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Intel Core i5-3330

Intel Core i5-3330: Review and Build Guide in 2025

Despite its age, the Intel Core i5-3330 remains a popular choice for budget PCs. Let’s explore its features, compatibility, and relevance in 2025.

1. Key Specifications

Architecture and Manufacturing Process

The Core i5-3330 is based on the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture (3rd generation Intel Core), released in 2012. The manufacturing process is 22 nm, which at the time offered a balance between performance and energy efficiency. The chip contains 4 cores and 4 threads (without Hyper-Threading), a base frequency of 3.0 GHz, and a turbo boost up to 3.2 GHz.

Performance

- In the Geekbench 6 test (2025):

- Single-Core: 642;

- Multi-Core: 2097.

These scores are comparable to modern budget processors like the Intel Celeron G6900 (Single-Core ~700), but fall short compared to multi-threaded CPUs like the Ryzen 3 5300G.

Key Features

- Integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics 2500 (supports DirectX 11, 4K via DisplayPort);

- Support for PCIe 3.0 (relevant for NVMe SSDs through adapters);

- Turbo Boost 2.0 and Enhanced SpeedStep technologies for optimized power consumption.

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses the LGA 1155 socket. Compatible chipsets:

- H61/B75: budget boards without overclocking;

- Z77: supports overclocking (for models with a "K" index).

Choosing Features

New LGA 1155 boards are not being produced in 2025. Used models (like the ASUS P8H61-M LE or Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H) are available on the market for $20–50. When purchasing, check for:

- Availability of USB 3.0 (found in B75/Z77);

- BIOS version (an update may be required for compatibility).

3. Supported Memory

The processor works with DDR3-1333/1600 MHz in dual-channel mode. The maximum capacity is 32 GB (depends on the motherboard).

- Important: DDR4 and DDR5 are not supported. For upgrading, choose boards with 4 RAM slots.

Example configuration: 16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR3-1600 (~$25 for used modules).

4. Power Supply Recommendations

With a TDP of 77 W, a system based on the i5-3330 consumes about 150–200 W under load (with a GTX 1650 level graphics card).

- Minimum PSU: 450 W with an 80+ Bronze certification (e.g., EVGA 450 BR, $45);

- With overhead: 550 W (Corsair CX550, $60) if planning to install a powerful GPU.

Tip: Avoid cheap noname power supplies — they could damage components.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Low cost (used ~$15–25);

- Sufficient performance for office tasks and light gaming;

- Energy efficiency (suitable for HTPC).

Cons:

- No support for AVX2, PCIe 4.0, DDR4;

- Limited upgrade options (maximum — Core i7-3770K);

- Weak iGPU (HD 2500 won’t handle modern games).

6. Use Cases

- Office and Web Browsing: With an SSD and 8 GB RAM, the system runs quickly (Chrome, Excel, Zoom).

- Multimedia: Playing 4K videos through VLC or Plex (with hardware decoding).

- Gaming: Paired with a GTX 1050 Ti (CS2 — 60 FPS on medium settings, GTA V — 50–60 FPS).

- Servers: Suitable for NAS or a home server based on Proxmox/TrueNAS.

7. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD FX-6300 (2012):

- Better at multi-threaded tasks (6 cores), but with a higher TDP (95 W) and weaker in single-core (Geekbench 6 ~500).

- Intel Core i3-10100F (2020):

- Newer, supports DDR4 and PCIe 3.0, but more expensive ($80 new).

Conclusion: The i5-3330 excels in the budget segment but lags behind modern counterparts in energy efficiency.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

1. SSD is a must: Kingston A400 240 GB ($20) will speed up OS loading.

2. Cooling: The boxed cooler is sufficient, but for quieter operation, choose the Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 ($25).

3. Graphics Card: For gaming, add a used GTX 1060 6GB ($70–90).

4. BIOS: Update the motherboard firmware for stability.

Example build (prices for used components):

- CPU: $20;

- Motherboard: $30;

- RAM: $25;

- SSD: $20;

- PSU: $45;

- Case: $40.

Total: $180 without a GPU.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the i5-3330 Suitable For?

- Budget Users: In need of a PC for study, work, or watching movies.

- Upgrade Enthusiasts: Owners of older systems on LGA 1155.

- PC Builders for Specific Tasks: Media servers, terminals.

Why in 2025?

This processor offers a good compromise between price and performance for the secondary market. However, for modern gaming or video editing, it's best to choose newer solutions (such as the Ryzen 5 5500).

Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-3330 is a time-tested option for those who value budget and simplicity. It may not be suitable for gamers or professionals, but it will serve as a reliable assistant for everyday tasks.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

July 2012

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i5-3330

Code Name

Ivi Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.00 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1155

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

22 nm

TDP

77 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 & 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3 1333/1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

25.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 2500

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

650 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.05 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

6 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

642

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2097

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

656

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1945

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1719

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4091

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Ryzen 3 3250U

734 +14.3%

Core i7-2600K

678 +5.6%

Core i5-3330

642

Celeron G3920

600 -6.5%

Core i5-2390T

563 -12.3%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i7-990X

2554 +21.8%

Core i3-6300T

2327 +11%

Core i5-3330

2097

Opteron 6274

1922 -8.3%

Pentium Gold G6405

1759 -16.1%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E5-4617

694 +5.8%

Xeon E7-8867 v3

676 +3%

Core i5-3330

656

Xeon E5-2695 v4

631 -3.8%

Celeron 6305E

609 -7.2%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2690 v3

2234 +14.9%

Core i5-2300

2078 +6.8%

Core i5-3330

1945

Xeon E3-1558L v5

1822 -6.3%

Core i5-L16G7

1675 -13.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-3380M

1781 +3.6%

Xeon E5-2628 v3

1754 +2%

Core i5-3330

1719

Pentium G4560T

1697 -1.3%

Core i3-7100H

1668 -3%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i3-9100TE

4501 +10%

Athlon 300GE

4277 +4.5%

Core i5-3330

4091

Core i3-4370

3845 -6%

Core i3-1000NG4

3655 -10.7%