer math. The Core 7 250H scores 99100, while the Core 5 330 manages 33258, a 66.4% deficit. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. PassMark data compression also shows a massive gap: 303269 for the Core 7 250H versus 145287 for the Core 5 330, a 52.1% difference. The Core 7 250H doubles the Core 5 330 in this workload.

Cinebench multicore results follow a similar pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core 7 250H scores 3147 against 1325, a 57.9% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 9697 versus 5523, a 43% advantage. Cinebench R23 multicore narrows the gap somewhat, with 16561 against 13150, a 20.6% difference. The scaling suggests that the Core 7 250H's additional cores and threads matter less as the workload becomes more modern, but it still wins comfortably.

Single-core tests are much closer. Cinebench R23 singlecore gives the Core 7 250H a 1931 score versus 1856, only a 3.9% lead. PassMark single thread shows 4148 against 4088, a 1.4% difference. Cinebench R15 singlecore is the widest single-core gap, with 298 versus 186, a 37.6% difference. The older Cinebench test appears to favor the higher base clock of the Core 7 250H more strongly.

Other PassMark tests reinforce the Core 7 250H's dominance. Random string sorting shows 34136 versus 17771, a 47.9% lead. PassMark multithread gives 27030 against 15471, a 42.8% advantage. Data encryption shows 18206 versus 11076, a 39.2% gap. Floating point math delivers 65094 versus 43885, a 32.6% lead. Extended instructions show 17318 versus 12808, a 26% difference. Physics simulation gives 1824 versus 1201, a 34.2% advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 7 250H wins across nearly every workload category represented in the database. Its largest advantages come in integer-heavy and compression tasks. The 66.4% lead in integer math and the 52.1% lead in data compression indicate that the 14-core, 20-thread configuration with a 5.40 GHz boost clock handles parallel integer workloads with far more headroom than the 6-core, 6-thread Core 5 330.

The Core 7 250H also wins all three Cinebench multicore tests, which makes it the stronger choice for rendering and other heavily threaded creative workloads. The R15 multicore result shows a 57.9% advantage, while R20 and R23 show 43% and 20.6% leads respectively. Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the Core 7 250H leads by 37.6% in R15, 43.1% in R20, and 3.9% in R23, so it holds the single-thread advantage as well.

The Intel Core 5 330 has exactly one recorded win: PassMark find prime numbers, 114 versus 106. That 7.5% margin is small, but it suggests that the 3 nm Wildcat Lake design has some efficiency in this particular scalar workload. The Core 5 330 also keeps single-thread performance respectable in PassMark tests, trailing by only 1.4% in PassMark single thread. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the gap is just 3.9%. For users whose primary metric is light single-threaded responsiveness, the Core 5 330 is not far behind.

The average benchmark score confirms the overall positioning. The Core 7 250H records an average benchmark score of 35728, while the Core 5 330 records 18345. The Core 7 250H also sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile. The Core 7 250H's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 with a 0% delta, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with a 0.2% delta, and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X with a -0.5% delta. The Core 5 330's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100 with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core 7 360 with a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Core 3 305 with a 0.2% delta. This places the two chips in entirely different performance tiers.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core 7 250H is the stronger processor for almost any workload. It leads in 16 of 17 benchmarks, including all Cinebench multicore and singlecore tests, all major PassMark tests except find prime numbers, and the overall average benchmark score by a factor of roughly 1.9. The 85th percentile ranking versus 72nd percentile confirms that the Core 7 250H belongs to a higher performance class.

The Core 5 330 is a 6-core, 6-thread part with a 1.50 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock. It uses a 3 nm process node and a single-channel memory bus. Its single PassMark win in find prime numbers does not offset the substantial losses elsewhere. The closest single-core margin, 1.4% in PassMark single thread, shows that the Core 5 330 competes adequately in light workloads, but the 37.6% Cinebench R15 singlecore deficit and the 43.1% Cinebench R20 singlecore deficit show that it falls behind in other single-threaded scenarios.

Users who need a processor for heavy parallel tasks, rendering, compression, encryption, or integer math should choose the Core 7 250H. Users who prioritize the single PassMark find prime numbers result or who need a lower-power 15 W TDP part with a 3 nm node may consider the Core 5 330, but the benchmark data gives it no other advantage. The Core 7 250H is the clear choice based on the recorded measurements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core 5 330 wins only PassMark find prime numbers.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: It varies by test. In PassMark single thread, the Core 7 250H leads by 1.4%. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, it leads by 3.9%. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, it leads by 37.6%, and in Cinebench R20 singlecore, it leads by 43.1%.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark difference between the two?

A: PassMark integer math shows the largest gap. The Core 7 250H scores 99100, while the Core 5 330 scores 33258, a 66.4% difference.

Q: Does the Intel Core 5 330 win any test?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark find prime numbers with a score of 114 versus 106, a 7.5% advantage.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H has an average benchmark score of 35728. The Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 7 250H sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design families. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The Intel Core 7 250H uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-H codename and belongs to the Core 7 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation.

The process nodes differ substantially. The Core 5 330 is built on a 3 nm process node, while the Core 7 250H uses a 10 nm process node. Both are fabricated by Intel. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core 7 250H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Core 7 250H therefore supports more simultaneous threads, which explains its large multicore leads.

Cache configurations also differ. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 250H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 250H's larger L3 cache gives it a notable advantage in cached workloads.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core 7 250H supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus; no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. The Core 7 250H's dual-channel bus is the more capable configuration for memory-intensive tasks.

PCIe support differs. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core 7 250H provides Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core 7 250H uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences are as follows. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core 7 250H has 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 330 and 2.50 GHz for the Core 7 250H. Boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 5.40 GHz respectively. The Core 5 330 has a 15 W TDP, while the Core 7 250H has a 45 W TDP.

Sockets differ: the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core 7 250H uses Intel BGA 1744. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 330 is $309, and the launch MSRP for the Core 7 250H is $502. Release dates differ as well: the Core 5 330 was released on 2026-04-15, while the Core 7 250H was released on 2024-12-17.

Memory support differs in type and channel configuration. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus. The Core 7 250H supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus. The Core 5 330 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the Core 7 250H.

PCIe configurations differ: Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes for the Core 5 330 versus Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes for the Core 7 250H. Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores versus Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units. The part numbers are SAE3G for the Core 5 330 and SRQ6UQ5MK for the Core 7 250H. Both processors are active in production, target the mobile market segment, and are locked.