Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions the Intel Core 5 330 as the clear performance leader, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL offers a distinct architectural setup. The Core 5 330 scores 18,345 in the average benchmark, placing it at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The Core Ultra 7 155UL, by contrast, shows a 50th percentile standing with no recorded benchmark scores. The Core 5 330 is the choice for users prioritizing measured compute performance, as it sits effectively tied with the Intel Core i3-14100 (0.1% ahead) and the Intel Core 3 305 (0.2% ahead), while edging out the Intel Core 7 360 and Intel Core i3-13100 by 0.2% each. The Core Ultra 7 155UL targets a different role, offering a 12-core, 14-thread configuration with dual-channel memory, but the database shows no benchmark output for it, so its performance cannot be certified.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge at the fundamental design level. The Intel Core 5 330 is built on a 3 nm process node and belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL uses a 7 nm node and the Meteor Lake architecture, specifically the Meteor Lake-PS variant. The Core 5 330 packs 6 cores and 6 threads, whereas the Core Ultra 7 155UL provides 12 cores and 14 threads, indicating a hybrid core layout for the latter. Cache organization differs sharply: the Core 5 330 has a 192 KB L1 cache, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL lists 112 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 155UL operates on a dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the Core 5 330's single-channel bus at 59.7 GB/s. Both support DDR5 memory, but the Core Ultra 7 155UL adds LPDDR5X support only on the Core 5 330 side, while the former's memory depends on the motherboard. PCIe connectivity shows the Core Ultra 7 155UL with Gen 4 and 8 CPU lanes, versus Gen 4 and 6 lanes on the Core 5 330. Integrated graphics differ: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 7 155UL employs Arc Xe-LPG with 64 execution units. Socket compatibility splits them, with the Core 5 330 on Intel BGA 1516 and the Core Ultra 7 155UL on Intel Socket 1851. The Core Ultra 7 155UL also carries a desktop market segment label, while the Core 5 330 is marked as mobile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL reaches 4.80 GHz boost, while the Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 155UL also has a higher base clock at 1.70 GHz versus 1.50 GHz.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL provides 12 cores and 14 threads, exactly double the 6 cores and 6 threads of the Intel Core 5 330. The Core 5 330 lacks hyper-threading, as its thread count equals its core count.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL delivers 89.6 GB/s through a dual-channel bus, which is 29.9 GB/s higher than the Intel Core 5 330's 59.7 GB/s single-channel configuration.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has 12 MB shared L3 cache, twice the 6 MB shared L3 found on the Intel Core 5 330.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core 5 330 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL are listed as Active in production status.

Q: What is the release timeline?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL was released on 2024-04-07, while the Intel Core 5 330 came later on 2026-04-15.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors according to the database:

• Cores: 6 (Core 5 330) vs 12 (Core Ultra 7 155UL)
• Threads: 6 vs 14
• Base Clock: 1.50 GHz vs 1.70 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.60 GHz vs 4.80 GHz
• Socket: Intel BGA 1516 vs Intel Socket 1851
• Architecture: Wildcat Lake vs Meteor Lake
• Process Node: 3 nm vs 7 nm
• L1 Cache: 192 KB vs 112 KB (per core)
• L2 Cache: 2.5 MB vs 2 MB (per core)
• L3 Cache: 6 MB (shared) vs 12 MB (shared)
• Memory Bus: Single-channel vs Dual-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s vs 89.6 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 4, 6 Lanes vs Gen 4, 8 Lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) vs Arc Xe-LPG 64EU
• Market Segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Release Date: 2026-04-15 vs 2024-04-07
• Launch MSRP: $309 vs $426

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table in the database contains no entries, and the win counts for both processors are zero. However, the Intel Core 5 330 has a full benchmark suite recorded, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL has none. The Core 5 330's Cinebench R23 scores show 13,150 in multicore and 1,856 in singlecore. In Cinebench R20, it records 5,523 multicore and 779 singlecore, while Cinebench R15 shows 1,325 multicore and 186 singlecore. Passmark results for the Core 5 330 include a multithread score of 15,471, a single-thread score of 4,088, and a single thread score of 4,088 (duplicated in the data). Specific Passmark workloads: data compression at 145,287, data encryption at 11,076, extended instructions at 12,808, find prime numbers at 114, floating point math at 43,885, integer math at 33,258, physics at 1,201, and random string sorting at 17,771.

The Core Ultra 7 155UL has an average benchmark score of 0 and no recorded test results. Its 50th percentile ranking versus all CPUs compares unfavorably to the Core 5 330's 72nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Core 5 330 provide context: the Intel Core i3-14100 scores 18,318 average (0.1% behind), the Intel Core 7 360 scores 18,374 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i3-13100 scores 18,380 (0.2% ahead), and the Intel Core 3 305 scores 18,302 (0.2% behind). The Core 5 330's average benchmark score of 18,345 puts it in a tight cluster with these chips, all within 0.2% of each other.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 330 wins in every measurable benchmark category, simply because it is the only processor with recorded data. Its 6-core, 6-thread configuration, despite lower core counts, delivers a 72nd percentile standing and an average benchmark score of 18,345. The Core 5 330 shows strength in single-thread workloads, with a Passmark single-thread score of 4,088 and a Cinebench R23 singlecore score of 1,856, which aligns with its high 4.60 GHz boost clock. Its multicore Cinebench R23 score of 13,150 indicates solid parallel performance for a 6-thread part.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155UL wins on architectural specifications alone. Its 12 cores and 14 threads provide a theoretical advantage in heavily threaded tasks, though the database records no benchmark validation. Its dual-channel memory bus with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth nearly doubles the Core 5 330's 59.7 GB/s, which benefits memory-intensive operations. The 12 MB shared L3 cache doubles the Core 5 330's 6 MB, and the 64EU Arc Xe-LPG integrated graphics likely outperforms the 2 Xe-core Xe3 Graphics, though no graphics benchmarks exist in the data. The Core Ultra 7 155UL also offers more PCIe lanes (8 vs 6) for expansion.

For users seeking verified performance, the Core 5 330 is the only option with evidence. For users needing a desktop platform with more cores, threads, memory channels, and cache, the Core Ultra 7 155UL presents the structural profile, but its actual performance remains unmeasured in the database. The Core 5 330's launch MSRP of $309, compared to the Core Ultra 7 155UL's $426, further separates the two, though the performance gap cannot be quantified due to missing data on the latter.