Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Processor N150 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload lines, with the Intel Core 5 330 taking every recorded head-to-head victory. The Core 5 330 wins all four shared tests, covering both multi-threaded and single-threaded Cinebench workloads. The Intel Processor N150 does not win any of the directly comparable tests, though it remains competitive in its intended low-power segment.

The Core 5 330 delivers its largest advantages in multi-core rendering. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core 5 330 scores 13150 against 2590.5 for the N150, a 407.6% delta. That gap narrows considerably in single-core work: the Core 5 330 leads Cinebench R23 single-core by 98.5%, scoring 1856 versus 935. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R15, where the multi-core lead is 213.6% (1325 versus 422.5) and the single-core lead is 21.4% (186 versus 153.15).

The N150's role is better understood through its percentile placement. The Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the N150 sits at the 28th percentile. That 44-point gap reflects the fundamental positioning difference: the Core 5 330 is a mainstream mobile part, while the N150 targets efficiency-focused systems.

The N150's closest rivals in the database include the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U, both with average scores within 0.1% of the N150's 1025 average. The Core 5 330, by contrast, trades blows with the Intel Core i3-14100 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core 7 360 (0.2% delta). These rival clusters confirm that the two processors occupy entirely different performance tiers.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel process nodes and microarchitectures. The Core 5 330 uses a 3 nm process with the Wildcat Lake codename, while the N150 uses a 10 nm process with the Twin Lake codename and belongs to the Alder Lake-N generation family. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Core configuration differs substantially. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the N150 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Neither processor supports simultaneous multithreading. The Core 5 330's base clock is 1.50 GHz with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The N150's base clock is listed at 0.10 GHz with a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, an unusually low base figure that suggests aggressive power management behavior.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core 5 330 carries 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. The N150 lists 96 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of shared L2, and 6 MB of shared L3. Both chips share the same total L3 capacity, but the L1 and L2 allocations differ in both size and organization.

Memory support separates the two as well. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5, also single-channel, but with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 CPU lanes; the N150 provides Gen 3 with 9 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, while the N150 uses UHD Graphics 730.

Power envelopes reflect the positioning gap. The Core 5 330 carries a 15 W TDP, while the N150 carries a 6 W TDP. Both use mobile sockets, but different ones: the Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, and the N150 uses Intel BGA 1264.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The four directly comparable tests all favor the Core 5 330, but the magnitude varies by workload type. The largest single delta appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 330 scores 13150 and the N150 scores 2590.5. That 407.6% advantage is more than double the multi-core gap seen in Cinebench R15, where the Core 5 330 leads 1325 to 422.5, a 213.6% delta.

The multi-core differences reflect more than core count. The Core 5 330 has 6 cores versus 4, a 50% core advantage, but its R23 multi-core score is roughly 5 times higher. That points to substantial per-core performance differences as well as the core count gap. The N150's 0.10 GHz base clock likely constrains sustained multi-core throughput in ways that the boost clock cannot fully offset.

Single-core results show a tighter race in the older benchmark. Cinebench R15 single-core gives the Core 5 330 a 21.4% lead (186 versus 153.15). In Cinebench R23 single-core, the lead expands to 98.5% (1856 versus 935). The newer benchmark amplifies the differences in the Core 5 330's favor, suggesting that the Wildcat Lake architecture scales better with the R23 workload's demands.

The passmark suite provides additional context for the Core 5 330, though the N150 lacks directly comparable passmark entries. The Core 5 330's passmark results include 4088 in single-thread, 15471 in multithread, 145287 in data compression, 11076 in data encryption, and 43885 in floating point math. These numbers place the Core 5 330 well within mainstream mobile territory.

The N150's average benchmark score of 1025 places it near the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2500U, both within 0.1% delta. The Core 5 330's average of 18345 places it in a different league, within 0.2% of the Intel Core 7 360 and within 0.1% of the Intel Core i3-14100.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 scores 13150 versus 2590.5 for the Intel Processor N150, a 407.6% lead.

Q: How large is the single-core gap between the two?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 5 330 scores 1856 against 935 for the N150, a 98.5% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the lead narrows to 21.4% (186 versus 153.15).

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Neither the Core 5 330 nor the N150 supports ECC memory.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The N150 supports DDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5. Both use a single-channel memory bus.

Q: How do the power envelopes compare?

A: The Core 5 330 has a 15 W TDP, while the N150 has a 6 W TDP.

Q: Where does each processor rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: The Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile, while the N150 sits at the 28th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core 5 330 | Intel Processor N150 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 6 | 4 |

| Base clock | 1.50 GHz | 0.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 6 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1516 | Intel BGA 1264 |

| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Twin Lake |

| Process node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| L1 cache | 192 KB | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 2.5 MB | 2 MB (shared) |

| L3 cache | 6 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5, LPDDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 6 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 9 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe) | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Launch MSRP | $309 | Not provided |

| Part number | SAE3G | SRPNR |

The release dates also differ, with the N150 released in 2024 and the Core 5 330 released in 2026. Both processors remain in active production. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both target the mobile market segment.