Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235H Comparison

Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235H are two mobile processors aimed at different performance tiers. The database shows the Core Ultra 5 235H outscores the Core 5 330 in every single recorded benchmark, with the gap ranging from a modest 6.2% in single-thread work to a massive 55.2% in integer math. The Core 5 330 lands at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 235H sits at the 85th percentile. Its average benchmark score of 37,522 is roughly double the Core 5 330's 18,345 average, confirming a clear hierarchy between the two parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235H appears in compute-heavy workloads. In PassMark integer math, it scores 74,247 against 33,258 for the Core 5 330, a 55.2% lead. Floating point math shows a similar story: 93,509 versus 43,885, a 53.1% advantage. The Core Ultra 5 235H also doubles the Core 5 330 in PassMark data compression (301,979 vs 145,287, a 51.9% delta) and data encryption (23,121 vs 11,076, a 52.1% delta). Prime number finding is another area where the larger chip pulls away, scoring 239 versus 114, a 52.3% gap.

Cinebench results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core Ultra 5 235H scores 25,598 against 13,150 for the Core 5 330, a 48.6% lead. That same 48.6% delta appears across Cinebench R15 multi-core (2,580 vs 1,325), R20 multi-core (10,751 vs 5,523), and R20 single-core (1,517 vs 779). The R15 single-core test shows a slightly larger gap of 48.9% (364 vs 186), while R23 single-core sits at 48.6% (3,613 vs 1,856). These consistent deltas suggest the difference is structural, tied to core count and clock behavior, rather than workload-specific.

The closest margin is in PassMark single-thread performance. The Core Ultra 5 235H scores 4,359 versus 4,088 for the Core 5 330, a 6.2% lead. This shows that for lightly threaded tasks, the Core 5 330 is comparatively competitive, though still behind. PassMark physics shows a 39.5% gap (1,985 vs 1,201), and extended instructions come in at 45.2% (23,354 vs 12,808). Random string sorting favors the Core Ultra 5 235H by 50.9% (36,208 vs 17,771), and PassMark multithread shows a 48.6% delta (30,091 vs 15,471).

The Core Ultra 5 235H wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Core 5 330 records zero wins in the database. The narrowest gap, 6.2% in single-thread tests, still favors the Core Ultra 5 235H. The largest gap, 55.2% in integer math, reinforces that the Core Ultra 5 235H is the stronger part for processing-heavy applications.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H has an average benchmark score of 37,522, while the Intel Core 5 330 has an average of 18,345.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra 5 235H in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235H scores 25,598 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 48.6% higher than the Core 5 330's 13,150.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Core 5 330 beats the Core Ultra 5 235H?

A: No. The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the Core Ultra 5 235H wins all of them. The Core 5 330 has zero wins.

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

A: The smallest gap is in PassMark single-thread performance, where the Core Ultra 5 235H leads by 6.2% (4,359 vs 4,088).

Q: How do the two processors compare in the overall CPU percentile ranking?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235H is at the 85th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 is at the 72nd percentile.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235H outperforms the Intel Core 5 330 in every recorded test. For multi-threaded workloads, rendering, and data processing, the Core Ultra 5 235H delivers roughly double the throughput of the Core 5 330. Its 48.6% to 55.2% leads in Cinebench and PassMark compute tests place it in a different performance class.

The Core 5 330 does close the gap in single-threaded performance, trailing by only 6.2% in PassMark single-thread. That makes it a more reasonable option for basic responsiveness and lightly threaded tasks, where the Core Ultra 5 235H's extra cores provide less benefit. However, the Core 5 330 still loses that comparison, and it loses every multi-threaded test by a wide margin.

The Core Ultra 5 235H also sits near the Intel Core i9-13900HK in the database's nearest rival list, with a 0.3% average score delta. The Core 5 330, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i3-14100 and Intel Core i3-13100, with deltas of 0.1% and -0.2% respectively. This places the Core 5 330 in entry-level mobile territory, while the Core Ultra 5 235H competes at a much higher performance tier.

Given the data, the Core Ultra 5 235H is the processor to select when maximum performance is the priority. The Core 5 330 is the part for systems where the smaller performance footprint, lower power envelope, and lower platform cost matter more than raw output. The 15W TDP of the Core 5 330 versus the 28W TDP of the Core Ultra 5 235H indicates the former targets more power-sensitive designs. The Core Ultra 5 235H uses its higher power budget to deliver the substantial performance advantage seen across all benchmarks.

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 235H has 14 cores and 14 threads. Neither processor supports Hyper-Threading, so thread counts match core counts. Base clocks differ: the Core 5 330 runs at 1.50 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 235H runs at 2.40 GHz. Boost clocks also favor the Core Ultra 5 235H, at 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 330.

Thermal design power shows a 13W gap. The Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15W, while the Core Ultra 5 235H has a TDP of 28W. The socket platforms differ as well: the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the Core Ultra 5 235H uses Intel BGA 2049. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core Ultra 5 235H uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, and neither supports ECC.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235H provides Gen 5 with 8 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 235H uses Arc Graphics 140T. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core Ultra 5 235H has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Cache configurations are substantially 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 Core Ultra 5 235H has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 advantage of 12 MB helps explain the Core Ultra 5 235H's dominance in multi-threaded and data-heavy workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two processors is significant. The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The Core Ultra 5 235H uses the Arrow Lake-H codename and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2, with Arrow Lake as its architecture. Both are built on a 3 nm process node, but the foundries differ: the Core 5 330 is manufactured by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 235H is manufactured by TSMC.

The core organization reflects their different design goals. The Core 5 330 is a 6-core, 6-thread part. The Core Ultra 5 235H is a 14-core, 14-thread part. This 8-core difference is the primary driver of the multi-threaded performance gap seen in Cinebench and PassMark tests. The Core Ultra 5 235H also has a higher base clock (2.40 GHz vs 1.50 GHz) and a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz vs 4.60 GHz), giving it an advantage in both sustained and peak single-thread performance.

Memory architecture differs at the controller level. The Core Ultra 5 235H's dual-channel bus delivers 102.4 GB/s, nearly double the Core 5 330's single-channel 59.7 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage feeds the larger 18 MB L3 cache and supports the 14-core design. The Core 5 330's smaller 6 MB L3 cache and single-channel memory limit its ability to feed data to the CPU cores as quickly.

The market positioning is also distinct. The Core 5 330 targets the mobile segment with a 15W power envelope and a launch MSRP of $309. The Core Ultra 5 235H also targets mobile, but with a 28W TDP and no recorded launch MSRP. The production status of both parts is active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates differ: the Core 5 330 released in April 2026, while the Core Ultra 5 235H released in January 2025, making the Core 5 330 the newer part by over a year.