Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 238V Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V records an average benchmark score of 21981, while the Intel Core 5 330 scores 18345. The Core Ultra 5 238V also holds a higher percentile rank at 75 versus 72 for the Core 5 330.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V scores 15645 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 15.9% ahead of the Intel Core 5 330's 13150. The same 15.9% delta appears in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core 5 330 wins?

A: Yes, the Core 5 330 wins the Passmark single-thread test with a score of 4088, beating the Core Ultra 5 238V's 3890 by 5.1%. This is the only test category where the Core 5 330 takes the lead out of 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor in the database?

A: The Core 5 330 sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-14100, Intel Core 7 360, Intel Core i3-13100, and Intel Core 3 305. The Core Ultra 5 238V matches the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X at a 0% delta, with the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V at 0.1% and AMD EPYC 9534 at 0.4%.

Q: What process node does each processor use, and who manufactures them?

A: Both processors use a 3 nm process node, but the Intel Core 5 330 is fabricated by Intel, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V is fabricated by TSMC.

Q: Do the two processors have different memory bus configurations?

A: Yes. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V uses a dual-channel memory bus, though its bandwidth figure is not recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Core Ultra 5 238V diverge in several architectural areas despite sharing a 3 nm process node. The Core 5 330 carries the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 5 238V belongs to the Lunar Lake architecture and the Core Ultra Series 2 family. Fabrication also differs: Intel produces the Core 5 330, whereas TSMC produces the Core Ultra 5 238V.

Core counts separate the two clearly. The Core 5 330 provides 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 238V provides 8 cores and 8 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading, so thread counts equal core counts for both.

Clock behavior shows the Core Ultra 5 238V with an edge in both base and boost frequencies. Its base clock is 2.10 GHz versus 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 330, and its boost clock reaches 4.70 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. TDP ratings also differ slightly, with the Core 5 330 at 15 W and the Core Ultra 5 238V at 17 W.

Cache layouts are structured differently. The Core 5 330 lists an L1 cache of 192 KB, an L2 cache of 2.5 MB, and a shared L3 cache of 6 MB. The Core Ultra 5 238V lists 192 KB of L1 per core, 2.5 MB of L2 per core, and a shared L3 cache of 8 MB. The per-core L2 configuration on the Core Ultra 5 238V implies a larger total L2 when multiplied across its 8 cores.

Memory support also differs. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 238V's memory support is listed as depending on the motherboard, uses a dual-channel bus, and has no recorded bandwidth figure.

PCIe connectivity shows a generation split. The Core 5 330 uses Gen 4 with 6 CPU-only lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 238V uses Gen 5 with 4 CPU-only lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 330 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 238V features Arc 130V graphics.

The release timeline separates the pair by roughly a year and a half. The Core Ultra 5 238V launched on 2024-09-23, while the Core 5 330 launched on 2026-04-15. The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core Ultra 5 238V has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a decisive pattern: the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V wins 15 of 17 recorded tests, while the Intel Core 5 330 wins 2. The most lopsided result appears in Passmark find prime numbers, where the Core Ultra 5 238V scores 174 against 114 for the Core 5 330, a 34.5% advantage. This suggests a substantial gap in integer-heavy algorithmic workloads.

Cinebench results are consistent across all six recorded versions. The Core Ultra 5 238V leads by 15.9% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1576 versus 1325), R20 multi-core (6570 versus 5523), and R23 multi-core (15645 versus 13150). Single-core Cinebench shows a similar margin: 16.2% in R15 (222 versus 186), 16% in R20 (927 versus 779), and 15.9% in R23 (2208 versus 1856). The uniformity of these deltas indicates a consistent per-core performance advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V across rendering workloads.

Passmark results reinforce the pattern. Data compression favors the Core Ultra 5 238V by 17.7% (176532 versus 145287), and random string sorting shows the same 17.7% delta (21585 versus 17771). Floating point math lands at a 17.4% gap (53160 versus 43885), while extended instructions show 16.7% (15377 versus 12808). Integer math trails at a 14.5% gap (38889 versus 33258), the smallest multi-threaded delta in the Passmark suite.

The Core Ultra 5 238V also wins Passmark multi-thread (18407 versus 15471, a 16% delta) and Passmark physics (1546 versus 1201, a 22.3% delta). Data encryption shows a 15.3% gap (13072 versus 11076).

