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

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 24 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance between the two?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 2439 against 1856 for the Intel Core 5 330, a delta of 23.9% in favor of the Ultra 7. In Passmark single-thread, the Ultra 7 scores 5068 versus 4088, a 19.3% advantage.

Q: How large is the L3 cache difference?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 330 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus supports ECC memory (true), while the Intel Core 5 330 does not (false).

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has dual-channel memory with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core 5 330 has single-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor holds the higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus sits at the 96th percentile, whereas the Intel Core 5 330 is at the 72nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in their intended roles and underlying design. The Intel Core 5 330 is a mobile part built on Intel BGA 1516, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a desktop part using Intel Socket 1851. Both use a 3 nm process node, but the foundry differs: Intel fabricates the Core 5 330, while TSMC fabricates the Ultra 7 270K Plus. The Ultra 7 270K Plus is also the only one with a disclosed transistor count of 17,800 million and a die size of 243 mm².

The core configuration is the most obvious architectural gap. The Core 5 330 delivers 6 cores and 6 threads with a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Ultra 7 270K Plus delivers 24 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. No hyper-threading is indicated for either part; both list threads equal to cores.

Cache hierarchies differ in scale and organization. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 7 270K Plus lists 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 36 MB of shared L3. The per-core L2 allocation on the Ultra 7 scales with its higher core count, and the shared L3 is six times larger.

Memory architecture is another separator. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s. The Ultra 7 270K Plus supports DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, yielding 115.2 GB/s. ECC memory is available on the Ultra 7 270K Plus but not on the Core 5 330.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). The Ultra 7 270K Plus provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the Ultra 7 270K Plus uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 64 EU.

Other distinctions: the Ultra 7 270K Plus has an unlocked multiplier and is part of Core Ultra Series 2, codename Arrow Lake Refresh. The Core 5 330 is locked, carries the codename Wildcat Lake, and belongs to the Core 5 generation. The Ultra 7 270K Plus has a TDP of 125 W, while the Core 5 330 has a TDP of 15 W, reflecting their desktop versus mobile positioning.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus wins all 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, with no wins for the Intel Core 5 330. The largest gaps appear in multithreaded and memory-sensitive workloads. The Ultra 7 270K Plus leads by 81.9% in Passmark data compression, 81.7% in random string sorting, and 81.5% in prime number finding. It also leads by 80.1% in Cinebench R15 multicore and 77.4% in Cinebench R20 multicore.

The Core 5 330 is a mobile, low-power processor with a 15 W TDP, 6 cores, and single-channel memory. Its average benchmark score is 18345, placing it at the 72nd percentile. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-14100 with an average score of 18318 (0.1% delta), the Intel Core 7 360 at 18374 (-0.2% delta), the Intel Core i3-13100 at 18380 (-0.2% delta), and the Intel Core 3 305 at 18302 (0.2% delta). The Core 5 330 sits in a cluster of low-end desktop and mobile chips, with deltas within 0.2% of its peers.

The Ultra 7 270K Plus posts an average benchmark score of 93785, placing it at the 96th percentile. Its nearest rivals are entirely different in class: the Intel Xeon 6520P at 93786 (0% delta), the AMD EPYC 4564P at 95183 (-1.5% delta), the AMD EPYC 9175F at 95615 (-1.9% delta), and the AMD EPYC 4565P at 95764 (-2.1% delta). The Ultra 7 270K Plus is competitive with server-class EPYC and Xeon parts, trailing the fastest EPYC entries by only about 2%.

The data indicates that the Ultra 7 270K Plus is the choice for workloads that scale with core count, cache size, and memory bandwidth. Its 24 cores, 36 MB L3, dual-channel memory, and 115.2 GB/s bandwidth support that profile. The Core 5 330, with 6 cores, 6 MB L3, single-channel memory, and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, is positioned for power-constrained mobile use. The TDP figures reinforce this: 125 W for the desktop part, 15 W for the mobile part.

The launch MSRP is $299 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and $309 for the Intel Core 5 330. The Ultra 7 270K Plus offers substantially higher performance for a lower launch MSRP, but the Core 5 330 targets a different form factor and power envelope.

