Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL Comparison
Intel Core 5 330
Core Ultra 5 125UL
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL
FAQ
Q: What are the core and thread counts of the Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL?
A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has 12 cores and 14 threads.
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?
A: The Intel Core 5 330 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz.
Q: What is the difference in L3 cache capacity between the two?
A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.
Q: Which processor supports a wider memory bus?
A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL supports dual-channel memory, while the Intel Core 5 330 supports single-channel memory.
Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?
A: The Intel Core 5 330 is built on a 3 nm process, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL is built on a 7 nm process.
Q: Do both processors have the same launch MSRP?
A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL have a launch MSRP of $309.
Architecture Differences
The Intel Core 5 330 belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation and uses the Intel BGA 1516 socket. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL is from the Meteor Lake-PS generation, specifically the Core Ultra Series 1, and uses Intel Socket 1851. The process nodes differ substantially: the Core 5 330 is fabricated on a 3 nm node, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL uses a 7 nm node. Both are produced by Intel.
Cache organization reveals a clear divergence. The Core 5 330 has a total L1 cache of 192 KB and an L2 cache of 2.5 MB, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 125UL lists L1 as 112 KB per core and L2 as 2 MB per core, combined with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The latter's per-core L2 design scales with its higher core count, offering more total cache capacity for multi-threaded workloads.
Memory architecture also separates the two. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus, providing 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 125UL supports DDR5 with bandwidth dependent on the motherboard, uses a dual-channel bus, and achieves 89.6 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 125UL has a distinct memory bandwidth advantage.
PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 125UL offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also vary: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, whereas the Core Ultra 5 125UL uses Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units.
The Core 5 330 is classified as a mobile segment part, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL is classified as a desktop segment part. Both processors have a TDP of 15, are actively in production, and are not multiplier-unlocked. The Core 5 330 was released later, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL has an earlier release date.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results between these two processors. However, the recorded data for the Intel Core 5 330 provides a full benchmark profile, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL has no benchmark entries. This absence of direct comparison data means the analysis relies on the available scores for the Core 5 330 and its position relative to other processors in the database.
The Core 5 330 demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance in Cinebench tests. It scores 1325 in Cinebench R15 multicore, 5523 in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 13150 in Cinebench R23 multicore. Single-core results are 186 in R15, 779 in R20, and 1856 in R23. These figures place the chip in the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database.
Passmark workloads show specific strengths. The Core 5 330 achieves 145287 in data compression, 11076 in data encryption, and 12808 in extended instructions. Floating-point math scores 43885, integer math scores 33258, and multithread performance reaches 15471. Single-thread Passmark scores are 4088 in both recorded entries.
The average benchmark score for the Core 5 330 is 18345. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i3-14100 with an average score of 18318 and a delta of 0.1 percent, the Intel Core 7 360 with 18374 and a delta of -0.2 percent, the Intel Core i3-13100 with 18380 and a delta of -0.2 percent, and the Intel Core 3 305 with 18302 and a delta of 0.2 percent. These deltas are minimal, indicating the Core 5 330 sits within a tight performance cluster.
The Core Ultra 5 125UL has an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile of 50, but with no recorded benchmark results, its measured performance cannot be quantified. The data shows the Core 5 330 as the only one of the two with an active benchmark footprint.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ across several specification fields. Core count: 6 for the Core 5 330 versus 12 for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. Thread count: 6 versus 14. Base clock: 1.50 GHz versus 1.30 GHz. Boost clock: 4.60 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. The Core 5 330 has a higher base and boost clock, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL has more cores and threads.
Cache specifications are distinct. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 125UL has 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The memory bus is single-channel for the Core 5 330 and dual-channel for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s versus 89.6 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 6 versus 8, both Gen 4.
Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for the Core 5 330, Arc Xe-LPG 64EU for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. The socket types are Intel BGA 1516 versus Intel Socket 1851. The Core 5 330 uses a 3 nm process node, the Core Ultra 5 125UL uses 7 nm. The market segment is mobile for the Core 5 330 and desktop for the Core Ultra 5 125UL. The Core 5 330 has a later release date. Both have a TDP of 15, a launch MSRP of $309, no ECC memory support, and are not unlocked.
The Verdict
The benchmark data shows a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core 5 330 has an extensive set of recorded scores across Cinebench and Passmark tests, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 18345 aligns closely with rivals like the Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core i3-13100, with deltas under one percent. The Core 5 330 is a fully measured quantity in the database.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL, in contrast, has no benchmark scores recorded. Its percentile of 50 and average benchmark score of 0 reflect an absence of data rather than poor performance. The specification sheet indicates a higher core count, more threads, larger L3 cache, dual-channel memory, and greater memory bandwidth. These features suggest potential for multi-threaded and memory-intensive tasks, but the lack of measured results prevents any quantitative confirmation.
For users who prioritize measured performance, the Core 5 330 offers verifiable results. For those who value core count, cache size, and memory bandwidth, the Core Ultra 5 125UL presents a compelling specification profile, though its actual benchmark outcomes remain unrecorded in the database.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core 5 330 wins in scenarios where recorded benchmark data matters. Its Cinebench scores, including 13150 in R23 multicore and 1856 in R23 single-core, indicate strong performance in rendering and single-threaded applications. Passmark results across data compression, encryption, integer math, and floating-point math provide a broad performance baseline. The higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz supports workloads that benefit from single-thread speed. The smaller 3 nm process node may contribute to efficiency, and the mobile market segment suggests suitability for portable systems.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125UL wins on paper in specifications that favor multi-threading and memory throughput. With 12 cores and 14 threads, it can handle more concurrent tasks than the 6-core, 6-thread Core 5 330. The 12 MB shared L3 cache is double the Core 5 330's 6 MB, which benefits workloads with large working sets. The dual-channel memory bus and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth exceed the single-channel 59.7 GB/s of the Core 5 330. The Arc Xe-LPG 64EU integrated graphics offer more execution units than the Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, potentially improving graphical output. The desktop segment classification aligns with stationary systems, and the 8 PCIe Gen 4 lanes provide additional connectivity.
The database lacks head-to-head wins for either processor, so the distribution of victories comes from comparing the available specification and benchmark records. The Core 5 330 wins in measured performance categories, while the Core Ultra 5 125UL wins in capacity-oriented specifications. The choice between the two depends on whether the user requires verified benchmark results or expanded core, cache, and memory resources.