Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i5-14500 Comparison

The Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Core i5-14500 are both active Intel processors, but they target different segments of the market. The Core 5 330 is a mobile chip with a 15 TDP, while the i5-14500 is a desktop part with a 65 TDP. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear split in performance characteristics, with the i5-14500 dominating multi-threaded workloads and the Core 5 330 taking narrow wins in a few specific single-thread tests. The comparison is not a simple sweep; each processor has areas where it delivers a measurable advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark results give the Intel Core i5-14500 14 wins out of 17 head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 330 takes 3 wins. The i5-14500’s victories are concentrated in heavily threaded workloads, which is expected given its larger core and thread counts. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-14500 scores 15012 against 13150 for the Core 5 330, a difference of 12.4 percent. The gap widens substantially in PassMark integer math, where the i5-14500 posts 108124 versus 33258, a 69.2 percent advantage. Data compression shows a similar pattern: 371294 for the i5-14500 against 145287, a 60.9 percent lead. These are the kinds of workloads that scale with core count, and the i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads to the Core 5 330’s 6 cores and 6 threads.

The Core 5 330 wins are narrower and more specific. It beats the i5-14500 in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 114 against 106, a 7.5 percent edge. It also wins PassMark single thread with 4088 against 3952, a 3.4 percent advantage. The same single-thread result appears under the PassMark singlethread test name, confirming the consistency of that measurement. These wins indicate that the Core 5 330’s architecture, despite having fewer cores, delivers strong per-thread performance in certain integer-heavy or latency-sensitive tasks. The i5-14500 still holds a single-core edge in Cinebench R23 singlecore, 1917 versus 1856, so the Core 5 330’s single-thread win is not universal across all test suites.

When looking at overall average benchmark scores, the i5-14500 sits at 38531, which places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 330 has an average of 18345, putting it in the 72nd percentile. The i5-14500’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T, Intel Xeon w3-2525, Intel Core 9 270H, and Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, all within 0.6 percent of its average score. The Core 5 330’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100, Intel Core 7 360, Intel Core i3-13100, and Intel Core 3 305, all within 0.2 percent. This shows that the Core 5 330 competes at the level of lower-core-count desktop i3 parts, while the i5-14500 sits in a higher performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different manufacturing processes and are built for different sockets. The Intel Core 5 330 is fabricated on a 3 nm process at Intel’s foundry, while the Intel Core i5-14500 uses a 10 nm process. The Core 5 330 is based on the Wildcat Lake codename, part of the Core 5 generation, and has no listed architecture name in the database. The i5-14500 is part of the Core 14th Gen series, uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-R codename, and has a die size of 215 mm². The Core 5 330 does not have a listed die size.

Core and thread counts differ sharply. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading support indicated. The i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads, which implies a mix of performance and efficiency cores typical of Raptor Lake designs, though the database does not break down the core types. The Core 5 330’s base clock is 1.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i5-14500 runs at a 2.60 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The i5-14500 also has a much higher TDP at 65, compared to 15 for the Core 5 330, reflecting its desktop orientation and higher power envelope.

Cache configurations are fundamentally different. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14500 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core structure of the i5-14500’s cache means that with 14 cores, the total L2 cache is substantially larger, although the database does not provide a total L2 figure for either chip. The L3 advantage for the i5-14500 is clear: 24 MB shared versus 6 MB shared, a fourfold difference.

Memory support also diverges. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i5-14500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, has a dual-channel memory bus, and does not have a listed memory bandwidth figure. The i5-14500 supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 330 does not. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Core 5 330 uses Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-14500 uses Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are present on both, but they are different models: the Core 5 330 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the i5-14500 has UHD Graphics 770.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear separation in intended use cases. The Intel Core i5-14500 is the stronger processor for multi-threaded productivity, content creation, and any workload that uses many cores. Its wins in Cinebench R20 multicore (10985 versus 5523, a 49.7 percent edge) and PassMark multithread (30777 versus 15471, a 49.7 percent edge) confirm that it roughly doubles the throughput of the Core 5 330 in these tests. The i5-14500 also leads in floating point math, integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, random string sorting, and physics simulations. For a desktop user running compilers, video renderers, or database workloads, the i5-14500 is the obvious choice based on benchmark results.

The Intel Core 5 330 is a mobile processor, and its wins are in narrow single-thread or specific integer tasks. It beats the i5-14500 in PassMark find prime numbers by 7.5 percent and in PassMark single thread by 3.4 percent. These are real advantages, but they do not offset the i5-14500’s massive leads in most other tests. The Core 5 330’s 3 nm process and lower TDP make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power draw is a primary concern, but the database does not include power consumption measurements other than TDP. The i5-14500’s 65 TDP is more than four times higher, so it requires a desktop cooling solution.

