Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a decisive outcome: the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all 17 tests against the Intel Core 5 330. The Core Ultra 7 255HX delivers a 93rd percentile ranking across all CPUs, while the Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile. The average benchmark score difference is substantial, with the Ultra 7 255HX scoring 62,738 versus 18,345 for the Core 5 330, a gap of roughly 3.4 times.

The Core 5 330 is positioned for light-duty mobile workloads where its 15 W TDP and single-channel memory keep power demands modest. The Core Ultra 7 255HX, with a 55 W TDP, dual-channel memory, and 20 cores, is the clear choice for compute-intensive tasks such as rendering, encryption, and heavy multitasking. The data shows no scenario where the Core 5 330 outperforms its rival, so the verdict is straightforward: the Ultra 7 255HX is the superior processor across every measured category, while the Core 5 330 serves as a lower-power alternative for basic portable computing.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same 3 nm process node, but they diverge sharply in nearly every other architectural element. The Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX is built on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture. The foundry differs as well: Intel fabricates the Core 5 330, while TSMC produces the Core Ultra 7 255HX.

Core and thread counts represent the largest structural gap. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading. The Core Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads, also without extra threads per core, but with more than three times the physical core count. This directly explains the massive multi-threaded benchmark deltas.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 7 255HX lists 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. With 20 cores, the Ultra 7's total L2 capacity is far larger, and its L3 is five times the size of the Core 5 330's pool.

Memory architecture adds another divide. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 255HX supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s, a 72% higher theoretical bandwidth. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Core 5 330 uses Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are different generations. The Core 5 330 features Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units. The Ultra 7 255HX also carries a larger die at 243 mm² with 17,800 million transistors, figures not reported for the Core 5 330.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark table shows zero wins for the Core 5 330 across all 17 tests. The Core Ultra 7 255HX wins every category, so the use-case split is defined entirely by the magnitude of its advantages rather than by any reversal of results.

The Core 5 330's only practical advantage is its lower power envelope at 15 W compared to 55 W, which suits fanless or ultra-portable designs. Its single-channel memory and 6-core layout keep thermals and battery draw low. The data shows its closest rivals are the Intel Core i3-14100 with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core 7 360 at -0.2%, the Intel Core i3-13100 at -0.2%, and the Intel Core 3 305 at 0.2%. This places it in the entry-level mobile segment.

The Core Ultra 7 255HX dominates in every compute-heavy workload. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P185 at -0.2%, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 PRO 465 at 0.4%, the Intel Core i7-13790F at -0.5%, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX at -0.7%. The 255HX sits at the top of that group, making it a high-end mobile part for rendering, scientific computing, and data processing. Its unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, a feature the Core 5 330 lacks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX has 20 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ultra 7 255HX scores 2,163 versus 1,856 for the Core 5 330, a 14.2% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, the Ultra 7 scores 4,562 versus 4,088, a 10.4% lead.

Q: How large is the multi-threaded gap?

A: The Ultra 7 255HX leads by 59.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (32,612 versus 13,150) and by 67.9% in PassMark multithread (48,234 versus 15,471). The largest delta is in PassMark integer math, where the Ultra 7 leads by 73.8%.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: No. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core Ultra 7 255HX supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core Ultra 7 255HX boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Core Ultra 7 255HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Core 5 330 does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent pattern: the Core Ultra 7 255HX wins every test, with deltas ranging from 10.4% to 73.8%. The closest contest is PassMark single-thread, where the Ultra 7 scores 4,562 against the Core 5's 4,088, a 10.4% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core is nearly as tight, with the Ultra 7 at 2,163 versus 1,856, a 14.2% lead.

The multi-threaded tests show much larger gaps. Cinebench R15 multi-core delivers 4,916 for the Ultra 7 versus 1,325 for the Core 5, a 73% deficit for the latter. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 17,187 versus 5,523, a 67.9% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same trend: 32,612 versus 13,150, a 59.7% difference. These results align directly with the 20-core versus 6-core configuration.

PassMark workloads reinforce the pattern. Data compression scores 515,143 for the Ultra 7 versus 145,287, a 71.8% difference. Data encryption shows 39,499 versus 11,076, a 72% gap. Extended instructions deliver 41,247 versus 12,808, a 68.9% difference. Prime number finding scores 400 versus 114, a 71.5% gap. Floating-point math records 160,624 versus 43,885, a 72.7% difference. Integer math shows 127,126 versus 33,258, the largest delta at 73.8%. Random string sorting completes at 62,591 versus 17,771, a 71.6% gap. The physics test shows 2,926 versus 1,201, a 59% difference.

The single-threaded PassMark tests (both labeled single_thread and singlethread) return identical scores of 4,562 for the Ultra 7 and 4,088 for the Core 5, confirming a 10.4% advantage. Even in single-core workloads, where the Core 5's high boost clock of 4.60 GHz might narrow the gap, the Ultra 7's 5.20 GHz boost and newer architecture maintain a clear edge.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. Core count is 6 for the Core 5 330 versus 20 for the Core Ultra 7 255HX, with matching thread counts. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz and 2.40 GHz respectively, while boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 5.20 GHz. TDP is 15 W versus 55 W.

Sockets differ: the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Ultra 7 255HX uses Intel BGA 2114. The process node is the same at 3 nm, but the foundry is Intel for the Core 5 and TSMC for the Ultra 7. The Ultra 7 lists 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die size; the Core 5 has no such figures recorded.

Cache configurations show the Ultra 7 with 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3, versus the Core 5's 192 KB L1, 2.5 MB L2, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 5, DDR5 only for the Ultra 7. Memory bus width is single-channel versus dual-channel, with bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 5 and Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the Ultra 7.

Integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 with 2 Xe cores on the Core 5, Arc Xe-LPG with 64 EU on the Ultra 7. Neither supports ECC memory. The Ultra 7 has an unlocked multiplier; the Core 5 does not. Release dates are 2026-04-15 for the Core 5 and 2025-01-12 for the Ultra 7. The Core 5 has a launch MSRP of $309, while the Ultra 7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers are SAE3G for the Core 5 and SRVFG for the Ultra 7. Both target the mobile market segment and are marked as active in production.