Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus Comparison

Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus are both mobile processors from Intel, but they occupy very different positions in the lineup. The Core 5 330 is a 6-core part built on the Wildcat Lake architecture, while the Ultra 7 270HX Plus is a 20-core behemoth from the Arrow Lake-HX family. Benchmark data shows a complete sweep for the Ultra 7, which wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Core 5 330, however, still holds its own as a lower-power option, and the data reveals where each part is best suited.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus wins every single benchmark in the database, so the use-case split is not about one being faster in certain tasks. Instead, the differentiation comes from the performance envelope and the physical requirements. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the clear choice for any workload where raw compute throughput matters, including multi-threaded rendering, data compression, encryption, and floating-point math. Its scores are dramatically higher across the board, often by more than three times.

The Intel Core 5 330, on the other hand, does not win any benchmark outright, but its 15 TDP and 6-core design make it the part for power-constrained or thermally-limited chassis. The data shows it trails the Ultra 7 by roughly 14.2% in single-threaded PassMark tests, which is the smallest gap between the two. For light productivity, web browsing, or any task that does not hammer all cores, the Core 5 330 delivers a usable experience while demanding far less power. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus, with its 55 TDP, is meant for high-performance laptops with robust cooling, not slim ultrabooks. So the win for the Core 5 330 is in efficiency and integration, not in raw scores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors use different architectures, despite both being built on a 3 nm process. The Intel Core 5 330 uses the Wildcat Lake codename, while the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses Arrow Lake-HX Refresh. The foundry also differs: the Core 5 330 is fabricated by Intel, whereas the Ultra 7 270HX Plus is fabricated by TSMC. The Ultra 7 carries 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die, while the Core 5 330 does not have transistor or die size data recorded.

Core counts are the most striking difference. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores and 20 threads, also without extra threads. Cache configurations diverge sharply. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus reports 192 KB of L1 per core and 3 MB of L2 per core, with 30 MB of shared L3. That larger L3 pool is a major factor in its multi-threaded dominance.

Memory support differs as well. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, delivering 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus only supports DDR5, but uses a dual-channel bus for 102.4 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also separates them: the Core 5 330 offers Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes, while the Ultra 7 270HX Plus has Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the Core 5 330 using Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Ultra 7 270HX Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 execution units.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent and overwhelming advantage for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 7 scores 41913 against the Core 5 330's 13150, a 68.6% gap. Single-core in the same test shows 5917 versus 1856, also a 68.6% difference. Cinebench R20 multi-core repeats the pattern: 17603 against 5523, and R15 multi-core shows 4224 against 1325.

PassMark tests tell a similar story. Data compression heavily favors the Ultra 7, which scores 493179 versus 145287, a 70.5% difference. Encryption shows 37813 versus 11076, a 70.7% gap. Extended instructions yield 39283 versus 12808, a 67.4% delta. Prime number finding has the largest relative gap at 76.3%, with 482 versus 114. Floating-point math shows 163567 versus 43885, a 73.2% difference, and integer math shows 122449 versus 33258, a 72.8% gap.

The closest result is in PassMark single-thread, where the Ultra 7 scores 4764 and the Core 5 330 scores 4088, a 14.2% delta. This indicates that for single-threaded tasks, the Core 5 330 is relatively competitive, though still behind. Multi-threaded PassMark shows 48270 versus 15471, a 67.9% gap. Physics tests show 3843 versus 1201, a 68.7% difference, and random string sorting shows 60020 versus 17771, a 70.4% gap. Across all 17 tests, the Ultra 7 wins every time, and no test shows the Core 5 330 ahead.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows where the two parts diverge most clearly.

• Cores: Core 5 330 has 6, Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20.
• Threads: Both match their core counts, 6 and 20 respectively.
• Base clock: 1.50 GHz for the Core 5 330, 2.40 GHz for the Ultra 7.
• Boost clock: 4.60 GHz for the Core 5 330, 5.30 GHz for the Ultra 7.
• TDP: 15 W for the Core 5 330, 55 W for the Ultra 7.
• Socket: Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 5 330, Intel BGA 2114 for the Ultra 7.
• Codename: Wildcat Lake versus Arrow Lake-HX Refresh.
• Foundry: Intel for the Core 5 330, TSMC for the Ultra 7.
• Transistors: No data for the Core 5 330, 17,800 million for the Ultra 7.
• Die size: No data for the Core 5 330, 243 mm² for the Ultra 7.
• L1 cache: 192 KB for the Core 5 330, 192 KB per core for the Ultra 7.
• L2 cache: 2.5 MB for the Core 5 330, 3 MB per core for the Ultra 7.
• L3 cache: 6 MB shared for the Core 5 330, 30 MB shared for the Ultra 7.
• Memory support: DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the Core 5 330, only DDR5 for the Ultra 7.
• Memory bus: Single-channel for the Core 5 330, dual-channel for the Ultra 7.
• Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s for the Core 5 330, 102.4 GB/s for the Ultra 7.
• PCIe: Gen 4 with 6 lanes for the Core 5 330, Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the Ultra 7.
• Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 with 2 Xe cores for the Core 5 330, Arc Xe-LPG with 64 EU for the Ultra 7.
• Multiplier unlocked: No for the Core 5 330, yes for the Ultra 7.
• Launch MSRP: The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309. The Ultra 7 270HX Plus has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 20 cores, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Ultra 7 270HX Plus?

A: The Ultra 7 270HX Plus has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest relative gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ultra 7 scores 482 versus the Core 5 330's 114, a 76.3% difference.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus boosts to 5.30 GHz, while the Intel Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core 5 330 nor the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has a TDP of 55 W.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the superior processor in every measured category, with wins in all 17 head-to-head tests and a 93rd percentile ranking among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 61834, compared to 18345 for the Core 5 330, which sits at the 72nd percentile. The Ultra 7 is also closely matched with desktop-class parts like the Intel Core i9-13900KF, which has an average score of 61841, a 0% delta, indicating nearly identical overall performance.

The Intel Core 5 330 is not a performance part by comparison, but it has its place. Its 15 W TDP is a third of the Ultra 7's 55 W, making it suitable for fanless or low-power designs. The 6-core, 6-thread configuration is enough for everyday tasks, and its single-thread score of 4088 in PassMark is only 14.2% behind the Ultra 7, showing that basic responsiveness is not heavily penalized. The Core 5 330 also has a recorded launch MSRP of $309, while the Ultra 7 has no such figure.

The choice comes down to workload class. For anyone running multi-threaded workloads, compiling code, rendering video, or processing large datasets, the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus is the only rational pick from this data. Its 20 cores, 30 MB of L3, and dual-channel memory bandwidth deliver results that are consistently 67% to 76% higher across the board. For a thin-and-light laptop where battery life and thermals matter more than raw throughput, the Core 5 330 offers a viable path, albeit with a large performance sacrifice. Neither part is wrong, but the data clearly defines which one is for heavy lifting and which one is for efficiency.