Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core i9-14901E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i9-14901E wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The largest margin comes in PassMark integer math, where the i9-14901E posts a score of 112,736 versus 33,258 for the Core 5 330, a 70.5% advantage. This suggests the i9-14901E's additional cores and higher clock speeds translate directly into sustained integer throughput that the Core 5 330 cannot match.

Cinebench results follow a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i9-14901E scores 25,753 against 13,150 for the Core 5 330, a 48.9% gap. Single-core Cinebench R23 shows the same 48.9% delta, with 3,635 versus 1,856. The consistency of this margin across both single and multi-threaded workloads indicates the i9-14901E's per-core performance advantage is just as significant as its thread-count advantage.

The closest contest appears in PassMark single-thread testing. The i9-14901E records 4,354 points, only 6.1% ahead of the Core 5 330's 4,088. This narrow margin stands out against the broader trend, where most deltas sit between 25.7% and 70.5%. It suggests that for lightly threaded applications, the Core 5 330's modern architecture partially compensates for its lower boost clock, though it still trails.

Physics performance shows a particularly steep divide. The i9-14901E scores 3,041 in PassMark physics, 60.5% higher than the Core 5 330's 1,201. Data compression reveals a 49.7% gap, with 288,777 versus 145,287. Extended instructions see the smallest multi-threaded delta at 25.7%, with scores of 17,249 and 12,808, indicating the Core 5 330's instruction handling is comparatively closer to the i9-14901E than other workloads suggest.

Random string sorting favors the i9-14901E by 54.6%, scoring 39,138 against 17,771. Floating point math shows a 45.9% margin, with 81,089 versus 43,885. Prime number finding lands at 39.7% apart, 189 versus 114. Data encryption sits at 40.4%, with 18,571 versus 11,076.

The aggregate benchmark scores place the i9-14901E at 37,911 average, which sits near the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (37,904, a 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (37,943, a 0.1% gap in the other direction). The Core 5 330 averages 18,345, which places it alongside the Intel Core i3-14100 (18,318, 0.1% lower), the Intel Core 7 360 (18,374, 0.2% higher), and the Intel Core i3-13100 (18,380, 0.2% higher). The percentile scores reflect this divide: the i9-14901E sits in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 sits in the 72nd.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901E wins every single-threaded test. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 3,635 versus 1,856, a 48.9% advantage. PassMark single-thread shows a narrower 6.1% margin, with 4,354 versus 4,088.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: The i9-14901E leads by approximately 49% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. PassMark multithread also shows a 48.9% delta, with 30,298 versus 15,471.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it lacks hyper-threading while the i9-14901E includes it.

Q: Do the processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus. The i9-14901E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus. The i9-14901E also supports ECC memory; the Core 5 330 does not.

Q: What is the difference in their power envelopes?

A: The Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the i9-14901E has a TDP of 65 watts. This aligns with their market segments: the Core 5 330 is a mobile processor, and the i9-14901E is a desktop processor.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Core 5 330's 18,345 average is within 0.2% of the Intel Core 3 305 (18,302) and 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100 (18,318). The i9-14901E's 37,911 average is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (37,904) and 0.1% below the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (37,943).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload and platform requirements. The Intel Core i9-14901E is the stronger processor in every measured benchmark, with margins ranging from 6.1% in PassMark single-thread to 70.5% in PassMark integer math. Its 86th percentile ranking versus the Core 5 330's 72nd percentile confirms the overall performance hierarchy.

The Core 5 330 does close the gap in single-threaded PassMark testing, but even there it trails. Its 15-watt TDP and mobile socket (Intel BGA 1516) position it for low-power portable systems, while the i9-14901E's 65-watt TDP and Intel Socket 1700 target desktop builds. The i9-14901E's dual-channel memory support and ECC capability further separate it as the more capable platform for memory-intensive or reliability-focused workloads.

For any application where raw compute throughput matters, the i9-14901E is the choice. The Core 5 330's only arguable advantage in the recorded data is its lower power draw and mobile form factor, both of which are platform characteristics rather than performance wins. The benchmark data does not show a single test where the Core 5 330 leads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category.

Cores and threads: The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The i9-14901E has 8 cores and 16 threads, doubling the thread count through hyper-threading.

Clock speeds: The Core 5 330 runs at a 1.50 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock. The i9-14901E runs at 2.80 GHz base and 5.60 GHz boost.

Power: The Core 5 330 has a 15-watt TDP. The i9-14901E has a 65-watt TDP.

Socket: The Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, a mobile socket. The i9-14901E uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket.

Cache: The Core 5 330 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The i9-14901E has 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 36 MB shared L3.

Memory: The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i9-14901E supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus; its bandwidth is not recorded. The i9-14901E supports ECC memory; the Core 5 330 does not.

PCIe: The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes. The i9-14901E provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics: The Core 5 330 has Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The i9-14901E has UHD Graphics 770.

Release timing: The Core 5 330 launched with a recorded release date of 2026-04-15 and a launch MSRP of $309. The i9-14901E released on 2024-06-30 with no recorded launch MSRP.

Part numbers: The Core 5 330 carries part number SAE3G. The i9-14901E carries part number Q49ESRNJH.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural generations built on different process nodes.

The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. It is fabricated on Intel's 3 nm process. The i9-14901E uses the Raptor Lake-R codename, belongs to the Core 14th Gen series and the Core i9 (Raptor Lake Refresh) generation, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process.

The process node difference is substantial. The 3 nm node gives the Core 5 330 a density and efficiency advantage that helps explain its 15-watt TDP despite a 4.60 GHz boost clock. The 10 nm node on the i9-14901E is a more mature process that allows higher clock speeds up to 5.60 GHz at the cost of a 65-watt TDP.

Cache architecture differs fundamentally. The Core 5 330 uses a smaller shared L3 cache of 6 MB, while the i9-14901E provides a 36 MB shared L3. The L2 configuration also differs: the Core 5 330 has a total 2.5 MB, while the i9-14901E has 2 MB per core, which scales to a larger aggregate capacity across its 8 cores.

The die size is recorded only for the i9-14901E at 257 mm². The Core 5 330 has no recorded die size or transistor count. The i9-14901E also has no recorded transistor count.

The memory controller design follows the platform split. The Core 5 330's single-channel bus pairs with its mobile positioning, while the i9-14901E's dual-channel bus pairs with desktop memory bandwidth demands. PCIe generation and lane counts also reflect this split: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the mobile chip versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes for the desktop chip.

The integrated graphics differ by architecture generation. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the i9-14901E uses UHD Graphics 770. The Xe3 architecture is the newer design, though no comparative graphics benchmarks are recorded in the database.

The i9-14901E supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Core 5 330. This aligns with the i9-14901E's desktop market segment and its Raptor Lake-R lineage, which targets workstation-adjacent use cases. The Core 5 330's lack of ECC support aligns with its consumer mobile positioning.