Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i7-14700HX Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data separates these two mobile processors into distinct performance classes. The Intel Core i7-14700HX wins 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core 5 330 claims only 2 wins. The average benchmark score for the Core i7-14700HX is 45953, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core 5 330 averages 18345, which lands in the 72nd percentile. That is a gap of roughly 150% in average score, and it shows up consistently across multi-threaded workloads.

The Core 5 330 is the choice for users who prioritize a single metric: single-threaded PassMark performance. It edges the Core i7-14700HX by 3.6% in that specific test. It also carries a much lower thermal envelope, 15 W versus 55 W, which makes it suitable for thinner, lighter systems where sustained heavy multicore load is not the primary use case. The Core i7-14700HX, by contrast, is the choice for anyone who needs heavy multicore throughput, large shared cache, dual-channel memory, or PCIe Gen 5 connectivity. Its nearest rivals in the database are server and high-end mobile parts like the AMD EPYC 7303 and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, which confirms its placement in a much higher performance tier.

For a mainstream laptop workload mix that includes office tasks, web browsing, and light content creation, the Core 5 330 delivers acceptable results with far lower power draw. For rendering, compilation, data processing, or any workload that scales across cores, the Core i7-14700HX is the clear pick from the recorded data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design families and manufacturing nodes. The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is built on a 3 nm process. It has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading is present in the recorded data. The Core i7-14700HX uses the Raptor Lake-HX architecture and is built on a 10 nm process. It has 20 cores and 28 threads, which indicates a mix of performance and efficiency cores with hyper-threading on some of them.

The Core i7-14700HX is a refresh part in the Core 14th Gen series, with a die size of 257 mm². The Core 5 330 does not list a die size in the database. The transistor counts are not recorded for either part.

Cache layouts differ substantially. 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 i7-14700HX lists its cache on a per-core basis: 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache. With 20 cores, the aggregate L2 is much larger on the Core i7-14700HX, and the L3 pool is over five times bigger.

Memory support also diverges. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i7-14700HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus; no bandwidth figure is recorded for it. ECC memory is supported on the Core i7-14700HX, but not on the Core 5 330.

PCIe capabilities are another major split. The Core 5 330 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The Core i7-14700HX uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 330 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core i7-14700HX has UHD Graphics 770.

The Core i7-14700HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 330 does not. The sockets are different, BGA 1964 for the Core i7-14700HX and BGA 1516 for the Core 5 330. The release dates also differ, with the Core i7-14700HX launching in January 2024 and the Core 5 330 in April 2026.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the Core i7-14700HX comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 131296 against 33258 for the Core 5 330, a delta of 74.7%. That test rewards raw core count and per-core integer throughput, and the 20-core part dominates. Data compression shows a similar pattern: 438539 versus 145287, a 66.9% advantage. Random string sorting goes to the Core i7-14700HX by 63.4%, 48544 versus 17771.

In Cinebench, the Core i7-14700HX leads across the board. R15 multicore shows 3812 versus 1325, a 65.2% edge. R20 multicore shows 13059 versus 5523, a 57.7% edge. R23 multicore shows 24595 versus 13150, a 46.5% edge. These results confirm that the multicore advantage persists even as the workload scales across different Cinebench versions.

The Core i7-14700HX also wins the single-core Cinebench tests, though by smaller margins. R15 single-core is 296 versus 186, a 37.2% delta. R20 single-core is 1843 versus 779, a 57.7% delta. R23 single-core is 2103 versus 1856, an 11.7% delta. The R23 single-core margin is the smallest Cinebench gap between the two parts.

The Core 5 330 takes its only wins in the PassMark single-thread tests. It scores 4088 in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread, while the Core i7-14700HX scores 3947 in both. The delta is 3.6% in favor of the Core 5 330. This is a narrow but consistent result, and it suggests that the newer 3 nm Wildcat Lake core has a slight per-thread speed advantage in this specific benchmark suite.

The remaining PassMark tests all go to the Core i7-14700HX. Floating point math is 93836 versus 43885, a 53.2% edge. Data encryption is 26092 versus 11076, a 57.6% edge. Extended instructions are 25718 versus 12808, a 50.2% edge. Find prime numbers is 165 versus 114, a 30.9% edge. Physics is 2252 versus 1201, a 46.7% edge. Multithread is 36566 versus 15471, a 57.7% edge.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 330 | Intel Core i7-14700HX |

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

| Cores | 6 | 20 |

| Threads | 6 | 28 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.50 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 |

| Die size | Not recorded | 257 mm² |

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

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

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 33 MB (shared) |

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

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

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | Not recorded |

| 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 770 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not recorded |

The Core 5 330 has a higher base clock ratio in terms of process efficiency, but the Core i7-14700HX has higher raw clock speeds: 2.10 GHz base and 5.50 GHz boost versus 1.50 GHz and 4.60 GHz. The Core i7-14700HX also supports ECC memory and dual-channel memory, which the Core 5 330 lacks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700HX has an average benchmark score of 45953, while the Intel Core 5 330 has an average of 18345. The Core i7-14700HX sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, compared to the 72nd percentile for the Core 5 330.

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

A: Yes. It wins both PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 4088 in each, against 3947 for the Core i7-14700HX. That is a 3.6% advantage.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in PassMark integer math, where the Core i7-14700HX scores 131296 versus 33258 for the Core 5 330, a delta of 74.7%.

Q: How do the memory configurations differ?

A: The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i7-14700HX supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, and its bandwidth is not recorded. The Core i7-14700HX also supports ECC memory, which the Core 5 330 does not.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes and a newer PCIe generation?

A: The Core i7-14700HX has PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The Core 5 330 has PCIe Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Core i7-14700HX has a TDP of 55 W. The Core i7-14700HX consumes more power and produces more heat, which is consistent with its much higher multicore performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-14700HX wins every multi-threaded workload in the recorded data. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests all show advantages between 46.5% and 65.2%. PassMark tests for integer math, floating point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics, random string sorting, and multithread all go to the Core i7-14700HX with deltas ranging from 30.9% to 74.7%. This makes it the obvious choice for rendering, video encoding, software compilation, scientific computing, and any workload that can use 20 cores and 28 threads.

The Core i7-14700HX also wins all three Cinebench single-core tests, with margins from 11.7% to 57.7%. Its 5.50 GHz boost clock and 33 MB of shared L3 cache likely contribute to that advantage. It also offers dual-channel memory, ECC support, PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, and an unlocked multiplier. These features matter for users who need a mobile workstation-class platform rather than a thin-and-light ultraportable.

The Core 5 330 wins only the PassMark single-thread tests, with a 3.6% margin over the Core i7-14700HX. That is a narrow advantage, but it is a real one. For workloads that are strictly single-threaded and short-lived, such as certain legacy applications or lightly threaded productivity tools, the Core 5 330 is not at a disadvantage. Its 15 W TDP makes it far more suitable for fanless or low-power designs, and its 3 nm process node indicates a newer manufacturing generation.

The use case split is clear. For a thin, battery-focused laptop that handles everyday tasks and light single-threaded work, the Core 5 330 delivers competitive PassMark single-thread scores with a fraction of the power budget. For a performance laptop or mobile workstation that must handle heavy multicore loads, the Core i7-14700HX is the stronger part by a wide margin in nearly every recorded benchmark. The 15 wins versus 2 wins in the head-to-head data leaves little ambiguity about which processor is faster overall.