Intel Core 5 330 vs Intel Processor U301L Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core 5 330 and Intel Processor U301L occupy very different positions in the mobile processor landscape. The Core 5 330 is a modern 3 nm part with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the U301L is a 10 nm Raptor Lake design with a maximum boost of 2.20 GHz. The benchmark data confirms a decisive split: the Core 5 330 holds every recorded performance advantage, while the U301L has no benchmark entries in the database at all.

The Core 5 330 delivers a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 13150 and a single-core score of 1856. Its Passmark single-thread result reaches 4088, and its multithread score lands at 15471. These numbers place it at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs tracked. The U301L, by contrast, has an empty benchmark record, an average score of zero, and sits at the 50th percentile. For any workload that depends on raw compute, the Core 5 330 is the only part with measurable results.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. The Core 5 330 handles demanding tasks such as data encryption, floating-point math, and extended instruction workloads, where its Passmark scores reach 11076, 43885, and 12808 respectively. It also manages random string sorting at 17771 and data compression at 145287. The U301L offers no recorded wins in any category, meaning it cannot claim superiority in any benchmark test available in the database.

FAQ

Q: How do the core counts compare between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core 5 330 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Processor U301L has 5 cores and 6 threads. Both parts support 6 threads, but the Core 5 330 has one additional physical core.

Q: What is the boost clock difference?

A: The Core 5 330 boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the U301L tops out at 2.20 GHz. That is a 2.40 GHz gap in maximum frequency. Their base clocks are 1.50 GHz and 1.20 GHz respectively.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Core 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18345. The U301L has an average score of zero, as no benchmark results are recorded for it in the database.

Q: How do their percentile ranks compare?

A: The Core 5 330 sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. The U301L sits at the 50th percentile.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Core 5 330 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X over a single-channel memory bus. The U301L supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What are the launch MSRP values?

A: The Core 5 330 has a launch MSRP of $309. The U301L has a launch MSRP of $107.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head section in the database contains no direct comparison entries, and the win counts for both parts stand at zero. This is an unusual situation, as one processor has a full suite of benchmark scores while the other has none. The absence of recorded U301L results means every possible comparison defaults to the Core 5 330.

Looking at the Core 5 330's internal benchmark spread reveals its strengths. In Cinebench R23, it scores 13150 multicore and 1856 single-core. In Cinebench R20, the scores are 5523 and 779. The R15 generation shows 1325 multicore and 186 single-core. These generation-over-generation increases follow the expected pattern of newer rendering workloads demanding more compute.

Passmark results reinforce the pattern. The multithread score of 15471 and single-thread score of 4088 are both substantial. Integer math reaches 33258, while floating-point math hits 43885. Data encryption scores 11076, and extended instructions score 12808. The prime number finding test produces 114, and physics simulation scores 1201.

Without any U301L benchmark data, the database cannot compute deltas or percentage differences. The interpretive conclusion is simple: the Core 5 330's recorded scores stand uncontested. The U301L's lack of results does not indicate poor performance, but it does mean no quantitative comparison is possible from the available facts.

The nearest rivals for the Core 5 330 provide context. The Intel Core i3-14100 has an average score of 18318, which is 0.1 percent below the Core 5 330. The Intel Core 3 305 scores 18302, also 0.2 percent behind. The Intel Core 7 360 scores 18374, 0.2 percent ahead, and the Intel Core i3-13100 scores 18380, also 0.2 percent ahead. These small deltas indicate the Core 5 330 sits in a tightly contested performance band. The U301L has no such rival data.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every hardware specification. Core count differs: 6 versus 5. Thread count matches at 6. Base clocks differ, 1.50 GHz versus 1.20 GHz. Boost clocks differ dramatically, 4.60 GHz versus 2.20 GHz. Both have a 15 TDP, but their sockets are incompatible. The Core 5 330 uses Intel BGA 1516, while the U301L uses Intel Socket 1700.

