Performance benchmarks for Intela’s Wildcat Lake Core 300 series mobile processors are emerging on PassMark. The Core 5 330 variant has now surfaced, delivering single- and multi-core scores that are effectively identical to its sister SKU, the Core 5 320. This reflects the processors‘ shared 2P+4LPE CPU layout and a 15W TDP.
Wildcat Lake Core 5 330 and Core 5 320: Identical Architectures
The Core 5 330 and Core 5 320 are functionally identical in their core configuration. Both chips are built on Intel’s Wildcat Lake platform and feature a hybrid design with 2 Cougar Cove Performance cores and 4 Darkmont Low Power Efficiency cores, for a total of six threads. Traditional Gracemont Efficiency cores are absent in this lineup. The P-cores maintain a maximum turbo frequency of 4.6 GHz, and the CPUs share a 6MB L3 cache. The only distinction noted in specifications is support for Intel Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP), a feature exclusive to the Core 5 330 aimed at commercial deployment.
| Feature | Intel Core 5 330 | Intel Core 5 320 |
|---|---|---|
| Codename | Wildcat Lake | Wildcat Lake |
| CPU Configuration | 2P + 4LPE Cores | 2P + 4LPE Cores |
| P-Core Architecture | Cougar Cove | Cougar Cove |
| LPE-Core Architecture | Darkmont | Darkmont |
| Max P-Core Frequency | 4.6 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6MB | 6MB |
| TDP | 15W | 15W |
| Intel SIPP Support | Yes | No |
PassMark Performance Benchmarks Analysis
The early PassMark listing for the Core 5 330 shows a single-thread score of 4215 and a multi-threaded rating of 14947. This multi-thread result is 1.8% lower than the Core 5 320’s 15222, while its single-thread score slightly leads by 4.2%. These minor disparities fall within the margin of error typical for early benchmark submissions with limited sample sizes. As more devices are tested, the performance of the two SKUs is expected to converge, given their identical architectural foundation.
Competitive Positioning Against Apple Silicon
The competitive performance of Wildcat Lake becomes clearer when placed against Apple’s current mobile offering. The Core 5 330’s early multi-thread score represents a performance lead of approximately 19.5% over the Apple A18 Pro chip powering the MacBook Neo. Its single-core performance also maintains an edge of roughly 3%. This positions the Core 5 330 as a compelling performance target for Windows laptop manufacturers aiming to challenge the $699 MacBook Neo in the affordable productivity and consumption segment.
The architecture’s 15W TDP envelope indicates its design for slim, mid-range notebooks where sustained performance and battery life are key. OEM adoption is imminent, with Intel confirming a broad range of partner devices from ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, MSI, and others slated for release in the near term.