Specification Differences

• Cores: 6 (Core 5 330) vs 24 (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Threads: 6 (Core 5 330) vs 24 (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Base clock: 1.50 GHz (Core 5 330) vs 3.70 GHz (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Boost clock: 4.60 GHz (Core 5 330) vs 5.50 GHz (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• TDP: 15 W (Core 5 330) vs 125 W (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1516 (Core 5 330) vs Intel Socket 1851 (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Codename: Wildcat Lake (Core 5 330) vs Arrow Lake Refresh (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Foundry: Intel (Core 5 330) vs TSMC (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Transistors: not disclosed (Core 5 330) vs 17,800 million (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Die size: not disclosed (Core 5 330) vs 243 mm² (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• L1 cache: 192 KB (Core 5 330) vs 192 KB per core (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• L2 cache: 2.5 MB (Core 5 330) vs 3 MB per core (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• L3 cache: 6 MB shared (Core 5 330) vs 36 MB shared (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Memory support: DDR5, LPDDR5X (Core 5 330) vs DDR5 (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Memory bus: Single-channel (Core 5 330) vs Dual-channel (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Memory bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s (Core 5 330) vs 115.2 GB/s (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• ECC memory: false (Core 5 330) vs true (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• PCIe: Gen 4, 6 lanes (Core 5 330) vs Gen 5, 20 lanes (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Integrated graphics: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) (Core 5 330) vs Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Market segment: Mobile (Core 5 330) vs Desktop (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Multiplier unlocked: false (Core 5 330) vs true (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Part number: SAE3G (Core 5 330) vs SA4V6 (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Release date: 2026-04-15 (Core 5 330) vs 2026-03-10 (Ultra 7 270K Plus)
• Launch MSRP: $309 (Core 5 330) vs $299 (Ultra 7 270K Plus)

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus dominates every recorded benchmark. The smallest margin is in Passmark single-thread, where the Ultra 7 scores 5068 against 4088, a 19.3% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core is close behind, with 2439 versus 1856, a 23.9% lead. These single-thread results show that the Ultra 7 270K Plus is not just a multicore monster; its per-core performance is also ahead.

Multicore workloads widen the gap dramatically. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Ultra 7 270K Plus scores 44253 versus 13150, a 70.3% lead. Cinebench R20 multicore shows 24461 versus 5523, a 77.4% lead. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 6656 versus 1325, an 80.1% lead. The pattern is consistent: the more cores a workload can use, the larger the Ultra 7 270K Plus advantage.

Passmark tests follow the same trend. Data compression shows 804322 versus 145287, an 81.9% lead. Data encryption shows 59097 versus 11076, an 81.3% lead. Extended instructions show 63506 versus 12808, a 79.8% lead. Find prime numbers shows 615 versus 114, an 81.5% lead. Floating point math shows 229491 versus 43885, an 80.9% lead. Integer math shows 175986 versus 33258, an 81.1% lead. Multithread shows 68574 versus 15471, a 77.4% lead. Physics shows 4064 versus 1201, a 70.4% lead. Random string sorting shows 96945 versus 17771, an 81.7% lead.

The average benchmark score gap is equally stark. The Ultra 7 270K Plus averages 93785, while the Core 5 330 averages 18345. That is roughly a 5.1x difference in average score, consistent with the multicore deltas observed across individual tests. The percentile rankings confirm the separation: 96th versus 72nd.

The nearest rival data provides context for each processor. The Core 5 330 sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i3-14100, Intel Core 7 360, Intel Core i3-13100, and Intel Core 3 305. The Ultra 7 270K Plus sits within 2.1% of the AMD EPYC 4564P, 9175F, and 4565P, and effectively matches the Intel Xeon 6520P at a 0% delta. The Ultra 7 270K Plus is competing in a different performance class entirely, one populated by server processors.

In every measured category, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus delivers higher scores. The Intel Core 5 330 records zero wins across all 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The data shows a processor designed for a low-power mobile segment against one designed for high-throughput desktop and workstation use.