Cache configurations are not directly comparable. The Core 5 330 has 192 KB of L1 cache, 2.5 MB of L2 cache, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The U301L has 80 KB per core of L1 cache, 1.25 MB per core of L2 cache, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The total L3 is larger on the U301L, but the L1 and L2 figures use different measurement conventions.

Memory support splits along generation lines. The Core 5 330 accepts DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a single-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The U301L accepts DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe lanes differ as well: the Core 5 330 provides Gen 4 with 6 lanes, while the U301L provides Gen 4 with 8 lanes.

Integrated graphics are different generations. The Core 5 330 uses Intel Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores. The U301L uses UHD Graphics 64EU. Neither part has an unlocked multiplier. The Core 5 330 released on 2026-04-15, while the U301L released on 2024-04-07. Their part numbers are SAE3G and SRPKFQ5CW respectively.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is substantial. The Core 5 330 belongs to the Wildcat Lake generation, built on a 3 nm process node at Intel's foundry. The U301L belongs to the Raptor Lake generation, specifically Raptor Lake-PS, built on a 10 nm process node, also at Intel. The process node difference alone, 3 nm versus 10 nm, explains much of the performance and efficiency gap.

The Core 5 330's codename is Wildcat Lake, and its generation is listed as "Core 5 (Wildcat Lake)". The U301L's architecture is explicitly Raptor Lake, with a codename of Raptor Lake-PS and a generation of "Intel Processor (Raptor Lake)". These are different microarchitectures separated by at least one full generation of Intel design.

Cache architecture differs in structure. The Core 5 330 presents unified L1 and L2 figures, while the U301L presents per-core figures. The shared L3 is smaller on the Core 5 330 at 6 MB, versus 8 MB on the U301L. However, the Core 5 330's newer process node likely compensates with lower latency and higher bandwidth per clock.

Memory controller design differs. The Core 5 330 uses a single-channel memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The U301L uses a dual-channel bus but has no bandwidth figure in the database. This is notable because dual-channel configurations typically offer higher theoretical bandwidth, but the absence of a recorded number prevents confirmation.

The integrated graphics represent different Xe generations. The Core 5 330 uses Xe3 Graphics with 2 Xe cores, indicating a third-generation Xe design. The U301L uses UHD Graphics 64EU, which corresponds to the older Raptor Lake graphics architecture. The EU count of 64 suggests a reasonably capable iGPU, but the Xe3 architecture in the Core 5 330 is newer.

Both processors are active production parts, both are mobile segments, and both lack ECC memory support. The release dates show a two-year gap, with the U301L arriving first in 2024 and the Core 5 330 following in 2026.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core 5 330 delivers recorded benchmark scores across every test in the database, with an average score of 18345 and a 72nd percentile rank. The Intel Processor U301L has no recorded scores, an average of zero, and a 50th percentile rank. Any user choosing between these two based on measured performance would select the Core 5 330.

The benchmark results indicate the Core 5 330 is competitive with its nearest rivals, the Core i3-14100, Core i3-13100, Core 3 305, and Core 7 360. Its deltas against these parts range from 0.1 percent behind to 0.2 percent ahead, placing it in a tightly packed performance band. This suggests the Core 5 330 is a well-balanced processor for its segment.

The U301L's lack of benchmark data is the defining characteristic of its database entry. It offers a lower boost clock, an older architecture, and a different socket. The dual-channel memory support and larger L3 cache are its only structural advantages, but without scores to validate their impact, they remain theoretical.

The reason to choose the U301L would be its lower launch MSRP of $107, but pricing is not the focus of this analysis. From a pure performance standpoint, the recorded data gives every advantage to the Core 5 330. The 3 nm process node, the 4.60 GHz boost clock, and the complete set of Cinebench and Passmark results all point in one direction.

For users who need verified compute performance, the Core 5 330 is the only part with evidence in the database. For users who prioritize the older socket or the dual-channel memory bus, the U301L offers those specifications, but no benchmark confirmation of their benefit. The verdict, strictly from the data, is that the Core 5 330 is the superior performer, and the U301L remains an unmeasured alternative.