Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i7-14650HX Comparison

Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i7-14650HX

The Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core i7-14650HX are both mobile processors from Intel, but they target very different performance brackets. The Core i7-14650HX is a high-end part with 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Core 5 330 is a more efficient, low-power design with 6 cores and 6 threads. Benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the Core 5 330 does claim a notable single-thread victory in one specific test suite. The database average benchmark scores place the Core i7-14650HX at 41576, which puts it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 averages 18345, landing in the 72nd percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i7-14650HX wins the vast majority of head-to-head tests, often by substantial margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 3470.5 against the Core 5 330's 1325, a delta of -61.8 percent for the Core 5 330 (meaning the Core 5 330 trails by that margin). The gap narrows somewhat in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core i7-14650HX scores 20454 versus 13150, a 35.7 percent deficit for the Core 5 330. Single-core results in Cinebench also favor the Core i7-14650HX. In R15 single-core, it scores 285.5 versus 186, a 34.9 percent lead. In R20 single-core, the Core i7-14650HX scores 1686 against 779, a 53.8 percent advantage. The closest Cinebench result is R23 single-core, where the Core i7-14650HX scores 1969 against 1856, a relatively modest 5.7 percent lead.

PassMark tests show the same pattern, with the Core i7-14650HX dominating compute-heavy workloads. In PassMark integer math, the Core i7-14650HX scores 116661 versus 33258, a massive 71.5 percent deficit for the Core 5 330. Floating point math shows a 48.4 percent gap, with the Core i7-14650HX scoring 84999 against 43885. Data compression favors the Core i7-14650HX at 398418 versus 145287, a 63.5 percent margin. Data encryption goes to the Core i7-14650HX at 22917 versus 11076, a 51.7 percent lead. Extended instructions score 24150 on the Core i7-14650HX versus 12808, a 47 percent difference. Random string sorting shows a 58.7 percent gap, with the Core i7-14650HX scoring 43035 against 17771. Physics tests give the Core i7-14650HX a 45.5 percent lead, scoring 2202 versus 1201. Prime number finding is closer, with the Core i7-14650HX scoring 152 against 114, a 25 percent advantage.

The Core 5 330 wins only one distinct benchmark category, but it wins it twice. In PassMark single-thread and PassMark single_thread (which report the same score), the Core 5 330 scores 4088 against the Core i7-14650HX's 3841, a 6.4 percent lead. This is the only head-to-head test where the Core 5 330 comes out ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-14650HX is the clear winner for any workload that scales with core count or thread count. Its 16 cores and 24 threads give it a decisive edge in multi-threaded rendering, as shown by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. It also dominates integer and floating point math, data compression, encryption, extended instruction workloads, physics simulation, and random string sorting. The data indicates this processor is built for heavy parallel workloads, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and scientific computing. The 88th percentile ranking versus all CPUs reinforces its position as a high-end mobile processor.

The Core 5 330 wins in PassMark single-thread performance. This suggests it has a slight advantage in lightly threaded applications that depend on raw single-core speed, though the margin is small at 6.4 percent. Its 72nd percentile ranking places it well below the Core i7-14650HX in overall performance, but the single-thread win shows it is not without merit. For tasks that are not heavily multi-threaded, the Core 5 330 can keep pace or even edge ahead. However, the overall benchmark average of 18345 versus 41576 makes it clear that the Core i7-14650HX is in a different performance class.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and process nodes. The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename on a 3 nm process node, while the Core i7-14650HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX codename, part of the Raptor Lake architecture, on a 10 nm node. The Core 5 330 is a 6-core, 6-thread design, meaning it has no hyper-threading. The Core i7-14650HX is a 16-core, 24-thread design, indicating it uses a hybrid core layout with performance and efficiency cores. The core count difference alone explains much of the multi-threaded performance gap.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-14650HX has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger shared L3 cache on the Core i7-14650HX gives it a substantial advantage in workloads that benefit from large working sets. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel memory bus, with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i7-14650HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel memory bus, with no recorded bandwidth figure in the database. The dual-channel memory bus on the Core i7-14650HX is a meaningful advantage for memory-intensive workloads.

PCIe support also differs. The Core 5 330 uses Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core i7-14650HX uses Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core i7-14650HX also supports ECC memory, which the Core 5 330 does not. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core i7-14650HX uses UHD Graphics 710. The Core i7-14650HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 330 does not. The Core 5 330 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Core i7-14650HX has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core i7-14650HX has a TDP of 55 watts, reflecting its higher power envelope and performance ceiling. The Core 5 330 uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket, while the Core i7-14650HX uses Intel BGA 1964. The Core i7-14650HX has a die size of 257 mm²; no die size is recorded for the Core 5 330. The Core 5 330 was released on 2026-04-15, while the Core i7-14650HX was released on 2024-01-07. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Core i7-14650HX. The Core 5 330 has part number SAE3G, and the Core i7-14650HX has part number SRMXH.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX wins every multi-threaded benchmark recorded in the database. For example, it scores 20454 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 13150 for the Core 5 330, and 33495 in PassMark multithread versus 15471.

Q: Does the Core 5 330 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes. The Core 5 330 wins PassMark single-thread, scoring 4088 versus 3841 for the Core i7-14650HX, a 6.4 percent advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel Core i7-14650HX has a TDP of 55 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX supports ECC memory. The Intel Core 5 330 does not.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-14650HX has a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The Intel Core 5 330 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-14650HX is the superior processor for almost any task that demands computing power. Its 16 cores, 24 threads, larger cache, dual-channel memory bus, and higher boost clock deliver commanding leads across nearly every benchmark in the database. It wins all Cinebench tests, all PassMark compute tests except single-thread, and its 88th percentile ranking versus all CPUs reflects its high-end status. The 55 watt TDP and 5.20 GHz boost clock indicate it is designed for performance-first laptops where power draw is not the primary concern. Its 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 16 Gen 5 PCIe lanes further position it as a processor for demanding workloads like content creation, engineering simulation, and heavy multitasking.

The Intel Core 5 330 is a different kind of processor. Its 15 watt TDP, 3 nm process node, and single-channel memory bus point to a design focused on efficiency rather than raw performance. It wins PassMark single-thread, which means it can handle lightly threaded tasks competently, but its 6 MB of shared L3 cache and 6 Gen 4 PCIe lanes limit its appeal for heavy workloads. Its 72nd percentile ranking and average score of 18345 place it in the mid-range of the database. The Core 5 330 is the choice for systems where low power consumption and adequate single-thread performance matter more than multi-core throughput. The data does not support using the Core 5 330 for serious parallel compute workloads, where the Core i7-14650HX is decisively faster.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 330 | Intel Core i7-14650HX |

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

| Cores | 6 | 16 |

| Threads | 6 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.20 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Raptor Lake-HX |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

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

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | UHD Graphics 710 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2024-01-07 |

| Part Number | SAE3G | SRMXH |