Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the two processors. The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core 5 330 takes only 3. However, the margins and the specific tests where each wins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The most significant victory for the Intel Core 5 330 comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 13150 against the Ultra 7 268V's 10653. That is a 23.4% advantage, the largest single delta in either direction across the entire benchmark suite. This result is particularly striking because the Ultra 7 268V wins the older Cinebench R15 multicore test by 18% (1616 versus 1325) and the R20 multicore test by 19.8% (6887 versus 5523). The reversal in R23 multicore suggests the Core 5 330 sustains its multi-threaded performance more effectively in the longer, more demanding workload, while the Ultra 7 268V holds the edge in the shorter render tests.

The other two wins for the Core 5 330 are narrow single-thread results. In PassMark single-thread, the Core 5 330 scores 4088 against 4051 for the Ultra 7 268V, a margin of 0.9%. The same result appears twice in the database under slightly different test names, so the 0.9% advantage is confirmed by both entries. In Cinebench R23 single-core, however, the Ultra 7 268V wins by 3.4% (1921 versus 1856), so the single-thread picture is not uniform across different benchmark suites.

The Ultra 7 268V dominates the PassMark workload suite with consistently large margins. The biggest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 7 268V scores 192 against 114, a 40.6% advantage. This is the largest percentage win for either processor in any test. PassMark physics shows a 25.7% lead for the Ultra 7 268V (1617 versus 1201), and PassMark floating point math shows a 23.8% lead (57628 versus 43885). PassMark integer math follows at 22.1% (42669 versus 33258). PassMark random string sorting goes to the Ultra 7 268V by 20.7% (22416 versus 17771).

The remaining PassMark workloads favor the Ultra 7 268V by roughly 16% to 20%. PassMark data compression shows 181443 versus 145287, a 19.9% lead. PassMark data encryption shows 13779 versus 11076, a 19.6% lead. PassMark multithread shows 19297 versus 15471, a 19.8% lead. PassMark extended instructions shows 15323 versus 12808, a 16.4% lead.

The Cinebench suite outside of R23 also favors the Ultra 7 268V. The largest Cinebench gap is in R15 single-core, where the Ultra 7 268V scores 293 against 186, a 36.5% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core goes to the Ultra 7 268V by 19.9% (972 versus 779), and R20 multicore by 19.8% (6887 versus 5523). Cinebench R15 multicore goes to the Ultra 7 268V by 18% (1616 versus 1325). The only Cinebench single-core test where the Ultra 7 268V does not dominate is R23, where it wins by a modest 3.4%.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall balance. The Ultra 7 268V has an average benchmark score of 20897, while the Core 5 330 sits at 18345. That difference places the Ultra 7 268V at the 74th percentile against all CPUs, compared to the 72nd percentile for the Core 5 330. The nearest rival data for the Core 5 330 shows it trading places with the Intel Core i3-14100 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Core 7 360 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i3-13100 (0.2% behind), and the Intel Core 3 305 (0.2% ahead). The Ultra 7 268V sits essentially level with the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE (0% delta), 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-12600T, 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7J13, and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear overall winner in the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V. It wins 14 of 17 head-to-head comparisons, holds a higher average benchmark score (20897 versus 18345), and reaches a higher percentile ranking (74th versus 72nd). The Ultra 7 268V also delivers the single largest margin of victory in any test, the 40.6% lead in PassMark find prime numbers, and it wins every PassMark workload category recorded.

The Intel Core 5 330 is not without its strengths. Its 23.4% win in Cinebench R23 multicore is decisive and suggests that in sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Core 5 330 can outperform the Ultra 7 268V by a wide margin. Its 0.9% lead in PassMark single-thread also demonstrates that it can hold its own in lightly threaded scenarios, though the Ultra 7 268V counters with a 3.4% win in Cinebench R23 single-core and much larger single-core leads in the older Cinebench versions.

Users who prioritize the specific workload of Cinebench R23 multicore should consider the Core 5 330. Users who need consistent performance across a broad range of tasks, especially the PassMark workload suite with its large margins in prime number calculation, physics simulation, and floating point math, should select the Ultra 7 268V. The overall average benchmark score confirms that the Ultra 7 268V is the stronger processor in general-purpose mobile computing.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different socket designs. The Intel Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V uses Intel BGA 2833. They also come from different generations and codenames: the Core 5 330 is a Wildcat Lake part in the Core 5 generation, while the Ultra 7 268V is a Lunar Lake part in the Core Ultra Series 2 generation.

Both processors are built on a 3 nm process node, but they use different foundries. The Core 5 330 is fabricated by Intel, while the Ultra 7 268V is fabricated by TSMC. This is a notable manufacturing difference between two otherwise comparable mobile processors.

The core configurations differ. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyperthreading. The Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads, also without hyperthreading. The Ultra 7 268V therefore has two additional physical cores, which contributes to its multicore performance advantage in most tests.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 268V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The per-core L2 allocation on the Ultra 7 268V means its total L2 capacity scales with its 8 cores, while the Core 5 330 has a fixed 2.5 MB L2 across its 6 cores. The Ultra 7 268V also doubles the shared L3 cache to 12 MB.

