Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core 7 251TE Comparison
Intel Core 5 330
Core 7 251TE
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core 7 251TE
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread PassMark score?
A: The Intel Core 5 330 wins the PassMark single-thread test with a score of 4088, compared to 3568 for the Intel Core 7 251TE, a 14.6% advantage.
Q: How much faster is the Intel Core 7 251TE in Cinebench R23 multi-core?
A: The Core 7 251TE scores 25518 versus 13150 for the Core 5 330, a 48.5% lead in that specific benchmark.
Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?
A: The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads.
Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?
A: Only the Intel Core 7 251TE supports ECC memory. The Core 5 330 does not.
Q: What is the process node difference between the two?
A: The Core 5 330 is built on a 3 nm process, while the Core 7 251TE uses a 10 nm process.
Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Core 7 251TE boosts to 5.40 GHz, compared to 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 330.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different architectural lineages and target different platform segments. The Intel Core 5 330 is a Wildcat Lake part, built on a 3 nm process and designed for mobile systems with an Intel BGA 1516 socket. It uses a single-channel memory bus supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X, with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. Its integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Core 5 330 carries 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. PCIe support is Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.
The Intel Core 7 251TE belongs to the Bartlett Lake family on a 10 nm node, uses an Intel Socket 1700, and is classified as a desktop part. It supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory, with a higher memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770. Cache is organized differently: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core 7 251TE also has a die size of 215 mm² and supports ECC memory, which the Core 5 330 lacks.
Core counts differ substantially. The Core 5 330 provides 6 cores and 6 threads with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost of 4.60 GHz. The Core 7 251TE provides 24 cores and 32 threads with a base clock of 1.40 GHz and a boost of 5.40 GHz. The Core 7 251TE has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Core 5 330 is rated at 15 watts. Both processors have locked multipliers. The Core 5 330 was released in 2025, and the Core 7 251TE in 2026.
The Verdict
The recorded data points to a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core 7 251TE dominates every multi-threaded and most single-threaded benchmarks in the comparison. It wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head tests, with Cinebench R23 multi-core showing a 48.5% lead and PassMark integer math showing a 73.5% lead. Its average benchmark score is 41650, putting it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 330, with an average score of 18345, sits in the 72nd percentile.
The Core 5 330 wins only the PassMark single-thread test, by a 14.6% margin. That result, combined with its 15-watt TDP and mobile socket, indicates it is designed for efficiency-sensitive workloads where a light footprint matters more than raw throughput. The Core 7 251TE, with its 45-watt TDP, desktop socket, 24 cores, 32 threads, and 36 MB of L3 cache, is built for sustained multi-threaded work on desktop platforms. Users who need ECC memory support must choose the Core 7 251TE, as the Core 5 330 does not offer it. The Core 5 330 is the only option for those who require a 3 nm process, LPDDR5X support, or Intel Xe3 integrated graphics.
Specification Differences
The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads; the Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks are close, with the Core 5 330 at 1.50 GHz and the Core 7 251TE at 1.40 GHz, but boost clocks differ by 0.80 GHz in favor of the Core 7 251TE at 5.40 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. TDP is 15 watts versus 45 watts. Socket types are incompatible: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 330 and Intel Socket 1700 for the Core 7 251TE.
Process nodes differ: 3 nm for the Core 5 330, 10 nm for the Core 7 251TE. The Core 7 251TE has a larger die at 215 mm²; the Core 5 330 has no die size recorded. Cache configurations are completely different. The Core 5 330 uses 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The Core 7 251TE uses 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3. Memory support diverges: the Core 5 330 supports only DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus, while the Core 7 251TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is absent on the Core 5 330 and present on the Core 7 251TE. PCIe lanes and version differ: Gen 4 with 6 lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) versus UHD Graphics 770. Market segments are Mobile versus Desktop. Release dates differ: 2025 for the Core 5 330 and 2026 for the Core 7 251TE. The launch MSRP is $309 for the Core 5 330 and $384 for the Core 7 251TE.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Intel Core 7 251TE wins all six Cinebench tests by nearly identical margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2572 versus 1325, a 48.5% lead. R15 single-core shows 362 versus 186, also a 48.6% lead. R20 multi-core is 10717 versus 5523, and R20 single-core is 1512 versus 779, both at 48.5% deltas. R23 multi-core is 25518 versus 13150, and R23 single-core is 3602 versus 1856, again 48.5% deltas.
PassMark results tell a more varied story. The Core 7 251TE wins data compression with 334399 versus 145287, a 56.6% lead. Data encryption is 22176 versus 11076, a 50.1% lead. Extended instructions favor the Core 7 251TE by a smaller margin: 16974 versus 12808, a 24.5% lead. Find prime numbers is close, with 140 versus 114, an 18.6% lead. Floating point math is 85607 versus 43885, a 48.7% lead. Integer math shows the largest gap: 125739 versus 33258, a 73.5% lead. Multithread is 30022 versus 15471, a 48.5% lead. Physics is 1938 versus 1201, a 38% lead. Random string sorting is 39643 versus 17771, a 55.2% lead.
The only wins for the Core 5 330 come in PassMark single-thread and the duplicate PassMark single-thread test, both with identical scores of 4088 versus 3568, giving it a 14.6% margin. That single-thread result is notable because the Core 7 251TE has a higher boost clock of 5.40 GHz, yet the Core 5 330 still delivers better PassMark single-thread performance. The overall win count is 15 for the Core 7 251TE and 2 for the Core 5 330.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core 7 251TE is the clear choice for any workload that scales with core count or threaded throughput. Its 24 cores and 32 threads, combined with 36 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel memory at 89.6 GB/s, push it far ahead in multi-core Cinebench tests, PassMark multithread, integer math, data compression, random string sorting, and data encryption. The 73.5% lead in integer math is the largest single delta in the entire comparison, indicating a strong advantage in arithmetic-heavy processing. Its 88th percentile ranking versus the 72nd for the Core 5 330 reflects a much higher overall standing in the database. The Core 7 251TE also supports ECC memory and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, making it suitable for error-checked desktop workloads and expansion-heavy platforms.
The Intel Core 5 330 wins only in PassMark single-thread performance, with a 14.6% edge over the Core 7 251TE. That result is meaningful for lightly threaded applications where per-core efficiency matters more than raw core count. Its 15-watt TDP, 3 nm process, and mobile socket indicate a focus on low-power, portable systems. It supports LPDDR5X memory and includes Intel Xe3 Graphics, which are not available on the Core 7 251TE. The Core 5 330 does not support ECC memory and offers only Gen 4 PCIe with 6 lanes, limiting its expansion potential. For users who prioritize single-thread PassMark performance, the smallest power envelope, or the mobile form factor, the Core 5 330 is the only one of the two that fits. For every multi-threaded, memory-intensive, or desktop-oriented scenario, the data favors the Core 7 251TE.