Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core 7 350 Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core 7 350 reveals a surprising split. The Core 5 330 wins 12 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Core 7 350 takes 5. The margins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The largest single gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Core 5 330 scores 13150 against the Core 7 350's 8030, a 63.8% lead. That is the most decisive result in the entire comparison. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the Core 5 330 at 1325 and the Core 7 350 at 1220, an 8.6% advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core narrows the gap considerably, with the Core 5 330 at 5523 and the Core 7 350 at 5373, a 2.8% margin.

The single-core results flip the script. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 7 350 scores 292 against the Core 5 330's 186, a 36.3% advantage for the Core 7 350. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the Core 7 350 at 2046 versus the Core 5 330's 1856, a 9.3% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core is the exception, where the Core 5 330 wins 779 to 758, a 2.8% margin.

PassMark tests mostly favor the Core 5 330. Data compression shows 145287 versus 143123, a 1.5% edge. Data encryption shows 11076 versus 10933, a 1.3% margin. Extended instructions show 12808 versus 12045, a 6.3% advantage. Find prime numbers shows 114 versus 107, a 6.5% lead. Floating point math shows 43885 versus 42809, a 2.5% margin. Multi-thread performance shows 15471 versus 15170, a 2% lead. Physics shows 1201 versus 1173, a 2.4% edge. Random string sorting shows 17771 versus 17238, a 3.1% advantage.

The Core 7 350 wins the PassMark integer math test, scoring 33734 against the Core 5 330's 33258, a 1.4% margin. The PassMark single-thread test also goes to the Core 7 350, 4100 versus 4088, a 0.3% lead. The duplicate single-thread entry confirms the same result.

The average benchmark score places the Core 5 330 at 18345 and the Core 7 350 at 17779. The Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, while the Core 7 350 sits at the 71st percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 330 include the Intel Core i3-14100 with an average score of 18318, a 0.1% difference, and the Intel Core 7 360 at 18374, a -0.2% difference. The Core 7 350's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 5 221TE at 17860, a -0.5% difference, and the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT at 17891, a -0.6% difference.

The data shows that the Core 5 330 delivers substantially better multi-core performance in the Cinebench R23 test, while the Core 7 350 counters with a strong single-core showing in two of the three Cinebench single-core tests. The PassMark suite mostly favors the Core 5 330, but the margins are generally small, often in the low single digits.

# Where Each One Wins

The Core 5 330 dominates the multi-threaded and memory-intensive workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13150 versus 8030 represents the clearest use-case split: rendering, video encoding, and compilation tasks that scale across cores will favor the Core 5 330. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result reinforces this, with the Core 5 330 at 1325 against 1220.

The PassMark results for data compression and encryption both favor the Core 5 330, suggesting an advantage in file archiving and secure data handling. The extended instructions test, which measures SIMD and vector processing, also goes to the Core 5 330 with a 6.3% margin. The find prime numbers test and floating point math both favor the Core 5 330, indicating stronger raw computational throughput in certain algorithmic workloads.

The Core 7 350 takes the single-core crown in the most dramatic fashion. The Cinebench R15 single-core score of 292 against 186 is a 36.3% advantage, the second-largest margin in the entire comparison. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 9.3% lead at 2046 versus 1856. These results point to applications that rely heavily on single-thread performance, such as legacy software, certain database queries, and interactive workloads.

The PassMark single-thread test gives the Core 7 350 a slight edge at 4100 versus 4088, a 0.3% margin. The integer math test also goes to the Core 7 350 at 33734 versus 33258, a 1.4% margin. These wins are narrow but consistent with the single-core pattern.

The overall picture suggests a trade-off: the Core 5 330 is the multi-core workhorse, while the Core 7 350 handles single-threaded tasks with greater efficiency. The Core 5 330's 12 wins to 5 count in the head-to-head comparison, but the Core 7 350's wins in the R15 single-core test are decisive enough to matter for specific software.

# Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same foundational architecture. They are built on the Wildcat Lake codename and use the 3 nm process node from Intel. Both have 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz. The boost clock differs slightly: the Core 5 330 reaches 4.60 GHz, while the Core 7 350 reaches 4.80 GHz. The higher boost clock on the Core 7 350 likely explains its single-core advantages.

The cache layout shows a notable difference in how the data is recorded. The Core 5 330 lists L1 cache as 192 KB and L2 cache as 2.5 MB, while the Core 7 350 lists L1 cache as 192 KB per core and L2 cache as 2.5 MB per core. Both share 6 MB of L3 cache. The per-core notation on the Core 7 350 suggests the same total cache distribution, but the database records them differently.

The integrated graphics are identical: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Memory support matches as well, with DDR5 and LPDDR5X, a single-channel memory bus, and 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both use the Intel BGA 1516 socket and have a TDP of 15 watts. The PCIe configuration is Gen 4 with 6 lanes for CPU-only connections.

The production status is Active for both, and both were released on the same date. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 330 is $309, while the Core 7 350 has a launch MSRP of $469. The part numbers differ, SAE3G for the Core 5 330 and SAE3F for the Core 7 350. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The generation field lists both as Core 5 (Wildcat Lake), which appears to be a labeling artifact in the database, as the Core 7 350 is clearly in the Core 7 line. The key architectural difference in the recorded data is the boost clock: 4.60 GHz versus 4.80 GHz. This 0.2 GHz difference likely drives the single-core performance gap.

# The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates that the Intel Core 5 330 is the stronger all-around performer, with 12 wins in the head-to-head comparison and a higher average benchmark score of 18345 versus 17779. The 63.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the defining result. For workloads that stress all cores, the Core 5 330 is the clear choice.

The Core 7 350 counters with a 36.3% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core and a 9.3% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. The higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.60 GHz appears to be the deciding factor. For applications that are single-thread bound, the Core 7 350 has the edge.

The percentile rankings are close, 72nd for the Core 5 330 and 71st for the Core 7 350, confirming that both processors sit in a similar tier overall. The Core 5 330's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-14100 with nearly identical average scores, while the Core 7 350 sits near the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT.

The data does not support a universal recommendation. The Core 5 330 delivers superior multi-core performance and wins most PassMark tests. The Core 7 350 delivers superior single-core performance in the Cinebench tests, which may matter more for specific software. The launch MSRP difference is substantial, but the performance difference in the recorded benchmarks does not mirror that gap. The Core 5 330's higher average benchmark score and lower launch MSRP make it the more compelling option in the recorded measurements.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345, while the Intel Core 7 350 has an average benchmark score of 17779.

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

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core 5 330 scores 13150 against the Intel Core 7 350's 8030, a 63.8% difference.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core 7 350 has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both use the Intel BGA 1516 socket and have a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: Which processor wins the PassMark single-thread test?

A: The Intel Core 7 350 wins with a score of 4100, compared to the Intel Core 5 330's 4088, a 0.3% margin.

Q: What is the cache configuration for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2 cache. The Intel Core 7 350 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core. Both have 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded fields:

• Boost clock: the Intel Core 5 330 reaches 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core 7 350 reaches 4.80 GHz.
• L1 cache notation: the Core 5 330 lists 192 KB, while the Core 7 350 lists 192 KB per core.
• L2 cache notation: the Core 5 330 lists 2.5 MB, while the Core 7 350 lists 2.5 MB per core.
• Launch MSRP: the Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core 7 350 has a launch MSRP of $469.
• Part number: the Core 5 330 is SAE3G, while the Core 7 350 is SAE3F.

All other recorded specifications match: 6 cores, 6 threads, 1.50 GHz base clock, 15 W TDP, Intel BGA 1516 socket, Wildcat Lake codename, 3 nm process node, 6 MB shared L3 cache, DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory support, single-channel memory bus, 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, no ECC support, Gen 4 PCIe with 6 lanes, Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, mobile market segment, active production status, and the same release date. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.