Intel Core i3-1115GRE vs Intel Core i5-3330S Comparison

The Intel Core i5-3330S and the Intel Core i3-1115GRE are separated by eight years of silicon evolution, yet their average benchmark scores land within 0.1% of each other. The data reveals a fascinating generational clash: a four-core Ivy Bridge desktop chip from 2012 versus a two-core Tiger Lake mobile part from 2020. Despite the i5-3330S holding a 2-core advantage, the i3-1115GRE wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the data set. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i3-1115GRE scores 231 against the i5-3330S’s 196, a 15.2% lead. Across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the i3-1115GRE consistently leads by roughly 14.5% to 14.7%, posting scores of 392, 1637, and 3899 respectively, while the i5-3330S manages 335, 1396, and 3326. Even in single-core R23, the newer chip wins 550 to 469, a 14.7% advantage. The i5-3330S records zero wins in the head-to-head data, while the i3-1115GRE takes all five contests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3330S holds a negligible edge with an average benchmark score of 1128, while the Intel Core i3-1115GRE scores 1127. The delta between them is only 0.1%, placing them in a statistical tie.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded workloads despite the core count difference?

A: The i5-3330S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-1115GRE has 2 cores and 4 threads. However, the i3-1115GRE wins all multi-core benchmarks, leading by 14.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (3899 vs 3326) and by 14.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (392 vs 335).

Q: Which CPU offers better single-core performance?

A: The i3-1115GRE dominates single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 231 versus the i5-3330S’s 196, a 15.2% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 550 against 469, a 14.7% advantage.

Q: Are these processors comparable in their market positioning?

A: Both chips sit at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs. The i5-3330S is a desktop part with a 77W TDP, while the i3-1115GRE is a mobile processor with a 15W TDP and has an active production status.

Q: What is the difference in their launch prices?

A: The i3-1115GRE has a launch MSRP of $338. The i5-3330S has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i5-3330S supports DDR3 memory, while the i3-1115GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two Intel parts is substantial. The i5-3330S is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node, while the i3-1115GRE uses the Tiger Lake architecture with a 10 nm process. The die sizes are similar, with the i5-3330S at 133 mm² and the i3-1115GRE at 144 mm², but the underlying designs diverge sharply. The i5-3330S features 4 physical cores with 4 threads and a larger per-core cache structure of 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2. The i3-1115GRE has only 2 physical cores but supports 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, and it uses a much larger per-core cache: 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2. Both share 6 MB of L3 cache, but the newer chip’s larger L2 is a key factor in its ability to outperform the older quad-core in single-threaded tasks.

The i5-3330S runs at a base clock of 2.70 GHz with a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, while the i3-1115GRE has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz. This higher boost clock, combined with the newer Willow Cove cores, explains the i3-1115GRE’s consistent single-core wins. The integrated graphics also differ: the i5-3330S uses Intel HD 2500, while the i3-1115GRE includes UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units. The i3-1115GRE supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i5-3330S. The PCIe implementation also differs, with the older chip offering PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) versus the newer chip’s PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The i5-3330S has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-1115GRE has 2 cores and 4 threads. The base clocks are 2.70 GHz versus 2.20 GHz, but the boost clocks reverse the order: 3.20 GHz for the i5-3330S and 3.90 GHz for the i3-1115GRE. The TDP is dramatically different, with the i5-3330S rated at 77W and the i3-1115GRE at 15W. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3330S and Intel BGA 1449 for the i3-1115GRE. The i5-3330S supports DDR3 memory, while the i3-1115GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. ECC memory is not supported by the i5-3330S but is supported by the i3-1115GRE. The i5-3330S uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i3-1115GRE uses PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes. The i5-3330S is a desktop part, while the i3-1115GRE is a mobile part. The i3-1115GRE has an active production status, while the i5-3330S does not have one listed. The release dates are September 2012 for the i5-3330S and September 2020 for the i3-1115GRE. The i3-1115GRE carries a launch MSRP of $338, while the i5-3330S has no MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the i3-1115GRE wins every head-to-head test. It is faster in multi-core workloads by 14.5% to 14.7% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, and it is faster in single-core workloads by 14.7% to 15.2%. This makes the i3-1115GRE the superior choice for any task that relies on raw CPU throughput, whether multi-threaded rendering or single-threaded responsiveness. The i5-3330S does not win a single benchmark in the head-to-head data set. However, its specification sheet offers advantages in specific use cases. The i5-3330S has more physical cores (4 vs 2), which could matter for legacy software that scales poorly with Hyper-Threading. It also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which is more suitable for discrete graphics cards that require higher lane counts, whereas the i3-1115GRE’s 4-lane PCIe Gen 4 configuration is limited. The i5-3330S also uses the standard Socket 1155, which allows for desktop motherboard compatibility, while the i3-1115GRE is a BGA 1449 mobile part soldered to the board.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for most users: the Intel Core i3-1115GRE. It outperforms the i5-3330S in every benchmark recorded, including multi-core tests where it faces a 2-core disadvantage. Its 15W TDP makes it dramatically more power-efficient than the 77W i5-3330S, and it supports newer memory standards (DDR4, LPDDR4X) and ECC memory. The i3-1115GRE achieves this with a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz and a modern 10 nm architecture. For anyone building a new system or upgrading from an older platform, the i3-1115GRE is the better performer in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.

The i5-3330S should only be considered by users with an existing Socket 1155 motherboard who need to maintain compatibility with legacy components. Its 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide more expansion capability for add-in cards than the i3-1115GRE’s 4 lanes. It also has more physical cores, which may be beneficial for specific workloads that do not utilize Hyper-Threading effectively. However, the benchmark results show that even with fewer physical cores, the i3-1115GRE’s superior architecture produces higher scores across the board. The i5-3330S’s only real advantage is its older platform compatibility, not performance. Both chips sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, making them comparable mid-range performers, but the i3-1115GRE does so with far better efficiency and newer feature support.