Clock speeds differ as well. The Core 5 330 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Ultra 7 268V has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Ultra 7 268V runs at higher clocks at both ends of the spectrum.

Memory support diverges. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory over a single-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ultra 7 268V has a dual-channel memory bus, though the database lists its memory support as depending on the motherboard and does not record a bandwidth figure. The dual-channel configuration on the Ultra 7 268V should provide an advantage in memory-bound workloads, though the database does not include direct memory bandwidth measurements for comparison.

PCIe connectivity differs. The Core 5 330 uses PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes from the CPU. The Ultra 7 268V uses PCIe Gen 5 with 4 lanes from the CPU. The Ultra 7 268V has the newer PCIe generation, while the Core 5 330 has more CPU-attached lanes.

Integrated graphics differ. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The Ultra 7 268V uses the Arc 140V. The database does not include graphics benchmark scores, so the performance comparison between these iGPUs cannot be quantified from the recorded data.

Power ratings are close. The Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Ultra 7 268V has a TDP of 17 watts. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 330 has a part number of SAE3G and a launch MSRP of $309. The Ultra 7 268V has a part number of SRPMLSRPMX and no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has an average benchmark score of 20897, while the Intel Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345.

Q: How many head-to-head benchmarks does each processor win?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V wins 14 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core 5 330 wins 3.

Q: In which test does the Intel Core 5 330 have its largest advantage?

A: The Core 5 330 wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 23.4%, scoring 13150 against 10653 for the Ultra 7 268V.

Q: In which test does the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V have its largest advantage?

A: The Ultra 7 268V wins PassMark find prime numbers by 40.6%, scoring 192 against 114 for the Core 5 330.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core 5 330 has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: What are the L3 cache sizes?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor uses a dual-channel memory bus?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V uses a dual-channel memory bus. The Intel Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V wins across the majority of workload categories. Its 40.6% lead in PassMark find prime numbers makes it the clear choice for integer-heavy mathematical computation. The 25.7% lead in PassMark physics and 23.8% lead in PassMark floating point math further cement its position for simulation and scientific workloads. The 22.1% lead in PassMark integer math, 20.7% lead in random string sorting, and 19.8% lead in PassMark multithread indicate broad superiority in general parallel processing. The 19.9% leads in both PassMark data compression and PassMark data encryption, along with the 16.4% lead in extended instructions, show consistent strength across data processing tasks. The Ultra 7 268V also wins the older Cinebench render tests, with an 18% lead in R15 multicore, 19.8% in R20 multicore, and 19.9% in R20 single-core, plus a 36.5% lead in R15 single-core and 3.4% in R23 single-core.

The Intel Core 5 330 wins in a narrower set of conditions. Its 23.4% Cinebench R23 multicore victory is the standout, indicating that in this specific render workload, the Core 5 330 outperforms the Ultra 7 268V by a wide margin. Its 0.9% PassMark single-thread win, while small, shows that in at least one single-threaded measurement, the Core 5 330 comes out ahead. The database lists no other workload categories where the Core 5 330 holds an advantage.

The pattern that emerges from the data is that the Ultra 7 268V is the stronger processor in nearly every measured category, with its largest wins concentrated in math, physics, and data processing tasks. The Core 5 330's advantage is specific to Cinebench R23 multicore, where it reverses the trend seen in the older Cinebench versions. Users running that particular benchmark or workloads with similar scaling characteristics would prefer the Core 5 330. Users running anything else in the recorded suite would find the Ultra 7 268V delivers higher scores, often by substantial margins.

The percentile rankings reinforce this split. The Ultra 7 268V sits at the 74th percentile against all CPUs, two points above the Core 5 330 at the 72nd percentile. The average benchmark score gap of 2552 points between the two processors is consistent with the Ultra 7 268V being the more capable part overall.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category recorded in the database. The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 330 and 2.20 GHz for the Ultra 7 268V. Boost clocks are 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 330 and 5.00 GHz for the Ultra 7 268V. TDP is 15 watts for the Core 5 330 and 17 watts for the Ultra 7 268V.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 330 and Intel BGA 2833 for the Ultra 7 268V. The codenames differ as Wildcat Lake and Lunar Lake respectively. Both use a 3 nm process node, but the Core 5 330 is fabricated by Intel while the Ultra 7 268V is fabricated by TSMC.

Cache specifications differ in both size and organization. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache and 2.5 MB of L2 cache as fixed totals. The Ultra 7 268V has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 2.5 MB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the Core 5 330 and 12 MB on the Ultra 7 268V.

Memory support differs. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Ultra 7 268V has a dual-channel bus, with the database noting that memory support depends on the motherboard and listing no bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity is Gen 4 with 6 lanes on the Core 5 330 and Gen 5 with 4 lanes on the Ultra 7 268V.

The integrated graphics differ: Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores on the Core 5 330, and Arc 140V on the Ultra 7 268V. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier or ECC memory support. The Core 5 330 has a recorded launch MSRP of $309, while the Ultra 7 268V has no recorded launch MSRP. The Core 5 330 was released with a production status of Active, and the Ultra 7 268V is also listed as Active.