Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive overall picture. Across the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H claims 15 wins, while the Intel Core 5 330 manages only 2. The average benchmark score for the Core Ultra 5 336H is 34,485, placing it at the 84th percentile of all CPUs. The Core 5 330, with an average score of 18,345, sits at the 72nd percentile. This places the two processors in different performance tiers, though not at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The most significant margin of victory for the Core Ultra 5 336H appears in the PassMark find prime numbers test. The Ultra 5 scores 299 against the Core 5's 114, a delta of -61.9% from the perspective of the Core 5. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire comparison, indicating a substantial advantage in this specific computational workload. The PassMark physics test also shows a wide divide, with the Ultra 5 scoring 2,682 versus 1,201 for the Core 5, a -55.2% delta. These two tests highlight where the Core 5's architectural limitations are most pronounced.

In the Cinebench suite, the results are consistently lopsided. For Cinebench R23 multicore, the Core Ultra 5 336H scores 23,991, while the Core 5 330 scores 13,150, representing a -45.2% delta. The single-core R23 test shows a similar pattern, with the Ultra 5 at 3,387 and the Core 5 at 1,856, also a -45.2% delta. The R20 and R15 tests follow suit, each showing approximately a -45% difference in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows the narrowest margin within this suite at -45.5%, with scores of 341 and 186 respectively.

PassMark integer math and floating point math tests both show the Ultra 5 delivering roughly 46-47% higher scores. The Ultra 5 scores 62,070 in integer math versus 33,258 for the Core 5, a -46.4% delta. In floating point math, the scores are 82,415 and 43,885, a -46.8% delta. Extended instructions follow with 24,542 versus 12,808, a -47.8% delta. Data compression shows a -48.2% delta, with scores of 280,340 and 145,287. Random string sorting shows a -48.3% delta, with 34,402 against 17,771.

The Core 5 330's only victories come in the PassMark single thread tests, where it scores 4,088 against the Ultra 5's 4,013. This 1.9% advantage is marginal and appears twice in the data, once under the single_thread label and once under singlethread. This is the sole area where the Core 5 demonstrates any measurable superiority, and the margin is small enough that real-world applications would likely see negligible differences.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins in every multi-threaded, compute-intensive, and single-core workload recorded in the database. Its dominance spans Cinebench rendering tests, PassMark encryption, compression, extended instructions, prime number calculation, floating point math, integer math, multithread performance, physics simulation, and random string sorting. This processor is positioned for workloads that stress the CPU across multiple cores and for tasks that benefit from high single-core throughput. The data indicates a processor capable of handling demanding productivity tasks, content creation, and complex simulations without significant bottlenecks.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins only in the PassMark single-thread test. The 1.9% advantage over the Ultra 5, with scores of 4,088 and 4,013, suggests that the Core 5 has a slight edge in purely sequential, single-threaded tasks. However, this advantage does not appear in the Cinebench single-core tests, where the Ultra 5 holds a commanding lead. The discrepancy between the PassMark single-thread result and the Cinebench R23 single-core result indicates that the Core 5's single-thread win is workload-specific, not a general property across all single-threaded applications.

For users prioritizing multi-core performance, the choice is unambiguous. The Core Ultra 5 336H delivers roughly 82% more multi-core throughput in Cinebench R23 and approximately 84% more in PassMark multithread tests. For users whose applications rely heavily on single-thread performance, the Cinebench results favor the Ultra 5, while the PassMark result slightly favors the Core 5. The overall data, however, shows the Ultra 5 as the more capable processor across the vast majority of tested scenarios.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ substantially in their fundamental architecture. The Intel Core 5 330 is built on the Wildcat Lake codename and uses a 3 nm process node from Intel. It features 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Core Ultra 5 336H, based on the Panther Lake architecture, also uses Intel's 3 nm process node but packs 16 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock is 1.90 GHz with the same 4.60 GHz boost clock. Both processors have locked multipliers and target the mobile market segment.

Cache configurations differ significantly. 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 336H lists 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core cache specification for the Ultra 5 means the aggregate cache capacity is substantially larger, supporting its higher core count and more demanding workloads.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core Ultra 5 336H uses a dual-channel memory bus, doubling the bandwidth to 115.2 GB/s. Both support DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory types, and neither supports ECC memory. The memory bandwidth difference directly contributes to the Ultra 5's superior performance in bandwidth-sensitive workloads such as data compression and encryption.

PCI Express connectivity differs as well. The Core 5 330 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 5 336H provides PCIe Gen 5 with 12 lanes (CPU only). This gives the Ultra 5 both a newer PCIe generation and more available lanes for connected devices. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 5 330 featuring Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 5 336H features Intel Xe3 Graphics without a specified core count. The Core 5 330 uses an Intel BGA 1516 socket, while the Core Ultra 5 336H uses Intel BGA 2540. The power envelopes differ, with the Core 5 330 rated at 15 W TDP and the Core Ultra 5 336H rated at 25 W TDP.

The Core 5 330 launched on 2026-04-15 with a launch MSRP of $309, while the Core Ultra 5 336H launched earlier on 2026-01-04 with no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors are currently marked as Active in production status.

The Verdict

The benchmark data positions the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H as the clearly superior processor for almost all workloads. Its 16 cores and 16 threads, dual-channel memory support with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache deliver consistent wins across rendering, encryption, compression, mathematics, and physics tests. The average benchmark score of 34,485 places it among competitors like the Intel Core i7-13700HX, which scores 34,554 with a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i5-13450HX at 34,333 with a 0.4% delta. The Ultra 5 also edges out the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X at 34,260 and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 at 34,222.

The Intel Core 5 330, with its average score of 18,345, aligns closely with the Intel Core i3-14100 at 18,318, the Intel Core 3 305 at 18,302, the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18,380, and the Intel Core 7 360 at 18,374. These rivals all fall within a 0.2% delta of the Core 5's average score. The Core 5's single-thread advantage of 1.9% over the Ultra 5 in PassMark is its only distinguishing feature, and it is too narrow to recommend the processor on that basis alone.

The database indicates that users requiring maximum multi-core throughput for rendering, simulation, or data processing should select the Core Ultra 5 336H. Its performance in Cinebench R23 multicore at 23,991 and PassMark multithread at 28,545 demonstrates a capacity far beyond the Core 5 330. Users with workloads that are strictly single-threaded may find the Core 5 330's marginal PassMark advantage appealing, but the Cinebench single-core results contradict this, showing the Ultra 5 substantially ahead. The Core Ultra 5 336H is the data-backed choice for virtually all use cases.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has a single-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has a dual-channel memory bus with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins with a score of 23,991, compared to the Intel Core 5 330's 13,150, a -45.2% delta.

Q: Is there any test where the Intel Core 5 330 beats the Core Ultra 5 336H?

A: Yes, in the PassMark single-thread test, the Intel Core 5 330 scores 4,088 versus 4,013 for the Core Ultra 5 336H, a 1.9% advantage.

Q: What are the L3 cache sizes for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the production status of both processors?

A: Both the Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H are listed as Active in production status.