PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core Ultra 5 135H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 135H across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 22,116).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $385 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 135H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 135H moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 5 135H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core Ultra 5 135H

2023

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core Ultra 5 135H needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 135H across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 22,116).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $385 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 135H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 135H moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-9700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 135H better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 135H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 31.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data, 53.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 135H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 31.8% more average FPS across 5 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 135H is the better fit. You are getting 53.6% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 18 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 5 135H is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core Ultra 5 135H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 31.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (37.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 135H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 18 threads instead of 8/8. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 135H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	308 FPS	193 FPS
medium	278 FPS	154 FPS
high	231 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	156 FPS
medium	221 FPS	122 FPS
high	178 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	86 FPS
medium	140 FPS	73 FPS
high	108 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 135H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	360 FPS	553 FPS
medium	321 FPS	521 FPS
high	291 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	549 FPS
medium	282 FPS	457 FPS
high	258 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	324 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	337 FPS
medium	221 FPS	283 FPS
high	208 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	226 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 135H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	360 FPS	553 FPS
medium	360 FPS	553 FPS
high	360 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	553 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	553 FPS
medium	360 FPS	553 FPS
high	360 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	494 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	548 FPS
medium	360 FPS	441 FPS
high	360 FPS	400 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 135H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 135H
1080p
low	360 FPS	553 FPS
medium	360 FPS	553 FPS
high	360 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	553 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	553 FPS
medium	360 FPS	553 FPS
high	360 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	553 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	553 FPS
medium	360 FPS	524 FPS
high	360 FPS	473 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	413 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 5 135H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core Ultra 5 135H

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Core Ultra 5 135H

The Core Ultra 5 135H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 14 cores and 18 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,116 points. Launch price was $342.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 135H offers 14 cores / 18 threads — the Core Ultra 5 135H has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core Ultra 5 135H's 22,116 — a 42.3% lead for the Core Ultra 5 135H. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 135H.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 135H
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	14 / 18+75%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+7%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	18 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	2 MB (per core)+700%
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Meteor Lake-H (2023)
PassMark	14,397	22,116+54%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 5 135H
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 135H). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core Ultra 5 135H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.