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

The Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Core Ultra 5 235T occupy different segments of the Intel lineup, with the former being a low-power mobile part and the latter a desktop processor. The recorded data shows a decisive performance gap across all benchmark categories, with the Core Ultra 5 235T winning every single head-to-head test. The Core 5 330 sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 235T reaches the 86th percentile, reflecting a substantial difference in overall capability. The average benchmark score for the Core 5 330 is 18,345, while the Core Ultra 5 235T posts an average of 38,561, roughly doubling the output.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

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

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235T boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz. The base clocks are 2.20 GHz and 1.50 GHz respectively.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235T uses a dual-channel memory bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Core 5 330 uses a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: Only the Core Ultra 5 235T supports PCIe Gen 5, offering 20 lanes (CPU only). The Core 5 330 is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What is the L3 cache capacity on each chip?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235T has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Core Ultra 5 235T has a TDP of 65, while the Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a complete sweep for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T, which wins all 17 recorded tests. There are no categories where the Intel Core 5 330 comes out ahead. The largest victories for the Core Ultra 5 235T come in compute-heavy workloads, particularly PassMark integer math and prime number finding. In the integer math test, the Core Ultra 5 235T scores 84,244 against 33,258 for the Core 5 330, a delta of 60.5 percent in favor of the desktop chip. The prime numbers test shows a 64.2 percent advantage, with scores of 318 versus 114.

The smallest gap appears in single-threaded performance. In the PassMark single-thread test, the Core Ultra 5 235T scores 4,339 versus 4,088 for the Core 5 330, a narrow 5.8 percent difference. This suggests that while the desktop part has a raw clock speed advantage, the mobile chip's architecture is competitive in lightly threaded tasks. However, the multi-core and floating-point tests reveal the Core Ultra 5 235T's dominance. Floating-point math shows a 58.8 percent advantage, with scores of 106,546 versus 43,885. Data compression and encryption tests also show major leads for the Core Ultra 5 235T, with deltas of 50.8 percent and 52.8 percent respectively.

For users seeking maximum throughput in rendering, scientific computing, or data processing, the Core Ultra 5 235T is the clear choice based on the recorded measurements. The Core 5 330, with its lower TDP and single-channel memory, appears suited for power-constrained mobile environments, but the benchmark data does not show any workload where it outperforms its desktop counterpart.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families. The Intel Core 5 330 is based on the Wildcat Lake codename, part of the Core 5 (Wildcat Lake) generation. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-S die, and belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. Both chips are manufactured on a 3 nm process node, but the foundry differs: the Core 5 330 is fabricated by Intel, while the Core Ultra 5 235T is fabricated by TSMC.

The transistor count and die size reveal a significant scale difference. The Core Ultra 5 235T contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Core 5 330 does not have recorded transistor or die size data in the database. The cache hierarchy also differs substantially. The Core 5 330 has an L1 cache of 192 KB, an L2 of 2.5 MB, and an L3 of 6 MB shared. The Core Ultra 5 235T lists L1 as 192 KB per core, L2 as 3 MB per core, and L3 as 24 MB shared. With 14 cores, the per-core L2 allocation gives the desktop chip a much larger total cache footprint.

The integrated graphics are different as well. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 235T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 24 EU. The memory support also diverges: the Core 5 330 supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a single-channel configuration, while the Core Ultra 5 235T supports only DDR5 in a dual-channel arrangement. The PCIe interface is another distinguishing feature, with the Core 5 330 limited to Gen 4 and 6 lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 235T offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several key differences between the two parts. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235T has 14 cores and 14 threads. Base clock speeds are 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 330 and 2.20 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 235T. Boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 5.00 GHz respectively. TDP ratings are 15 for the Core 5 330 and 65 for the Core Ultra 5 235T, reflecting the mobile versus desktop design goals.

The sockets are incompatible: the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Core Ultra 5 235T uses Intel Socket 1851. Memory bus width differs, with the Core 5 330 using single-channel and the Core Ultra 5 235T using dual-channel. Memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s for the Core 5 330 and 102.4 GB/s for the Core Ultra 5 235T. Neither chip supports ECC memory. Both have locked multipliers. The market segments are mobile for the Core 5 330 and desktop for the Core Ultra 5 235T. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core Ultra 5 235T has a launch MSRP of $247. Release dates differ, with the Core Ultra 5 235T releasing in January 2025 and the Core 5 330 in April 2026. Both list different part numbers: SAE3G for the Core 5 330 and SRQES for the Core Ultra 5 235T.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent and substantial performance advantage for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235T across all 17 recorded tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core Ultra 5 235T scores 2,644 against 1,325 for the Core 5 330, a delta of 49.9 percent. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern, with scores of 373 versus 186, also a 49.9 percent delta. Cinebench R20 multicore delivers 11,017 versus 5,523, and single-core delivers 1,555 versus 779, both at 49.9 percent deltas. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 26,232 versus 13,150, while single-core shows 3,703 versus 1,856, again both at 49.9 percent.

The PassMark suite reinforces this trend. Data compression scores are 295,100 for the Core Ultra 5 235T against 145,287 for the Core 5 330, a 50.8 percent delta. Data encryption shows 23,457 versus 11,076, a 52.8 percent delta. Extended instructions score 23,212 versus 12,808, a 44.8 percent delta. Find prime numbers posts 318 versus 114, a 64.2 percent delta, the largest gap in the entire dataset. Floating-point math delivers 106,546 versus 43,885, a 58.8 percent delta. Integer math delivers 84,244 versus 33,258, a 60.5 percent delta. Multithread performance is 30,918 versus 15,471, a 50 percent delta. Physics scores are 2,157 versus 1,201, a 44.3 percent delta. Random string sorting shows 35,377 versus 17,771, a 49.8 percent delta.

The single-thread tests show the closest margin. PassMark single-thread scores are 4,339 for the Core Ultra 5 235T and 4,088 for the Core 5 330, a 5.8 percent delta. This is the only test where the two processors are within a single-digit percentage. The nearest rivals for each chip provide context. The Core 5 330's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-14100 with an average score of 18,318 and a delta of 0.1 percent. The Core Ultra 5 235T's closest rival is the Intel Core i5-14500 with an average score of 38,531 and a delta of 0.1 percent. These rival comparisons confirm that each chip sits at the expected performance tier for its segment. The Core 5 330 is competitive with entry-level desktop parts, while the Core Ultra 5 235T trades blows with mid-range desktop CPUs. Overall, the recorded data indicates that the Core Ultra 5 235T delivers roughly double the benchmark performance of the Core 5 330 in most workloads, with the exception of single-threaded tasks where the gap narrows considerably.