Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i5-1335U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1335U and the Intel Core 5 330 are both active mobile processors from Intel, yet they represent distinctly different design philosophies within the same power envelope. The i5-1335U relies on a hybrid architecture with more cores and threads, while the Core 5 330 uses a newer, smaller process node with fewer, faster cores. Benchmark results show a split decision: the Core 5 330 wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the i5-1335U takes 5, including some significant victories in integer math and compression. This makes the choice between them highly dependent on the specific workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1335U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it does not support simultaneous multithreading.

Q: How do their single-threaded performance scores compare?

A: The Core 5 330 leads in single-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1856 against 1684.5 for the i5-1335U, a 9.2% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 4088 against 3336, an 18.4% lead.

Q: Which processor performs better in multi-core workloads?

A: The results are mixed. The Core 5 330 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 13150 against 8889.5, a 32.4% advantage. However, the i5-1335U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1464 against 1325, a 10.5% lead.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i5-1335U is built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core 5 330 uses a 3 nm process. Both are fabricated by Intel.

Q: What type of memory does each support?

A: The i5-1335U supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel memory bus. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

Q: What are the launch MSRP values?

A: The Intel Core i5-1335U has a launch MSRP of $340. The Intel Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two mobile chips is substantial. The Intel Core i5-1335U is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i5 (Raptor Lake-U) generation. It uses a 10 nm process node and is built around a hybrid core layout with 10 cores and 12 threads. This configuration implies a mix of performance and efficiency cores, which is a hallmark of Intel's recent mobile designs. The cache hierarchy is notable: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. This larger L3 pool can be advantageous for workloads that benefit from a large shared cache across many cores.

The Intel Core 5 330 takes a different path. It is built on Wildcat Lake and belongs to the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. This chip uses a 3 nm process node, a significant reduction from the i5-1335U's 10 nm node. Despite the smaller process, it has fewer resources: 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading. The cache configuration is also different, with 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The smaller L3 cache is paired with fewer cores, which may limit performance in heavily multithreaded scenarios that require large working sets to be cached.

Memory support further separates the two. The i5-1335U supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, which can provide higher bandwidth in theory. The Core 5 330 only supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but it runs on a single-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The single-channel configuration could be a bottleneck for memory-intensive tasks, even though the supported memory types are newer.

Connectivity and graphics also differ. The i5-1335U uses Intel BGA 1744 socket and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Its integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516 socket and provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). Its integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The i5-1335U also has a higher base clock at 1300 MHz, while the Core 5 330 starts at 1500 MHz. Both boost to 4.6 GHz, and both have a TDP of 15 W.

The release dates are far apart. The i5-1335U was released in January 2023, while the Core 5 330 is scheduled for April 2026. This time gap explains the process node difference and the architectural evolution. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, and both target the mobile market segment.

The Verdict

The data suggests that the Intel Core 5 330 is the better choice for users who prioritize raw single-threaded performance and modern instruction efficiency. It wins the majority of benchmark comparisons, including Cinebench R23 multi-core by 32.4%, PassMark extended instructions by 29.9%, and PassMark floating point math by 19.8%. Its 3 nm process node and newer architecture deliver higher performance per clock, as seen in its 4088 PassMark single-thread score versus 3336 for the i5-1335U.

The Intel Core i5-1335U, however, remains relevant for specific workloads. It wins PassMark integer math by a massive 54.1% (51244 against 33258), which indicates that its 10-core, 12-thread configuration excels in integer-heavy tasks. It also wins data compression by 9.8% and random string sorting by 1%. For users running software that leverages many threads and integer operations, the i5-1335U could be the better option.

The overall percentile rankings are close: the i5-1335U sits at the 73rd percentile, while the Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd. The average benchmark scores are also close, with the i5-1335U at 18982 and the Core 5 330 at 18345. This suggests that neither chip is a dominant all-around winner. The Core 5 330 is the better pick for general productivity, scientific computing, and single-threaded applications. The i5-1335U is the better pick for integer math, compression, and workloads that can take advantage of its extra threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The core count is a clear distinction: the i5-1335U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clock speeds differ, with the i5-1335U at 1300 MHz and the Core 5 330 at 1500 MHz; both share a 4.6 GHz boost clock. The process node is different, with the i5-1335U on 10 nm and the Core 5 330 on 3 nm.

