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

The Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX are both mobile processors, but they occupy very different performance tiers. The recorded data shows a clear and consistent advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235HX across every single benchmark in the database, with the Core 5 330 failing to secure a single win in the head-to-head comparison.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results indicate a decisive victory for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX. In Cinebench R23, the Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 34731 in multi-core and 4903 in single-core, while the Core 5 330 delivers 13150 and 1856 respectively. This represents a 62.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 in multi-core and a 62.1% lead in single-core performance.

The pattern holds across other Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20, the Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 14587 multi-core and 2059 single-core, versus 5523 and 779 for the Core 5 330. The delta is consistent at 62.1% and 62.2% respectively. Cinebench R15 shows the same story: 3500 multi-core and 494 single-core for the Core Ultra 5, compared to 1325 and 186 for the Core 5 330.

PassMark results reinforce the dominance. The Core Ultra 5 235HX delivers 129819 in floating point math, a 66.2% lead over the Core 5 330's 43885. Integer math shows 97177 versus 33258, a 65.8% gap. Data compression favors the Core Ultra 5 at 426417 versus 145287, a 65.9% difference, while data encryption shows 32697 against 11076, a 66.1% lead.

The smallest gap in the entire comparison appears in PassMark single-thread tests. The Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 4683, while the Core 5 330 scores 4088, a 12.7% advantage. This is still a clear win, but it shows that the Core 5 330 is relatively more competitive in lightly threaded workloads. The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 leads by 68.4% with a score of 361 versus 114.

The average benchmark score in the database places the Core Ultra 5 235HX at 52073, compared to 18345 for the Core 5 330. The Core Ultra 5 sits in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 is in the 72nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different underlying designs. The Intel Core 5 330 is built on the Wildcat Lake codename, using a 3 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically Arrow Lake-HX, and is built on a 3 nm process node fabricated by TSMC.

Core counts differ substantially. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads, also without hyper-threading but with more than double the physical cores. The Core Ultra 5 includes 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the database does not list transistor or die size figures for the Core 5 330.

Clock speeds favor the Core Ultra 5. Its base clock is 2.90 GHz with a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Core 5 330 runs at a 1.50 GHz base clock and a 4.60 GHz boost clock. The thermal design power reflects the performance difference: the Core Ultra 5 is rated at 55 watts, while the Core 5 330 is rated at 15 watts.

Cache configurations also differ. 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 235HX has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core 5 330 uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory, while the Core Ultra 5 supports DDR5 only.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Core Ultra 5 235HX provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes. The Core Ultra 5 also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 330 is locked. The Core 5 330 launched in April 2026 with a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core Ultra 5 235HX launched in January 2025 with no launch MSRP recorded in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 235HX wins every recorded benchmark, so the analysis focuses on the magnitude of the gaps across workload types. The smallest lead is 12.7% in PassMark single-thread, indicating that the Core 5 330 is less disadvantaged in tasks that rely on a single core. The largest lead is 68.4% in PassMark find prime numbers, a heavily integer-bound and multi-threaded workload.

Multi-threaded workloads show consistently large gaps. The Cinebench multi-core tests all show a 62.1% delta, while PassMark multithread shows a 62.1% difference as well. Floating point math, integer math, data compression, data encryption, and random string sorting all show deltas between 65.1% and 66.2%. These are workloads that scale with core count, memory bandwidth, and cache size, all areas where the Core Ultra 5 has clear hardware advantages.

The 12.7% single-thread gap is the area where the Core 5 330 is closest. Its boost clock of 4.60 GHz is lower than the Core Ultra 5's 5.10 GHz, but the single-thread scores suggest the gap is smaller than the core count difference would imply. The Core 5 330's 1856 Cinebench R23 single-core score is still 62.1% behind, however, so the single-thread advantage for the Core Ultra 5 in that test is much larger than the PassMark result suggests.

The Core 5 330's low 15 watt TDP makes it suitable for thermally constrained designs, but the database does not include power efficiency metrics to quantify that trade-off. The Core Ultra 5's 55 watt TDP indicates a higher power envelope, which aligns with its higher performance in every measured test.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX outperforms the Intel Core 5 330 in every benchmark recorded in the database. The 14-core design, higher clock speeds, dual-channel memory, larger L3 cache, and Gen 5 PCIe support give it a substantial edge across all workload types. The average benchmark score of 52073 puts it in the 91st percentile, compared to the Core 5 330's 18345 and 72nd percentile.

The Core 5 330 is positioned for efficiency, with its 15 watt TDP and single-channel memory. Its nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i3-14100, Intel Core 7 360, Intel Core i3-13100, and Intel Core 3 305, all with average scores within 0.2% of its own. The Core Ultra 5 235HX, by contrast, sits alongside the AMD EPYC 8124P, AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, Intel Core i7-14700, and Intel Core i9-13900F, all within 0.7% of its average score.

Users seeking maximum multi-threaded performance should select the Core Ultra 5 235HX. The 62.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 65.8% lead in PassMark integer math demonstrate its capability in rendering and compute-heavy tasks. The Core 5 330 remains a viable option only for workloads where its lower TDP is the primary consideration, though the database provides no efficiency measurements to compare the two directly.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has an average benchmark score of 52073, while the Intel Core 5 330 has an average score of 18345.

Q: What is the difference in core counts between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Core Ultra 5 235HX in single-threaded performance?

A: In PassMark single-thread tests, the Core Ultra 5 235HX scores 4683 versus 4088 for the Core 5 330, a 12.7% advantage.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 235HX leads by 68.4% with a score of 361 versus 114.

Q: Do both processors use the same memory type?

A: The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a single-channel bus, while the Core Ultra 5 235HX supports DDR5 with a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which processor uses a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 330 | Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX |

|:---------------|:-----------------|:--------------------------|

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 6 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 1.50 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 2114 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Arrow Lake-HX |

| Process Node | 3 nm (Intel) | 3 nm (TSMC) |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 243 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 3 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Single-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes | Gen 5, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release Date | 2026-04-15 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not recorded |