For a user who prioritizes multi-core performance and has access to a desktop platform, the i5-14500 is the better pick. Its 86th percentile ranking and average score of 38531 place it well above the Core 5 330’s 72nd percentile and 18345 average. The i5-14500 is also the only one of the two with ECC memory support, which matters for certain workstation or server-adjacent builds. For a user who needs a low-power mobile processor with competitive single-thread results, the Core 5 330 is the correct choice, but its limited core count will bottleneck heavily threaded tasks. The launch MSRP for the Core 5 330 is $309, and for the i5-14500 it is $232, though the comparison should focus on performance data rather than price.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500 has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How much faster is the i5-14500 in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i5-14500 scores 15012, while the Core 5 330 scores 13150, giving the i5-14500 a 12.4 percent lead.

Q: Does the Core 5 330 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes. The Core 5 330 wins PassMark find prime numbers (114 versus 106, a 7.5 percent edge) and PassMark single thread (4088 versus 3952, a 3.4 percent edge). It also wins the duplicate PassMark singlethread test with the same score.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no listed bandwidth. The i5-14500 supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 330 does not.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-14500 has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each processor?

A: The Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, a mobile socket. The i5-14500 uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the head-to-head data belongs to the i5-14500 in PassMark integer math. The i5-14500 scores 108124 against 33258 for the Core 5 330, a 69.2 percent deficit for the mobile chip. This is a dominant result that reflects the i5-14500’s higher core count and likely higher per-core integer throughput in this workload. Data compression is nearly as one-sided: 371294 for the i5-14500 versus 145287, a 60.9 percent difference. Random string sorting shows a 56.6 percent gap in favor of the i5-14500, with 40980 against 17771.

Multi-threaded Cinebench results also favor the i5-14500 by large margins. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i5-14500 scores 10985, while the Core 5 330 scores 5523, a 49.7 percent difference. The same 49.7 percent gap appears in PassMark multithread, where the i5-14500 posts 30777 versus 15471. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a 45.6 percent lead for the i5-14500 (2435 versus 1325). Floating point math is another big win for the i5-14500: 79576 against 43885, a 44.9 percent differential. Data encryption gives the i5-14500 a 48.4 percent advantage (21457 versus 11076), and extended instructions show a 43 percent gap (22473 versus 12808). Physics simulation goes to the i5-14500 by 31.2 percent, with 1746 versus 1201.

Single-thread results are closer. Cinebench R23 singlecore has the i5-14500 ahead by 3.2 percent, scoring 1917 versus 1856. Cinebench R20 singlecore is a larger gap for the i5-14500, 1550 versus 779, a 49.7 percent difference. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows 273 versus 186, a 31.9 percent lead for the i5-14500. However, PassMark single thread flips the result: the Core 5 330 scores 4088 against 3952, a 3.4 percent win. The find prime numbers test also goes to the Core 5 330, 114 versus 106, a 7.5 percent edge. These are the only two tests where the Core 5 330 comes out ahead, aside from the duplicate singlethread listing.

The pattern is consistent: the i5-14500 wins almost everything involving multiple cores or heavy data throughput, while the Core 5 330 manages narrow victories in two specific PassMark tests. The i5-14500’s Cinebench R23 multicore lead of 12.4 percent is its smallest multicore margin, which suggests that in modern rendering workloads, the gap narrows compared to older Cinebench versions. Still, the i5-14500 holds the advantage in every Cinebench multicore test, and the overall benchmark score of 38531 versus 18345 leaves no doubt about which processor delivers higher aggregate performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Core 5 330 is a mobile part with 6 cores and 6 threads, while the i5-14500 is a desktop part with 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 330 and 2.60 GHz for the i5-14500. Boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 5.00 GHz, respectively. TDP is 15 for the Core 5 330 and 65 for the i5-14500. The Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the i5-14500 uses Intel Socket 1700.

The process node is 3 nm for the Core 5 330 and 10 nm for the i5-14500. The i5-14500 has a die size of 215 mm²; the Core 5 330 has no listed die size. Cache layouts differ: the Core 5 330 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The i5-14500 has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 5 330, with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-14500 supports DDR4 and DDR5, uses a dual-channel bus, and has no listed bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the i5-14500. PCIe is Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 5 330, and Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the i5-14500. Integrated graphics are Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) on the Core 5 330 and UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-14500. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309; the i5-14500 has a launch MSRP of $232. Both processors have locked multipliers, and neither supports overclocking via multiplier adjustment. The Core 5 330 is part of the Wildcat Lake generation, while the i5-14500 is from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation.