Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i7-1365U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a decisive overall victory for the Intel Core 5 330, which wins 12 of the 17 recorded comparisons against the Intel Core i7-1365U. The most dramatic separation occurs in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 330 scores 13,150 against 8,946 for the i7-1365U, a 47% advantage. This is the single largest performance gap in the entire dataset and signals that the Core 5 330 is substantially stronger in heavily threaded workloads.

The pattern repeats across several other multi-threaded tests. In PassMark multithread, the Core 5 330 posts 15,471 versus 14,045, a 10.2% lead. PassMark physics shows a 24.3% margin (1,201 vs. 966), and PassMark floating point math favors the Core 5 330 by 30.3% (43,885 vs. 33,689). Even in PassMark random string sorting, a memory-sensitive workload, the Core 5 330 wins by 4.7% (17,771 vs. 16,977).

The Core 5 330 also dominates in extended instruction throughput. PassMark extended instructions scores 12,808 for the Core 5 330 versus 8,321 for the i7-1365U, a 53.9% blowout. PassMark find prime numbers shows the Core 5 330 at 114 versus 58, a 96.6% difference that indicates a massive advantage in integer-heavy scalar loops. Data encryption favors the Core 5 330 by 16.2% (11,076 vs. 9,531), and Cinebench R20 multi-core goes to the Core 5 330 at 5,523 versus 4,882, a 13.1% margin. Single-core Cinebench R20 also goes to the Core 5 330, 779 versus 689, another 13.1% edge.

The Intel Core i7-1365U, however, claims five wins, and some are significant. The largest is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 50,881 against 33,258, a 34.6% advantage for the i7-1365U. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 29.9% lead for the i7-1365U (265.5 vs. 186), and Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to the i7-1365U by 9.6% (1,466.5 vs. 1,325). PassMark data compression slightly favors the i7-1365U at 149,585 versus 145,287, a 2.9% edge. Cinebench R23 single-core is nearly a tie, with the i7-1365U at 1,887 versus 1,856, only a 1.6% difference.

The average benchmark scores are close: 18,345 for the Core 5 330 and 18,177 for the i7-1365U, a difference of less than 1%. Both CPUs sit at the 72nd percentile among all recorded CPUs. The Core 5 330's nearest rivals by average score include the Intel Core i3-14100 (0.1% ahead), Intel Core 7 360 (0.2% behind), Intel Core i3-13100 (0.2% behind), and Intel Core 3 305 (0.2% ahead). The i7-1365U's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (0% delta), Intel Core i7-9700 (0% delta), AMD Ryzen 3 8300G (0% delta), and Intel Core 5 315 (0.1% behind).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras. The Intel Core 5 330 is built on the Wildcat Lake architecture using a 3 nm process node, while the Intel Core i7-1365U is based on Raptor Lake-U on a 10 nm node. The process node difference is substantial and explains much of the efficiency-oriented design of the newer chip.

Core counts differ significantly. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The i7-1365U has 10 cores and 12 threads, which combines performance cores with efficiency cores. Despite having fewer threads, the Core 5 330 wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, indicating superior per-core throughput.

Cache configurations are structured differently. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-1365U lists L1 as 80 KB per core, L2 as 1.25 MB per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The i7-1365U's larger L3 cache does not translate into benchmark superiority in most tests.

Memory support differs. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i7-1365U supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, though its bandwidth is not recorded. The single-channel limitation of the Core 5 330 does not appear to hinder its performance in the recorded benchmarks.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 5 330 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes, while the i7-1365U offers Gen 4 with 8 CPU-only lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 330 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the i7-1365U has Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units.

Clock speeds are notable. The Core 5 330 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i7-1365U has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz (1.80 GHz) and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The i7-1365U's higher boost clock contributes to its single-core wins in Cinebench R15 and R23, but the Core 5 330 still wins Cinebench R20 single-core.

Both CPUs have a 15 W TDP, are mobile segments, are actively produced, and have locked multipliers. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the i7-1365U has a launch MSRP of $426. Neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the Intel Core 5 330 for most workloads. It wins 12 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, including the most important multi-threaded tests. The 47% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the strongest evidence that the Core 5 330 delivers far better sustained all-core performance. Its 53.9% advantage in extended instructions and 96.6% lead in prime number finding indicate a much stronger integer execution pipeline.

The Intel Core i7-1365U is not without merits. Its 34.6% win in PassMark integer math is the largest single-test margin in either direction, and its 29.9% single-core Cinebench R15 victory shows that it can excel in specific legacy workloads. The i7-1365U also wins in data compression, a real-world task for archiving and file handling.

