Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 across all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 330 records zero wins, while the Core Ultra 5 225 takes every test. The margins, however, are not uniform, and the differences between the two processors shift depending on the workload type.

The largest single gap appears in PassMark's find prime numbers test. The Core Ultra 5 225 scores 358 against 114 for the Core 5 330, a 68.2% advantage. This is the most lopsided result in the dataset and suggests a substantial difference in integer-heavy, latency-sensitive compute. The extended instructions test shows a similar pattern, with the Core Ultra 5 225 at 27162 versus 12808, a 52.8% lead. Data compression also favors the desktop part strongly: 302811 versus 145287, a 52% difference.

Cinebench results are split into two clusters. In the R15 and R23 suites, the Core Ultra 5 225 leads by roughly 49%. The R15 multicore score is 2609 versus 1325, and the R23 multicore score is 25891 versus 13150. The R15 singlecore and R23 singlecore tests both show a 49.2% to 49.5% gap, with the Core Ultra 5 225 posting 368 and 3655 respectively. The R20 suite tells a different story. There, the Core Ultra 5 225 leads by only 12.6% in both multicore and singlecore, scoring 6317 versus 5523 and 891 versus 779. This narrower margin in R20 indicates that the performance delta is not constant across rendering workloads and that the Core 5 330 closes the gap considerably in that specific test.

PassMark multithread and physics tests show a near-identical 49.2% and 48.7% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225. The multithread score is 30459 versus 15471, and the physics score is 2342 versus 1201. Floating point math and integer math both favor the Core Ultra 5 225 by roughly 52.3% and 49.1% respectively. The encryption test shows a 50.3% gap, with the Core Ultra 5 225 at 22285 versus 11076. Random string sorting is another strong point for the desktop chip, coming in at 36590 versus 17771, a 51.4% lead.

The closest contest in the entire head-to-head set is the PassMark single-thread test. The Core Ultra 5 225 scores 4412, while the Core 5 330 scores 4088, a 7.3% difference. This is the only test where the two processors are within a single-digit percentage of each other. It indicates that for lightly threaded, single-core workloads, the Core 5 330 is relatively competitive, even though it still loses. The PassMark singlethread result mirrors this exactly, with the same 4088 and 4412 scores and the same 7.3% delta.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces the trend. The Core Ultra 5 225 averages 36938, while the Core 5 330 averages 18345. That places the Core Ultra 5 225 in the 85th percentile of all CPUs in the database, whereas the Core 5 330 sits in the 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip further contextualize these averages. The Core 5 330 sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-14100, the Intel Core 7 360, the Intel Core i3-13100, and the Intel Core 3 305. The Core Ultra 5 225, by contrast, is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F at a 0% delta, and sits within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and the Intel Core i9-12900T.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 outperforms the Intel Core 5 330 in every recorded benchmark, and in most workloads the margin is substantial. For multithreaded rendering, compression, encryption, and physics simulation, the Core Ultra 5 225 is roughly twice as fast. The Cinebench R23 multicore result alone, 25891 versus 13150, shows a near-doubling of throughput. Anyone selecting between these two strictly on measured performance would choose the Core Ultra 5 225 without hesitation.

The Core 5 330 does have one relative strength. Its single-thread performance, while still behind, is only 7.3% slower in the PassMark single-thread test. That is a meaningful data point for workloads that are primarily single-threaded and where the Core Ultra 5 225's other advantages do not come into play. However, even in that narrow category, the Core Ultra 5 225 still wins.

The Core 5 330's nearest rivals include the Core i3-14100 and Core i3-13100, which places it in the entry-level mobile segment. The Core Ultra 5 225's nearest rivals include the Ryzen 5 5600F and the Core i9-12900T, which places it in a much higher performance tier. The 13-percentage-point difference in percentile ranking, 85 versus 72, summarizes the overall positioning. The Core Ultra 5 225 is the faster processor by every metric in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core 5 330 records zero wins.

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

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Core Ultra 5 225 leads by 68.2%, scoring 358 versus 114.

Q: Is the Core 5 330 competitive in any workload?

A: The closest result is the PassMark single-thread test, where the Core 5 330 scores 4088 against 4412 for the Core Ultra 5 225, a 7.3% difference. This is the only test with a single-digit percentage gap.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 has an average benchmark score of 36938, while the Core 5 330 has an average of 18345.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: The Core 5 330 sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-14100, Intel Core 7 360, Intel Core i3-13100, and Intel Core 3 305. The Core Ultra 5 225 is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and sits within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, and Intel Core i9-12900T.

Q: What percentile ranking does each processor hold?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225 is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 is in the 72nd percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Core 5 330 uses 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses 10 cores and 10 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the Core 5 330 runs at 1.50 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 225 runs at 3.30 GHz. Boost clocks also favor the Core Ultra 5 225, at 4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The Core 5 330 is rated at 15 W, while the Core Ultra 5 225 is rated at 65 W. The sockets are incompatible: the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Intel Socket 1851. The Core 5 330 is a mobile part, while the Core Ultra 5 225 is a desktop part.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 225 supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 225 provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics are different. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 16 execution units. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a launch MSRP of $246. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a larger transistor count at 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm², while the Core 5 330 does not have recorded transistor or die size data.

Architecture Differences

The architecture split is significant. The Core 5 330 is built on the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The Core Ultra 5 225 is based on the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-S codename, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2. Both processors use a 3 nm process node, but they use different foundries. The Core 5 330 is fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 225 is fabricated by TSMC.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. 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 5 225 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 allocation on the Core Ultra 5 225 is a notable structural difference, as is the much larger shared L3 pool.

Release timing also separates the two. The Core Ultra 5 225 was released on 2025-01-06, while the Core 5 330 followed later, with a release date of 2026-04-15. Both parts are currently listed as active in production. The Core Ultra 5 225 has a part number of SRQCZSRVF7, while the Core 5 330 has a part number of SAE3G. The market positioning, based on the architecture and specification data, places the Core 5 330 in the mobile segment and the Core Ultra 5 225 in the desktop segment, with the desktop part carrying the higher core count, faster clocks, and larger cache allocation.