CPU Comparison

The Intel Processor N97 and Intel Core i5-3330S present a stark contrast in design philosophy and era, yet their benchmark data reveals a surprisingly competitive dynamic. The N97, a modern low-power mobile chip, and the i5-3330S, a 2012 desktop part, both land at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1132 and 1128, respectively. This near-identical overall standing masks significant divergences in specific workloads, where the data shows each processor dominating in distinct areas.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic single result in the comparison is in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the Intel Processor N97 achieves a score of 973, compared to the Intel Core i5-3330S’s 469. This translates to a 107.5% advantage for the N97, more than doubling the older chip’s output. This is a decisive victory, reflecting the massive architectural strides made in single-thread performance over the decade separating these parts. The N97’s lead here is so substantial that it entirely redefines the performance relationship between the two.

In the multi-core Cinebench R15 test, the N97 again takes the lead, scoring 479 against the i5-3330S’s 335. This 43% delta shows that even in a fully threaded workload, the efficiency of the newer Gracemont architecture, combined with its higher boost clock, allows it to outpace the older Ivy Bridge design. This result is notable because it shows the N97’s advantage is not purely a single-thread phenomenon, even when both processors are limited to four threads.

However, the narrative flips in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Core i5-3330S posts a score of 3326, while the N97 manages 2913. The result is a 12.4% victory for the older i5-3330S. This is a counter-intuitive outcome given the N97’s 43% win in the R15 multi-core test. The data suggests that the R23 workload is more demanding and sustained, likely exposing thermal or power limits on the N97 that allow the higher base clock of the i5-3330S to carry it through. The i5-3330S’s 2.70 GHz base clock, compared to the N97’s 2.00 GHz, appears to provide a more stable foundation for this extended, heavy load.

The head-to-head tally shows the N97 wins 2 out of 3 benchmarks, but the magnitude of the i5-3330S’s win in R23 multi-core is significant. While the N97’s single-core dominance is overwhelming, the i5-3330S demonstrates that in a prolonged, heavily multi-threaded scenario, it can still leverage its higher sustained clock speeds to pull ahead. The average benchmark scores, 1132 for the N97 and 1128 for the i5-3330S, are nearly tied, but the distribution of strengths is anything but even.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of workload-dependent superiority. For users whose primary tasks involve single-threaded performance, the Intel Processor N97 is the unequivocal choice. Its 107.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core makes it vastly more responsive for everyday applications, web browsing, and lightly threaded productivity software. The N97’s 43% advantage in R15 multi-core also suggests it handles moderate multi-threading with more agility.

The Intel Core i5-3330S is the pick for scenarios that involve sustained, heavily multi-threaded workloads. Its 12.4% lead in the R23 multi-core test indicates that for tasks like long-duration video encoding or complex 3D rendering, the older chip can outlast and outperform the newer one. This is a classic case of a desktop part with a higher base clock (2.70 GHz vs. 2.00 GHz) maintaining a steadier throughput when all cores are pegged for an extended period.

Benchmark results indicate that neither processor is a universal winner. The N97 is the superior processor for general responsiveness and tasks that favor high-frequency, short bursts of activity. The i5-3330S, despite its age, retains a niche for continuous, heavy compute loads. Users with a strict requirement for maximum multi-core throughput in a sustained environment should favor the i5-3330S, while everyone else will find the N97’s performance profile more broadly applicable.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs are separated by over a decade of architectural evolution. The Intel Processor N97 is built on the Gracemont architecture, part of the Alder Lake-N family, and utilizes a 10 nm process node. This is a modern, efficiency-focused design. In contrast, the Intel Core i5-3330S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture, a 22 nm design from the Core i5 generation.

The cache hierarchies are fundamentally different. The N97 features a per-core L1 cache of 96 KB and a shared L2 cache of 2 MB, alongside a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The i5-3330S has a smaller 64 KB L1 cache per core, but a larger 256 KB L2 cache per core, and the same 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The N97’s larger L1 and shared L2 arrangement is typical of its low-power, high-efficiency design, while the i5-3330S’s larger per-core L2 is a hallmark of its desktop-oriented heritage.

The integrated graphics also represent a generational leap. The N97 is equipped with UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-3330S features the much older Intel HD 2500. The memory support diverges completely: the N97 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory via a single-channel bus with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, whereas the i5-3330S only supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure listed. The N97’s PCIe implementation is Gen 3 with 9 lanes, while the i5-3330S offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The N97 is a mobile-market part on an Intel BGA 1264 socket, while the i5-3330S is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1155. The N97’s die size is not listed, but the i5-3330S has a die size of 133 mm².

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical, with both processors featuring 4 cores and 4 threads. However, the clock speeds differ significantly. The N97 has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i5-3330S has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz but a lower boost clock of 3.20 GHz. This explains the N97’s single-core dominance and the i5-3330S’s sustained multi-core advantage.

The thermal design power (TDP) is a major differentiator. The N97 has a TDP of just 12 watts, a signal of its modern, efficient design. The i5-3330S, by contrast, has a TDP of 77 watts, a figure that highlights its older, more power-hungry architecture. This massive difference in power draw has no direct performance equivalent, but it is a critical specification for system design and thermal management.

In terms of memory, the N97 supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i5-3330S is limited to DDR3. The memory bus also differs: the N97 is single-channel, while the i5-3330S is dual-channel. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers. Their release dates are far apart, with the N97 released in January 2023 and the i5-3330S in September 2012. The N97’s production status is listed as Active, while the i5-3330S’s is not specified. Their part numbers are SRMLM and SR0RR, respectively.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Processor N97 has significantly higher single-core performance. In the Cinebench R23 single-core test, it scores 973, which is 107.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-3330S’s score of 469.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-3330S better at any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-3330S wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 3326 compared to the N97’s 2913, a 12.4% advantage for the older chip.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between the two?

A: The Intel Processor N97 has a TDP of 12 watts, while the Intel Core i5-3330S has a TDP of 77 watts. This indicates a substantial difference in power draw and thermal output.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both the Intel Processor N97 and the Intel Core i5-3330S have 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel Processor N97 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Intel Core i5-3330S supports DDR3 memory. The N97 uses a single-channel memory bus, whereas the i5-3330S uses a dual-channel bus.

Q: How do their overall benchmark scores compare?

A: Their average benchmark scores are very close. The Intel Processor N97 has an average score of 1132, and the Intel Core i5-3330S has an average score of 1128, placing both at the 32nd percentile among all CPUs.