Cache configurations are also different. The i5-1335U has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support varies: the i5-1335U supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, while the Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s.

The socket is different, with the i5-1335U using Intel BGA 1744 and the Core 5 330 using Intel BGA 1516. PCIe lanes also differ, with the i5-1335U offering 8 lanes and the Core 5 330 offering 6 lanes, both Gen 4. The integrated graphics are not the same: the i5-1335U has Iris Xe Graphics with 80 EU, while the Core 5 330 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Release dates are distinct, with the i5-1335U launching in January 2023 and the Core 5 330 in April 2026. The launch MSRP is $340 for the i5-1335U and $309 for the Core 5 330. Both have a TDP of 15 W, both are locked, and both lack ECC memory support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a clear pattern: the Core 5 330 dominates in modern compute-heavy benchmarks, while the i5-1335U holds its own in specific legacy and integer-based tests.

Starting with Cinebench, the results are contradictory across versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1335U wins with 1464 against 1325, a 10.5% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5-1335U also wins with 238 against 186, a 28% lead. However, in Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Core 5 330 wins with 5523 against 4935, a 10.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Core 5 330 wins with 779 against 696, a 10.7% lead. The gap widens in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 330 scores 13150 against 8889.5, a 32.4% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 5 330 wins with 1856 against 1684.5, a 9.2% lead. This indicates that the Core 5 330 scales better with newer Cinebench versions, which tend to stress modern instruction sets and memory architectures.

PassMark tests show a similar split. The i5-1335U wins data compression with 159593 against 145287, a 9.8% lead. It also wins integer math with 51244 against 33258, a massive 54.1% lead. It barely wins random string sorting with 17953 against 17771, a 1% lead. The Core 5 330 wins data encryption with 11076 against 10009, a 9.6% lead. It wins extended instructions with 12808 against 8974, a 29.9% lead. It wins find prime numbers with 114 against 48, a 57.9% lead. It wins floating point math with 43885 against 35176, a 19.8% lead. It wins multithread with 15471 against 14281, a 7.7% lead. It wins physics with 1201 against 837, a 30.3% lead. It wins single-thread with 4088 against 3336, an 18.4% lead.

The largest win for the i5-1335U is in integer math, where it is 54.1% ahead. The largest win for the Core 5 330 is in find prime numbers, where it is 57.9% ahead. These two results highlight the fundamental difference: the i5-1335U excels at integer-heavy, multi-threaded workloads, while the Core 5 330 excels at floating point, encryption, and single-threaded tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1335U is the winner in scenarios that require high integer throughput and data compression. Its 54.1% lead in PassMark integer math suggests that compilers, data processing, and certain database workloads will run faster on this chip. Its 9.8% lead in data compression reinforces this, as compression algorithms are often integer-intensive and benefit from multiple threads. The 10.5% win in Cinebench R15 multi-core and the 28% win in Cinebench R15 single-core also suggest that older software optimized for many cores will favor the i5-1335U. The 1% win in random string sorting is narrow, but it still tips that specific workload in its favor.

The Intel Core 5 330 is the winner in modern, single-threaded, and floating-point-heavy applications. Its 32.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the most striking, showing that it can outperform the i5-1335U even in multi-threaded workloads despite having fewer cores and threads. The 57.9% lead in find prime numbers points to strong integer performance in specific algorithms, while the 29.9% lead in extended instructions and the 19.8% lead in floating point math make it the better choice for scientific computing, 3D rendering, and financial modeling. The 18.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and the 9.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core confirm its superiority in tasks that depend on clock-for-clock performance.

The Core 5 330 also wins in data encryption by 9.6%, physics by 30.3%, and multithread by 7.7%. These wins cover a broad range of use cases, from security software to physics simulations. The i5-1335U, by contrast, has a narrower set of wins, but they are decisive in their respective domains.

For users who run a mix of workloads, the Core 5 330 is the safer all-around choice given its 12 wins out of 17 head-to-head tests. However, for users who know their software is integer-heavy and can use 12 threads, the i5-1335U offers a compelling alternative, especially in tasks like data compression and integer math where it leads by significant margins. The choice ultimately comes down to whether the workload is dominated by integer operations or by floating point and single-threaded performance.