Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245T Comparison

The Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T represent two distinct approaches within Intel’s current mobile and desktop lineups. The benchmark data recorded in the database shows a decisive performance hierarchy, with the Core Ultra 5 245T winning all 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Core 5 330, however, is positioned as an efficient, low-power mobile part, and its strengths lie in its operational profile rather than raw output. The following analysis breaks down the recorded performance metrics, architectural differences, and specification gaps between these two processors.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous regarding performance: the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T wins every single benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison, a total of 17 wins. This includes all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests for both multi-core and single-core performance, as well as every PassMark workload from data compression to floating-point math. The Intel Core 5 330 records zero wins in this comparison.

The Core Ultra 5 245T’s dominance is most pronounced in heavily multithreaded and integer-heavy workloads. Its largest margin comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it leads by 64.8 percent, followed by a 62.5 percent lead in integer math. These results indicate a processor built for sustained, high-throughput desktop computing. The Core 5 330, by contrast, offers no benchmark category where it outperforms the Ultra 5, but its 15-watt TDP and single-channel memory bus position it for a different class of hardware, specifically low-power mobile systems where energy consumption is prioritized over peak compute.

The Core 5 330’s closest relative performance comes in single-threaded tests. In the PassMark single-thread test, the Ultra 5 245T leads by only 6.4 percent, with scores of 4367 versus 4088. This smaller gap suggests that the Core 5 330’s architecture is competitive in lightly threaded scenarios, even though it falls far behind in multi-core workloads. The data indicates that the Ultra 5 245T is the clear choice for any application that can utilize more than a couple of cores, while the Core 5 330 remains viable only in scenarios where its efficiency profile is the primary consideration.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures despite sharing the same 3 nm process node. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture, produced in Intel’s own foundry, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T uses the Arrow Lake architecture, fabricated by TSMC. This foundry difference is significant, as it pairs with a substantial difference in transistor count and die area. The Core Ultra 5 245T contains 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 5 330’s transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Core configuration differs dramatically. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading, while the Core Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores and 14 threads. This 8-core advantage is the primary driver of the Ultra 5’s multi-core benchmark dominance. Cache hierarchies also diverge sharply. The Core 5 330 features 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 5 245T offers 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The L3 cache difference alone is a factor of four, which heavily influences data-heavy workloads.

Memory architecture further separates the two. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s and supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory. The Core Ultra 5 245T uses a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth, supporting DDR5 only. The Ultra 5 also supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 330 does not. The platform I/O is another major divider: the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516 socket with PCIe Gen 4 and 6 lanes, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Intel Socket 1851 with PCIe Gen 5 and 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 245T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The market segments reflect these design choices: the Core 5 330 is a mobile processor, while the Core Ultra 5 245T is a desktop processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern of the Core Ultra 5 245T doubling or nearly doubling the Core 5 330’s performance in most Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 5 scores 26208 against 13150, a 49.8 percent lead. Single-core R23 shows a similar 49.8 percent gap, with scores of 3699 and 1856. This single-core result is notable because it indicates that the Ultra 5’s advantage is not merely a function of core count, but also of higher architectural efficiency and clock speed.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 results follow the same pattern. R15 multi-core shows 2641 versus 1325, a 49.8 percent gap, and R15 single-core shows 372 versus 186, an even 50 percent gap. R20 multi-core shows 11007 versus 5523, another 49.8 percent gap, and R20 single-core shows 1553 versus 779, also 49.8 percent. The consistency of these deltas across all Cinebench versions suggests a fixed performance ratio driven by the architectural and frequency differences between the two chips.

PassMark results show wider variance. The smallest margin is in single-thread performance, where the Ultra 5 leads by only 6.4 percent with 4367 points versus 4088. The largest margin is in prime number finding, where the Ultra 5 leads by 64.8 percent, scoring 324 versus 114. Integer math shows the Ultra 5 ahead by 62.5 percent, 88676 versus 33258, and floating-point math shows a 59.6 percent lead, 108499 versus 43885. Data compression results show a 48.8 percent lead for the Ultra 5, 283812 versus 145287, while data encryption shows a 53.2 percent lead, 23656 versus 11076.

The extended instructions test shows the smallest multi-core margin at 42 percent, with the Ultra 5 scoring 22071 against 12808. Multithread performance shows a 49.8 percent lead, 30833 versus 15471, and physics shows a 47.3 percent lead, 2278 versus 1201. Random string sorting shows a 49.1 percent lead, 34931 versus 17771. Across all recorded workloads, the Ultra 5 245T maintains a lead of at least 42 percent in every test except single-thread, which reinforces its position as a comprehensively faster processor.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals several key differences beyond raw performance. The Core 5 330 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Core Ultra 5 245T has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The higher clocks on the Ultra 5 contribute to its single-thread advantage. The Core 5 330 runs at a 15-watt TDP, while the Core Ultra 5 245T runs at a 65-watt TDP, a 50-watt difference that explains the thermal and power requirements of each platform.

The Core 5 330 is a mobile processor with a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core Ultra 5 245T is a desktop processor with a launch MSRP of $270. Both processors are actively in production. The Core 5 330 was released in April 2026, while the Core Ultra 5 245T was released in January 2025. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 330’s part number is SAE3G, while the Ultra 5 245T’s part number is SRVFF.

The Core 5 330’s memory support includes both DDR5 and LPDDR5X, reflecting its mobile design, while the Ultra 5 245T supports DDR5 exclusively. The Ultra 5’s dual-channel memory bus provides 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth versus the Core 5 330’s single-channel 59.7 GB/s. PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count: the Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes, while the Ultra 5 245T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes. ECC memory support is present only on the Ultra 5 245T.

The average benchmark score in the database further contextualizes the gap. The Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-14100, Core i3-13100, and Core 3 305, all within 0.2 percent of its average score. The Core Ultra 5 245T has an average benchmark score of 38194, placing it in the 86th percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 250, Intel Core i5-14490F, Core i5-13600HX, and Core i5-13600KF, all within 0.2 percent. The average score difference between the two processors is more than double, confirming the performance hierarchy established in the head-to-head tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T scores 26208 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Core 5 330 scores 13150, a lead of 49.8 percent for the Ultra 5.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded PassMark performance?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T scores 4367 in the PassMark single-thread test, while the Core 5 330 scores 4088, a lead of only 6.4 percent for the Ultra 5.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, only the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T supports ECC memory. The Core 5 330 does not.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each processor?

A: The Core Ultra 5 245T provides 102.4 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus, while the Core 5 330 provides 59.7 GB/s over a single-channel bus that supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Core Ultra 5 245T has a TDP of 65 watts.