Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL Comparison

Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL are two Intel processors aimed at different market segments. The Core 5 330 is a mobile chip built on Intel's 3 nm process with a Wildcat Lake design, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL is a desktop part from the Meteor Lake generation on a 7 nm node. The database contains a full set of benchmark results for the Core 5 330, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL has no recorded benchmark scores, which shapes the analysis below.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 330 is the only one of the two with recorded benchmark data, so all performance comparisons come from its measured results. The Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating strong overall performance for a mobile processor. Its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Core i3-14100 (average score 18318, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core 7 360 (average score 18374, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i3-13100 (average score 18380, delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core 3 305 (average score 18302, delta 0.2%). The Core 5 330's average benchmark score is 18345, placing it effectively in a tie with these four chips, all within 0.2% of each other.

The Core 5 330 delivers its best results in multi-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 13150, and its PassMark multithread score is 15471. The data shows strong single-thread performance as well, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1856 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4088. The chip also handles specialized workloads well: PassMark data compression scores 145287, floating point math scores 43885, integer math scores 33258, and random string sorting scores 17771. Extended instructions score 12808, and data encryption scores 11076. Physics testing produces a score of 1201, while prime number finding is a weaker area at 114.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has no benchmark scores in the database, so its wins cannot be measured directly. The available specification data indicates it uses a different configuration with more cores and threads, but without recorded test results, any performance advantage remains unquantified. The Core 5 330 is the only chip in this comparison with confirmed performance data.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core 5 330 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Core 5 330's average benchmark score is 18345. It sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-14100 (18318, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core 7 360 (18374, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i3-13100 (18380, delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core 3 305 (18302, delta 0.2%). This places it in a tight cluster of comparable performers.

Q: What is the benchmark performance of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL?

A: The database contains no benchmark results for the Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL. Its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, and it has no nearest rivals listed. Its performance percentile is 50, but this is based on no measured data.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has 14 cores and 18 threads, a substantially higher count.

Q: What are the clock speeds of the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, though the memory support notes it depends on the motherboard.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each chip?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, a mobile socket. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL uses Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket. They are not interchangeable.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons are impossible because the Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has no recorded scores in the database. The head-to-head benchmark field is empty, and the win counts for both processors are zero. This means the only measurable performance data comes from the Intel Core 5 330.

The Core 5 330's Cinebench R15 multicore score is 1325, with a single-core score of 186. Its Cinebench R20 multicore score is 5523, and the single-core score is 779. The Cinebench R23 results show a multicore score of 13150 and a single-core score of 1856. These numbers indicate a processor that can handle both lightly threaded and fully loaded workloads competently.

In PassMark testing, the Core 5 330 scores 15471 in multithread and 4088 in single-thread. The data compression test yields 145287, which is one of the highest scores in its test suite. Floating point math scores 43885, integer math scores 33258, and random string sorting scores 17771. The extended instructions test produces 12808, and data encryption scores 11076. The physics test records 1201, while find prime numbers scores only 114, showing a relative weakness in that specific workload.

The Core 5 330's average benchmark score of 18345 places it at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, as listed above, all have average scores between 18302 and 18380, with deltas of 0.1% or 0.2%. The Core 5 330 effectively matches the Intel Core i3-14100, the Intel Core 7 360, the Intel Core i3-13100, and the Intel Core 3 305 in overall performance.

Because the Core Ultra 5 125HL lacks any benchmark data, no exact score comparisons can be made. The specification differences, such as core count and memory bandwidth, suggest the Ultra 5 may perform differently, but the database does not confirm this with measurements.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has 14 cores and 18 threads. The Core 5 330's base clock is 1.50 GHz with a boost of 4.60 GHz; the Core Ultra 5 125HL's base clock is 1.20 GHz with a boost of 4.50 GHz. Thermal design power differs significantly: the Core 5 330 is rated at 15 watts, and the Core Ultra 5 125HL is rated at 45 watts.

The sockets are different. The Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, a mobile socket, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL uses Intel Socket 1851, a desktop socket. The Core 5 330 has a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, supporting DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The Core Ultra 5 125HL has a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, supporting DDR5 with the note that this depends on the motherboard.

PCIe support also differs. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 125HL provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics are different as well: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe), while the Core Ultra 5 125HL uses Arc Xe-LPG 112EU.

The release dates differ. The Core 5 330 was released on 2026-04-15, while the Core Ultra 5 125HL was released on 2024-04-07. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309, and the Core Ultra 5 125HL has a launch MSRP of $325. The Core 5 330's part number is SAE3G, and the Core Ultra 5 125HL's part number is SRN9D.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename from the Core 5 generation, built on Intel's 3 nm process. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL uses the Meteor Lake architecture, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS codename, from the Core Ultra Series 1 generation, built on Intel's 7 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Cache configurations 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 Ultra 5 125HL has 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache difference is notable: 6 MB versus 18 MB, a threefold advantage for the Core Ultra 5 125HL.

The process node difference is also significant. The Core 5 330 uses a 3 nm process, which is more advanced than the Core Ultra 5 125HL's 7 nm process. This likely contributes to the Core 5 330's lower 15-watt TDP despite a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz.

The Core Ultra 5 125HL's architecture includes more cores (14 versus 6) and more threads (18 versus 6), which suggests a design aimed at heavier multi-threaded workloads. The Core 5 330's architecture, with its 3 nm node and 6-core layout, appears optimized for power efficiency in mobile applications. The integrated graphics differ, with the Core 5 330 using Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) and the Core Ultra 5 125HL using Arc Xe-LPG 112EU, indicating different graphics capabilities.

The memory support also reflects architectural choices. The Core 5 330 supports LPDDR5X in addition to DDR5, which is common for mobile platforms. The Core Ultra 5 125HL supports only DDR5, with the motherboard determining specifics. The memory bandwidth difference (59.7 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s) corresponds to the single-channel versus dual-channel memory bus.

The Verdict

The Intel Core 5 330 is the only processor in this comparison with recorded benchmark data. Its average benchmark score of 18345 places it at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, and it sits within 0.2% of four nearest rivals: the Intel Core i3-14100, the Intel Core 7 360, the Intel Core i3-13100, and the Intel Core 3 305. This indicates that the Core 5 330 delivers competitive performance for its mobile segment, with strong results in Cinebench R23 multicore (13150) and PassMark multithread (15471).

The Intel Core Ultra 5 125HL has no benchmark scores in the database. Its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, and it has no nearest rivals. The specification data shows a processor with more cores (14 versus 6), more threads (18 versus 6), a larger L3 cache (18 MB versus 6 MB), dual-channel memory support, and higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s). It also has a higher TDP (45 watts versus 15 watts), which suggests it is designed for desktop use with more power available.

The data does not support a direct performance comparison between the two. The Core 5 330 has measurable performance that matches several desktop-class rivals from the database. The Core Ultra 5 125HL's specifications indicate a different design philosophy with more cores and higher memory bandwidth, but without benchmark results, its actual performance cannot be verified. Users seeking a mobile processor with confirmed performance data should consider the Core 5 330. Users targeting a desktop platform with higher core counts and memory bandwidth may find the Core Ultra 5 125HL's specifications appealing, but the database does not yet confirm its performance level.