CPU Comparison
Intel Core 5 330
Core i5-13420H
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i5-13420H
The Intel Core i5-13420H and Intel Core 5 330 are two mobile processors that, despite posting nearly identical average benchmark scores, achieve their results through fundamentally different strategies. The i5-13420H leans on a hybrid 8-core, 12-thread design, while the Core 5 330 is a lean 6-core, 6-thread part built on a newer process. This head-to-head reveals a split decision: the older chip dominates raw throughput in legacy tests, while the newer chip counters with superior single-thread performance and efficiency.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The most striking victory for the Intel Core i5-13420H comes in PassMark Integer Math, where it scores 58,156 against the Core 5 330’s 33,258. That is a massive 74.9% lead, the largest delta in the entire benchmark suite. This result underscores the i5-13420H’s advantage in heavily threaded integer workloads, a pattern repeated in PassMark Data Compression where it scores 209,450 versus 145,287, a 44.2% advantage. The i5-13420H also takes PassMark Random String Sorting at 22,045 to 17,771, a 24.1% lead, and PassMark Multithread at 17,475 to 15,471, a 13% advantage.
The i5-13420H’s dominance extends into the Cinebench suite, though the margin narrows with newer versions. In Cinebench R15 Multicore, it posts 1,738 points against 1,325, a 31.2% lead. The gap shrinks to 8.9% in Cinebench R20 Multicore (6,013 vs 5,523), and flips entirely in Cinebench R23 Multicore, where the Core 5 330 wins decisively with 13,150 points versus 11,084, a 15.7% margin. The same pattern appears in single-core tests: the i5-13420H wins Cinebench R15 Singlecore by 28% (238 vs 186) and Cinebench R20 Singlecore by 8.9% (848 vs 779), but loses Cinebench R23 Singlecore by 9% (1,856 vs 1,689).
The Core 5 330’s biggest win is in PassMark Find Prime Numbers, where it scores 114 against the i5-13420H’s 52, a 54.4% advantage. This is a notable outlier, suggesting a highly efficient integer pipeline. It also wins PassMark Single Thread with a score of 4,088 versus 3,396, a 16.9% lead, and PassMark Physics at 1,201 versus 1,012, a 15.7% margin. In PassMark Floating Point Math, the Core 5 330 edges ahead by 2.5% (43,885 vs 42,806). The two are nearly tied in PassMark Extended Instructions, with the i5-13420H winning by just 0.7% (12,897 vs 12,808). Overall, the i5-13420H wins 10 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, but the Core 5 330 wins the most modern Cinebench R23 tests and the crucial single-thread PassMark test.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core i5-13420H is the clear choice for legacy multi-threaded workloads and data-heavy tasks. Its 74.9% lead in integer math and 44.2% lead in data compression make it the superior processor for number-crunching applications, database operations, and file archiving. The 31.2% win in Cinebench R15 Multicore further confirms its strength in older rendering engines. This chip is built for sustained throughput, leveraging its 8 cores and 12 threads to plow through parallel tasks. Its 13% advantage in PassMark Multithread reinforces its position as a workhorse for content creation and compilation.
The Intel Core 5 330 wins on modern efficiency and single-thread responsiveness. Its 16.9% lead in PassMark Single Thread and 9% lead in Cinebench R23 Singlecore indicate snappier day-to-day performance in lightly threaded applications like web browsing, office suites, and legacy code. The 54.4% win in Find Prime Numbers is a strong signal for cryptography and hashing workloads. Moreover, its 15.7% win in Cinebench R23 Multicore suggests that newer rendering software is better optimized for its architecture, even with fewer threads. The Core 5 330 also wins in Physics, pointing to better performance in simulation and gaming physics calculations.
FAQ
Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 Multicore?
A: The Intel Core 5 330 wins this test with a score of 13,150, beating the Intel Core i5-13420H’s 11,084 by 15.7%.
Q: How much better is the i5-13420H in integer math?
A: The i5-13420H scores 58,156 in PassMark Integer Math, which is 74.9% higher than the Core 5 330’s 33,258.
Q: Does the Core 5 330 have a single-thread advantage?
A: Yes, the Core 5 330 scores 4,088 in PassMark Single Thread, which is 16.9% higher than the i5-13420H’s 3,396.
Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core i5-13420H has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.
Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?
A: The i5-13420H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 watts.
Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?
A: The i5-13420H has an average benchmark score of 18,511, slightly higher than the Core 5 330’s 18,345.
Specification Differences
The most fundamental difference lies in the core configuration. The Intel Core i5-13420H offers 8 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 offers only 6 cores and 6 threads. This means the i5-13420H supports hyper-threading, whereas the Core 5 330 does not. Base clocks also differ: the i5-13420H runs at 2.10 GHz, while the Core 5 330 starts lower at 1.50 GHz. Both boost to 4.60 GHz.
Power consumption is a major differentiator. The i5-13420H has a TDP of 45 watts, making it a performance-oriented part, while the Core 5 330 sips power at 15 watts, targeting efficiency. The sockets are incompatible: the i5-13420H uses Intel BGA 1744, while the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516. Memory support diverges as well: the i5-13420H supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the Core 5 330 supports only DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration. The Core 5 330 has a specified memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while the i5-13420H has no such figure listed. PCIe lanes also differ: the i5-13420H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes, while the Core 5 330 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes.
The integrated graphics are different: the i5-13420H features Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the Core 5 330 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Cache configurations are distinct: the i5-13420H has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB L1 total, 2.5 MB L2 total, and 6 MB shared L3. The release dates are far apart, with the i5-13420H launching in January 2023 and the Core 5 330 in April 2026. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309; the i5-13420H has no listed launch MSRP.
Architecture Differences
The two processors are built on vastly different architectures and manufacturing processes. The Intel Core i5-13420H is based on the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-H codename, and is fabricated on a 10 nm process node by Intel. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a newer design, codenamed Wildcat Lake, and is built on a 3 nm process node, also by Intel. This process advantage explains the Core 5 330’s significantly lower TDP of 15 watts compared to the i5-13420H’s 45 watts.
The core microarchitecture differs, which explains the benchmark variance. The i5-13420H is a hybrid design from the 13th Gen family, allowing for 8 cores and 12 threads. The Core 5 330 is a simpler 6-core, 6-thread design, but its newer 3 nm process enables higher single-thread performance and better efficiency, as seen in its PassMark Single Thread and Cinebench R23 wins. The i5-13420H’s larger L3 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB) helps it in data-heavy integer tasks, while the Core 5 330’s smaller cache is compensated by its more efficient memory pipeline, supporting faster LPDDR5X memory.
The i5-13420H’s Raptor Lake architecture is designed for high power envelopes, enabling it to sustain high clocks across many cores. The Core 5 330’s Wildcat Lake architecture is clearly optimized for low power and high efficiency, with its 15-watt TDP and single-channel memory support. The integrated graphics also reflect the generational leap: the Core 5 330’s Xe3 Graphics is a newer design compared to the i5-13420H’s Iris Xe, though the i5-13420H has more execution units. The i5-13420H’s support for PCIe Gen 5 provides a bandwidth advantage for future storage and GPU connectivity, while the Core 5 330 relies on the more established Gen 4 standard. These architectural differences produce two distinct performance profiles, with the i5-13420H favoring parallel throughput and the Core 5 330 prioritizing efficiency and modern single-thread execution.