Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i7-1355U Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1355U and Intel Core 5 330 are two mobile processors that occupy similar positions in the database's performance distribution. The i7-1355U, a Raptor Lake-U part, averages 18730 points across all benchmarks and sits at the 73rd percentile. The Core 5 330, built on Wildcat Lake, averages 18345 points and sits at the 72nd percentile. Despite the close average scores, their benchmark profiles diverge sharply, with each winning distinct categories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i7-1355U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i7-1355U boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core 5 330 scores 13150 versus 8286 for the i7-1355U, a 37% advantage.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-1355U has 12 MB shared L3, while the Core 5 330 has 6 MB shared L3.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread Passmark score?

A: The Core 5 330 scores 4088, while the i7-1355U scores 3444, a 15.8% difference.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The i7-1355U is on Intel's 10 nm process, while the Core 5 330 is on a 3 nm process.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The i7-1355U is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-U codename, and uses Intel's 10 nm process. The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process, also by Intel. This process gap likely explains some of the performance differences seen in the benchmarks.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The i7-1355U offers 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The i7 also has a higher base clock at 1700 MHz versus 1500 MHz, and a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. Cache layouts are not directly comparable: the i7 lists 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. The Core 5 330 lists 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The i7's larger L3 pool may help in some workloads, but the Core 5's newer process appears to compensate.

Memory support also diverges. The i7-1355U supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, and the database records a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s for it. The i7 has no listed memory bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the i7 provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes, while the Core 5 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Integrated graphics are different: the i7 uses Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the Core 5 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. Sockets are not interchangeable: the i7 uses Intel BGA 1744, the Core 5 uses Intel BGA 1516. Release dates are far apart, with the i7 launching in January 2023 and the Core 5 in April 2026. The i7 had a launch MSRP of $469, while the Core 5 had a launch MSRP of $309.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results reveal a clear split. The i7-1355U wins 4 of the 17 recorded tests, while the Core 5 330 wins 13. The i7's most striking victory is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 255.5 against 186, a 37.4% lead. It also dominates integer math with 52002 versus 33258, a 56.4% margin. Data compression goes to the i7 by 7.2% (155727 vs 145287), and Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to the i7 by 5.1% (1393 vs 1325).

The Core 5 330 counters with a 37% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 13150 versus 8286. It also wins find prime numbers by 55.3% (114 vs 51) and extended instructions by 31.9% (12808 vs 8726). In floating point math it leads by 20.3% (43885 vs 34965). Physics shows a 26.1% advantage (1201 vs 888). The Core 5 also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 10.4% (5523 vs 4949) and R20 single-core by 10.4% (779 vs 698). Passmark single-thread goes to the Core 5 by 15.8% (4088 vs 3444). Data encryption, multithread, and random string sorting also favor the Core 5, with leads of 11.2%, 7.6%, and 0.8% respectively. Cinebench R23 single-core is close, with the Core 5 ahead by 1.7% (1856 vs 1825).

The pattern is consistent: the i7-1355U excels in older single-thread tests and integer-heavy operations, while the Core 5 330 dominates modern multi-threaded workloads, floating point, and most Passmark sub-tests.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

| Field | Intel Core i7-1355U | Intel Core 5 330 |

|-------|---------------------|------------------|

| Cores | 10 | 6 |

| Threads | 12 | 6 |

| Base clock | 1700 MHz | 1500 MHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel BGA 1516 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | (not listed) |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-U | Wildcat Lake |

| Generation | Core i7 (Raptor Lake-U) | Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5, LPDDR5X |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Single-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | (not listed) | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 8 lanes | Gen 4, 6 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe Graphics 96EU | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) |

| Release date | 2023-01-03 | 2026-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $469 | $309 |

| Part number | SRMLY | SAE3G |

Fields that are identical include TDP (15 W), foundry (Intel), ECC support (false), multiplier unlock (false), market segment (mobile), and production status (active).

The Verdict

The data points to a workload-dependent choice. The i7-1355U has a slightly higher average benchmark score (18730 vs 18345) and a higher percentile (73 vs 72), but the Core 5 330 wins the majority of head-to-head tests. The i7's wins are concentrated in integer math, data compression, and the older Cinebench R15 tests. The Core 5's wins span modern Cinebench versions, floating point, encryption, and most Passmark sub-tests.

For users running legacy single-threaded applications or integer-heavy code, the i7-1355U is the stronger pick. Its 37.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 56.4% lead in integer math are decisive. For modern multi-threaded rendering, scientific computing, or general productivity, the Core 5 330 is clearly ahead, especially with its 37% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Core 5 also benefits from a newer 3 nm process and a higher single-thread Passmark score, though it has fewer cores and threads.

The average scores are close enough that neither processor is a universal winner. The i7-1355U offers more cores and a larger L3 cache, while the Core 5 330 offers a newer process and higher memory bandwidth. The choice should be guided by the specific benchmark profile that matches the intended workload.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1355U wins in four areas: Cinebench R15 multi-core (5.1% ahead), Cinebench R15 single-core (37.4% ahead), Passmark data compression (7.2% ahead), and Passmark integer math (56.4% ahead). These results suggest it is well suited for compression tasks, integer-heavy calculations, and applications that still rely on older single-threaded code paths.

The Core 5 330 wins in thirteen areas: Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core (both 10.4% ahead), Cinebench R23 multi-core (37% ahead) and single-core (1.7% ahead), Passmark data encryption (11.2% ahead), extended instructions (31.9% ahead), find prime numbers (55.3% ahead), floating point math (20.3% ahead), multithread (7.6% ahead), physics (26.1% ahead), random string sorting (0.8% ahead), and Passmark single-thread (15.8% ahead). This makes it the better option for modern rendering, encryption, scientific simulation, and general single-thread performance as measured by Passmark.

In short, the i7-1355U is the specialist for integer and legacy single-thread workloads, while the Core 5 330 is the broader performer for contemporary multi-threaded and floating-point tasks.