The lone bright spot for the Core 5 330 is Passmark single-thread, where it scores 4088 against 3890 for the Core Ultra 5 238V, a 5.1% win. This result is recorded twice in the database under both the passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread test names, confirming the same measurement. The Core 5 330's advantage in this specific test contrasts with its Cinebench single-core deficits, suggesting the Passmark single-thread test exercises a different instruction mix than the Cinebench rendering pipeline.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications:

• Cores: 6 for the Core 5 330, 8 for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Threads: 6 for the Core 5 330, 8 for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Base clock: 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 330, 2.10 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Boost clock: 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 330, 4.70 GHz for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• TDP: 15 W for the Core 5 330, 17 W for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Socket: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 330, Intel BGA 2833 for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Codename: Wildcat Lake for the Core 5 330, Lunar Lake for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Foundry: Intel for the Core 5 330, TSMC for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• L3 cache: 6 MB shared for the Core 5 330, 8 MB shared for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Memory bus: Single-channel for the Core 5 330, dual-channel for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s for the Core 5 330, not recorded for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Memory support: DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 5 330, motherboard-dependent for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• PCIe: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 5 330, Gen 5 with 4 lanes for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) for the Core 5 330, Arc 130V for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Release date: 2026-04-15 for the Core 5 330, 2024-09-23 for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Launch MSRP: $309 for the Core 5 330, not recorded for the Core Ultra 5 238V
• Part number: SAE3G for the Core 5 330, SRPN5SRPN4 for the Core Ultra 5 238V

The L1 and L2 cache entries are not directly comparable because the Core 5 330 lists totals (192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2) while the Core Ultra 5 238V lists per-core values (192 KB L1 per core, 2.5 MB L2 per core). Both processors use 3 nm process nodes, have ECC memory disabled, and lack unlocked multipliers.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V dominates the benchmark suite across nearly every workload category. Rendering tasks show a consistent 15.9% to 16.2% advantage in Cinebench, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios. Data-heavy operations follow suit: compression and random string sorting both show 17.7% gaps, while encryption shows 15.3%. Math workloads split between a 17.4% edge in floating point and a 14.5% edge in integer operations. The physics test reveals a larger 22.3% gap, and prime number finding shows the widest margin at 34.5%. For users running any of these workloads, the Core Ultra 5 238V is the stronger choice.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only the Passmark single-thread test, where it leads by 5.1%. This result indicates that in a narrowly defined single-threaded workload, the Core 5 330's 4.60 GHz boost clock combined with its Wildcat Lake architecture can outpace the Core Ultra 5 238V's 4.70 GHz boost clock. However, the Cinebench single-core tests contradict this pattern, with the Core Ultra 5 238V leading by approximately 16% in all three versions. The Passmark single-thread test appears to reward some specific property of the Core 5 330 that Cinebench does not capture.

The average benchmark scores frame the overall gap. The Core Ultra 5 238V averages 21981, placing it 19.8% above the Core 5 330's 18345. In the database's nearest-rival rankings, the Core 5 330 trades positions with the Intel Core i3-14100, Core 7 360, Core i3-13100, and Core 3 305, all within 0.2%. The Core Ultra 5 238V matches the Intel Core i7-11700F and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X exactly, with the Core Ultra 5 236V and AMD EPYC 9534 close behind.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 238V as the stronger processor for almost any workload. Its 8 cores and 8 threads give it a structural advantage over the 6-core, 6-thread Core 5 330, and its higher base and boost clocks reinforce that edge. Across 15 of 17 benchmarks, the Core Ultra 5 238V leads by margins ranging from 14.5% to 34.5%, with rendering, math, encryption, compression, and physics workloads all favoring it. Its 75th percentile ranking versus the Core 5 330's 72nd percentile confirms the overall standing.

The Intel Core 5 330 is the pick only for scenarios that mirror the Passmark single-thread test, where its 5.1% lead suggests some workloads can extract more from its architecture. The lower 15 W TDP also positions it as a more power-conscious option, and its $309 launch MSRP provides a reference point for those considering it. The Core 5 330's nearest rivals, all within 0.2% of its average score, indicate it competes in the same class as the Core i3-14100 and Core i3-13100.

For buyers choosing between these two mobile processors, the data supports the Core Ultra 5 238V unless the specific Passmark single-thread workload is the primary use case. The dual-channel memory bus, larger shared L3 cache, and higher core count give it a broad performance envelope that the Core 5 330 cannot match outside a narrow single-thread niche.