However, the overall pattern is consistent: the Core 5 330 wins the modern multi-threaded benchmarks that matter for productivity and content creation, while the i7-1365U retains wins in a few older or specialized tests. The near-identical average benchmark scores (18,345 vs. 18,177) mask the fact that the Core 5 330's wins are more numerous and often larger in magnitude.

For users running Cinebench-style rendering, physics simulations, floating-point math, encryption, or any extended instruction workloads, the Core 5 330 is the clear choice. For users who need maximum integer math throughput or whose applications are optimized for the i7-1365U's specific architecture, the older chip still holds value.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specification fields:

• Cores: Core 5 330 has 6, i7-1365U has 10.
• Threads: Core 5 330 has 6, i7-1365U has 12.
• Base clock: Core 5 330 runs at 1.50 GHz, i7-1365U at 1800.00 MHz.
• Boost clock: Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz, i7-1365U to 5.20 GHz.
• Socket: Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, i7-1365U uses Intel BGA 1744.
• Architecture: Core 5 330 is Wildcat Lake, i7-1365U is Raptor Lake.
• Codename: Core 5 330 is Wildcat Lake, i7-1365U is Raptor Lake-U.
• Process node: Core 5 330 is 3 nm, i7-1365U is 10 nm.
• L1 cache: Core 5 330 has 192 KB, i7-1365U has 80 KB per core.
• L2 cache: Core 5 330 has 2.5 MB, i7-1365U has 1.25 MB per core.
• L3 cache: Core 5 330 has 6 MB shared, i7-1365U has 12 MB shared.
• Memory support: Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, i7-1365U supports DDR4 and DDR5.
• Memory bus: Core 5 330 is single-channel, i7-1365U is dual-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: Core 5 330 records 59.7 GB/s, i7-1365U has no recorded value.
• PCIe: Core 5 330 has Gen 4 with 6 lanes, i7-1365U has Gen 4 with 8 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: Core 5 330 has Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe), i7-1365U has Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.
• Release date: Core 5 330 released 2026-04-15, i7-1365U released 2023-01-03.
• Launch MSRP: Core 5 330 at $309, i7-1365U at $426.
• Part number: Core 5 330 is SAE3G, i7-1365U is SRMM0.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1365U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

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

A: The Intel Core 5 330 wins decisively with a score of 13,150 versus 8,946 for the i7-1365U, a 47% advantage.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i7-1365U wins by a large margin?

A: Yes, in PassMark integer math the i7-1365U scores 50,881 versus 33,258 for the Core 5 330, a 34.6% lead. It also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 29.9%.

Q: What are the process nodes for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 is built on a 3 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-1365U uses a 10 nm process.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No, neither CPU supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the Core 5 330?

A: The Core 5 330 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s with a single-channel memory bus. The i7-1365U's bandwidth is not recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 330 wins in the majority of recorded benchmarks, making it the default recommendation for general-purpose productivity. Its 47% Cinebench R23 multi-core lead indicates strong performance in rendering, 3D modeling, and video encoding tasks that scale across cores. The 30.3% floating-point math advantage points to scientific computing and simulation workloads. The 53.9% extended instructions win suggests the Core 5 330 handles modern AVX-class workloads with much greater efficiency. Data encryption is 16.2% faster, which benefits security applications and VPN throughput. PassMark multithread and physics results (10.2% and 24.3% leads, respectively) reinforce the multi-core story. Even in single-threaded PassMark, the Core 5 330 leads by 19.8%, showing it is not merely a multi-core specialist.

The Intel Core i7-1365U wins in five specific areas. The 34.6% integer math advantage makes it the better choice for applications that rely heavily on integer arithmetic, such as certain database operations, compression algorithms, or financial calculations. The 29.9% Cinebench R15 single-core win indicates compatibility with older software that was optimized for that benchmark's workload. Data compression is 2.9% faster, giving it a slight edge in file archiving and backup tasks. Cinebench R23 single-core is nearly tied but slightly favors the i7-1365U, suggesting comparable legacy single-threaded performance. The i7-1365U's higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz likely contributes to these single-core wins, though the effect is inconsistent across different Cinebench versions.

The i7-1365U also offers more PCIe lanes (8 vs. 6) and a dual-channel memory bus, which could benefit certain external device configurations even if the benchmark data does not show a decisive memory-related advantage. Its larger 12 MB L3 cache may help in workloads with large working sets that fit in cache, though the recorded benchmarks do not isolate this effect.

For a mobile user who prioritizes modern multi-threaded performance, the Core 5 330 is the stronger choice based on 12 of 17 wins. For a user with specific integer-heavy or legacy single-threaded workloads, the i7-1365U retains clear value. The near-identical average scores suggest that in mixed usage, the difference will be small, but the distribution of wins heavily favors the Core 5 330 for contemporary applications.