Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor delivers the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 records an average benchmark score of 46062, compared to 18345 for the Intel Core 5 330. The Ultra 5 235 sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 sits in the 72nd percentile.

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

A: The Ultra 5 235 leads in every Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 14769 versus 13150 for the Core 5 330, an 11% advantage. The single-core gap is identical at 11%, with 2085 versus 1856.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Ultra 5 235 also carries a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, and a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: What are the memory specifications for each processor?

A: The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 5 235 supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark integer and floating-point math?

A: The Ultra 5 235 scores 87948 in integer math versus 33258 for the Core 5 330, a 62.2% lead. In floating-point math, the Ultra 5 235 scores 117951 versus 43885, a 62.8% lead.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each processor?

A: The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309. The Core Ultra 5 235 has a launch MSRP of $257.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear separation between these two parts. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database, with zero wins for the Intel Core 5 330. The average score gap is substantial: 46062 versus 18345, which places the Ultra 5 235 in the 89th percentile versus the 72nd percentile for the Core 5 330.

The nearest rivals for the Core 5 330 are the Intel Core i3-14100 (delta 0.1%), the Intel Core 7 360 (delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i3-13100 (delta -0.2%), and the Intel Core 3 305 (delta 0.2%). The Core 5 330 sits essentially in the same performance band as those parts, with average scores all clustering near 18300.

The nearest rivals for the Core Ultra 5 235 are the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i9-13900HX (delta -0.1%), the AMD EPYC 4364P (delta 0.2%), and the AMD EPYC 7303 (delta 0.2%). The Ultra 5 235 is competitive with high-end mobile and server-class parts, which explains its far higher percentile ranking.

For buyers, the choice depends on the target platform. The Core 5 330 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1516 with a 15 W TDP, designed for compact laptops. The Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop processor on Intel Socket 1851 with a 65 W TDP. The data shows the desktop part delivers much higher raw throughput, especially in multi-threaded PassMark workloads where the deltas exceed 50%. The mobile part is not positioned to compete on raw performance; it is positioned for power-constrained systems.

The Core 5 330 uses an Intel process and a Wildcat Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 5 235 uses a TSMC process, Arrow Lake architecture, and Arrow Lake-S codename. The Ultra 5 235 also benefits from a larger L3 cache (24 MB shared versus 6 MB shared) and a dual-channel memory bus, which supports the higher memory bandwidth figure. The Core 5 330 offers LPDDR5X support, which is relevant for mobile designs, but the measured benchmark scores do not offset the performance deficit.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core Ultra 5 235 wins every recorded comparison, but the margin varies considerably by workload type. In Cinebench tests, the lead is consistent and relatively narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 5 235 scores 1488 versus 1325, an 11% advantage. In R15 single-core, it scores 210 versus 186, an 11.4% lead. The R20 multi-core result is 6202 versus 5523 (10.9% lead), and R20 single-core is 875 versus 779 (11% lead). Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 14769 versus 13150 (11% lead), while R23 single-core shows 2085 versus 1856 (11% lead). These results indicate that the Core 5 330 is competitive in per-core performance, but the Ultra 5 235 maintains a clear edge across all Cinebench versions.

The PassMark suite reveals a much larger divergence. The data compression workload shows the Ultra 5 235 at 390711 versus 145287, a 62.8% lead. Data encryption follows a similar pattern: 29293 versus 11076, a 62.2% lead. Extended instructions score 32752 versus 12808, a 60.9% lead. The find prime numbers test shows the largest gap: 371 versus 114, a 69.3% lead.

Floating-point math delivers 117951 versus 43885, a 62.8% lead. Integer math delivers 87948 versus 33258, a 62.2% lead. The multithread test scores 37816 versus 15471, a 59.1% lead. Physics scores 2570 versus 1201, a 53.3% lead. Random string sorting scores 48980 versus 17771, a 63.7% lead.

The single-thread PassMark test is the closest comparison, with 4516 versus 4088, a 9.5% lead for the Ultra 5 235. This mirrors the Cinebench single-core results, suggesting that the per-core advantage of the Ultra 5 235 is moderate, around 9.5% to 11.4%, while the multi-threaded and specialized workloads show a far larger gap. The 14-core versus 6-core configuration explains much of that difference, along with the higher clock speeds and larger cache.

The smallest deltas in the entire dataset are the single-thread tests. The largest deltas appear in PassMark find prime numbers (69.3%), random string sorting (63.7%), data compression (62.8%), and floating-point math (62.8%). These are workloads that scale well with additional cores, memory bandwidth, and cache capacity, which are all areas where the Ultra 5 235 has a clear specification advantage.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235 has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither part supports hyper-threading, as thread counts equal core counts in both cases.

Base clocks differ substantially: the Core 5 330 runs at 1.50 GHz, while the Ultra 5 235 runs at 3.40 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with 4.60 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. The TDP figures are far apart, with 15 W for the mobile part and 65 W for the desktop part.

The memory subsystems are different in both channel count and bandwidth. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ultra 5 235 uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Memory support also differs: the Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the Ultra 5 235 supports DDR5 only.

PCIe connectivity is another major difference. The Core 5 330 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Ultra 5 235 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra 5 235 has more lanes and a newer PCIe generation.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Ultra 5 235 uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 EUs. Both parts have ECC memory disabled and locked multipliers.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 330 and Intel Socket 1851 for the Ultra 5 235. The market segments reflect this, with the Core 5 330 listed as mobile and the Ultra 5 235 listed as desktop. Production status is active for both, but the release dates differ, with the Ultra 5 235 released in January 2025 and the Core 5 330 released in April 2026.

Architecture Differences

The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and is listed as Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The Core Ultra 5 235 uses the Arrow Lake architecture, the Arrow Lake-S codename, and the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. Both are built on a 3 nm process node, but the foundries differ: Intel for the Core 5 330 and TSMC for the Ultra 5 235.

The transistor count and die size are recorded only for the Ultra 5 235, which has 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. No equivalent figures are listed for the Core 5 330.

Cache configurations are markedly different. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 5 235 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 allocation on the Ultra 5 235 is particularly large, which contributes to its strong single-thread PassMark score relative to the Core 5 330.

Neither processor includes 3D V-Cache. The Core 5 330 does not have an architecture listed in the database, while the Ultra 5 235 is explicitly identified as Arrow Lake. The Ultra 5 235 also has a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz), a higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 1.50 GHz), and a larger memory bandwidth figure. The combination of more cores, higher clocks, larger caches, and dual-channel memory explains why the Ultra 5 235 wins all 17 benchmark comparisons and records a much higher average score.