Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H Comparison

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Core Ultra 5 225H present two distinctly different design philosophies within Intel's mobile lineup. The Core 5 330 is built on the Wildcat Lake architecture, while the Core Ultra 5 225H uses Arrow Lake-H architecture. Both are manufactured on a 3 nm process, but the Core 5 330 is produced at Intel's own foundry, whereas the Core Ultra 5 225H is fabricated by TSMC.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The Core 5 330 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor with no hyper-threading, while the Core Ultra 5 225H packs 14 cores and 14 threads. This difference alone explains much of the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads. The Core 5 330 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 225H starts at 1.70 GHz and boosts to 4.90 GHz. The higher boost clock of the 225H gives it a single-thread advantage, though the margin is modest.

Cache hierarchies scale with the core counts. The Core 5 330 carries 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 225H offers 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The larger shared L3 in the 225H is substantial, roughly three times the capacity of the Core 5 330, which benefits workloads with large working sets that need frequent data reuse.

Memory support is identical in type: both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The critical distinction is the memory bus. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel interface with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 225H uses a dual-channel interface and reaches 102.4 GB/s. That 71.5% bandwidth advantage for the 225H matters in memory-bound tasks such as compression and encryption. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 225H uses Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes. The newer PCIe generation and higher lane count give the 225H more headroom for discrete GPUs and fast NVMe storage. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 225H uses Arc Graphics 130T. The socket is another distinguishing factor, with the Core 5 330 on Intel BGA 1516 and the Core Ultra 5 225H on Intel BGA 2049.

Thermal design power is notably different: 15 W for the Core 5 330 versus 28 W for the Core Ultra 5 225H. The higher TDP of the 225H reflects its larger core count and higher clocks, and it allows sustained performance under load. The Core 5 330 is positioned as a lower-power part, which suits thinner chassis with limited cooling. The release dates also differ: the Core Ultra 5 225H arrived in January 2025, while the Core 5 330 came later in April 2026. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309; the 225H has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Core 5 330 does not win a single benchmark in the database. This does not mean the Core 5 330 is without use cases, but its strengths are relative to its lower power envelope rather than raw performance.

The Core Ultra 5 225H is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. Its 14 cores and 14 threads, combined with dual-channel memory and 18 MB of L3 cache, produce large margins in rendering, compilation, and data processing tasks. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 10041 against 5523 for the Core 5 330, an 81.8% advantage. In PassMark multithread, the 225H scores 28119 versus 15471, a gain of 81.8% as well. Workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth will consistently favor the 225H.

Single-thread performance also favors the Core Ultra 5 225H, but by a much smaller margin. The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1969 versus 1856 for the Core 5 330, a 6.1% lead. PassMark single-thread shows 4258 versus 4088, only a 4.2% difference. The higher boost clock of the 225H (4.90 GHz vs 4.60 GHz) accounts for this edge. For lightly threaded tasks like web browsing, office applications, or legacy software, the difference is small.

The Core 5 330 retains a role in power-constrained designs. At 15 W TDP versus 28 W for the 225H, it draws less power and generates less heat. Systems built around the Core 5 330 can use smaller batteries and lighter cooling solutions. The performance per watt is not directly measured in the database, but the TDP gap is large enough to matter in fanless or near-fanless designs. For users who prioritize battery life and portability over compute throughput, the Core 5 330 is the more sensible option.

The integrated graphics difference also matters for certain use cases. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the 225H uses Arc Graphics 130T. The Arc solution is positioned higher in Intel's graphics stack, but the database does not include graphics benchmarks, so the comparison rests on the architectural naming alone.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H comes in PassMark integer math, where it scores 68520 against 33258 for the Core 5 330, a delta of 51.5%. This is the single biggest percentage gap in the entire comparison. Floating-point math is nearly as lopsided: 86540 versus 43885, a 49.3% difference. These two results reflect both the core count advantage and the memory bandwidth advantage of the 225H.

Data compression shows a 48.7% lead for the 225H, with scores of 283451 versus 145287. Data encryption follows closely at 48.3%, with 21428 versus 11076. Both workloads are sensitive to memory bandwidth and cache capacity, so the dual-channel interface and 18 MB L3 of the 225H provide a clear edge. Random string sorting shows a 47.2% gap (33654 versus 17771), and extended instructions show a 41.6% gap (21915 versus 12808).

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 225H scores 2397.5 versus 1325 for the Core 5 330, a 44.7% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a 45% lead (10041 versus 5523). The R23 multicore gap is smaller at 10.1% (14629.5 versus 13150), which is surprising given the larger margins in R15 and R20. This suggests that R23 multicore may be less sensitive to core count scaling or that thermal constraints on the 225H become a factor in longer runs.

Single-core results are much closer. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a 5.7% lead for the 225H (1969 versus 1856). Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 35.5% lead (288.5 versus 186), but this is an outlier given the small absolute scores. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a 45% lead (1417 versus 779), which is also larger than the R23 result. PassMark single-thread shows only a 4% difference (4258 versus 4088). The single-core picture is mixed, but the 225H wins every test.

PassMark physics shows a 36% lead for the 225H (1877 versus 1201). PassMark find prime numbers shows a 48.2% lead (220 versus 114). PassMark multithread shows a 45% lead (28119 versus 15471). Every single benchmark in the head-to-head set favors the Core Ultra 5 225H, with deltas ranging from 4% to 51.5%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The 225H has more than double the core count.

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

A: The Core Ultra 5 225H leads by 45% in Cinebench R20 multicore (10041 versus 5523) and by 45% in PassMark multithread (28119 versus 15471). The smallest multicore gap is in Cinebench R23, where the 225H leads by 10.1% (14629.5 versus 13150).

Q: Is the Core Ultra 5 225H much faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: No, the single-thread advantage is small. PassMark single-thread shows 4258 versus 4088, a 4% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1969 versus 1856, a 5.7% lead. Single-threaded performance is similar between the two.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X, but the Core Ultra 5 225H uses a dual-channel interface with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 5 330 uses a single-channel interface with 59.7 GB/s. The 225H has significantly higher memory bandwidth.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Core Ultra 5 225H has a TDP of 28 W. The Core 5 330 draws less power, which makes it more suitable for power-constrained mobile designs.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Core Ultra 5 225H was released in January 2025, while the Core 5 330 was released in April 2026. The Core 5 330 is the newer part despite being less powerful.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 330 | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 6 | 14 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 1.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake-H |

| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

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

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | Arc Graphics 130T |

| Release date | April 2026 | January 2025 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not recorded |

The two processors share several traits: both are mobile parts, both use DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, neither supports ECC memory, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are active production parts. The Core Ultra 5 225H is part of the Core Ultra Series 2 lineup, while the Core 5 330 has no series designation. The part numbers also differ: SAE3G for the Core 5 330 and SRQAM for the Core Ultra 5 225H.

The average benchmark score tells the overall story. The Core 5 330 averages 18345, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 5 225H averages 31508, placing it in the 82nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 330 include the Intel Core i3-14100 (18318, 0.1% behind) and the Intel Core 7 360 (18374, 0.2% ahead). The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 5 225H include the Intel Core i5-13500 (31510, 0% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX (31495, 0% difference). The Core Ultra 5 225H performs in a completely different class, matching desktop-class processors like the Core i5-13500. The Core 5 330 sits near entry-level desktop parts like the Core i3-14100.