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 i5-13500

2023

Why buy it

✅+22.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌
0.8% HIGHER MSRP
$242 MSRPvs$240 MSRP

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.4% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2 less on MSRP ($240 MSRP vs $242 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 20,924).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).

Core i5-13500

2023

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

✅+22.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.4% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $2 less on MSRP ($240 MSRP vs $242 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌
0.8% HIGHER MSRP
$242 MSRPvs$240 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 20,924).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 225 better than Core i5-13500?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 5 225 is ahead with a 6.4% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13500 pulls ahead with 22.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-13500 also has the bigger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-13500 is the better fit. You are getting 22.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Core Ultra 5 225 is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 225 is $2 cheaper on MSRP at $240 MSRP versus $242 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.4% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i5-13500 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 22.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 0.9% better value on MSRP (129.7 vs 128.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-13500 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Core Ultra 5 225 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023). 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 i5-13500 Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	260 FPS	256 FPS
medium	250 FPS	244 FPS
high	208 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	219 FPS
medium	191 FPS	187 FPS
high	153 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	150 FPS
medium	131 FPS	127 FPS
high	101 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	556 FPS	603 FPS
medium	471 FPS	512 FPS
high	400 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	368 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	458 FPS	501 FPS
medium	403 FPS	441 FPS
high	350 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	281 FPS	301 FPS
medium	248 FPS	266 FPS
high	234 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	208 FPS	218 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	648 FPS	778 FPS
medium	527 FPS	680 FPS
high	467 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	590 FPS	725 FPS
medium	486 FPS	588 FPS
high	425 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	370 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	433 FPS	504 FPS
medium	372 FPS	422 FPS
high	333 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	285 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13500	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	778 FPS	778 FPS
medium	778 FPS	778 FPS
high	726 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	644 FPS	699 FPS
1440p
low	778 FPS	778 FPS
medium	702 FPS	716 FPS
high	608 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	528 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	555 FPS	560 FPS
medium	504 FPS	510 FPS
high	449 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	390 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i5-13500 Open Core Ultra 5 225

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13500 and Core Ultra 5 225

Core i5-13500

The Core i5-13500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,109 points. Launch price was $242.

Core Ultra 5 225

The Core Ultra 5 225 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 31,137 points. Launch price was $246.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13500 packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core i5-13500 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-13500 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-13500 uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13500 scores 31,109 against the Core Ultra 5 225's 31,137 — a 0.1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 20,924 vs 17,020 (20.6% advantage for the Core i5-13500). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,419 vs 2,653, a 9.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,160 vs 13,028 (6.9% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13500 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225.

Feature	Core i5-13500	Core Ultra 5 225
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+40%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	4.9 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.3 GHz+32%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+20%	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	31,109	31,137
Cinebench R23 Multi	20,924+23%	17,020
Geekbench 6 Single	2,419	2,653+10%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,160	13,028+7%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13500 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Core Ultra 5 225 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13500) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 225) — the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760,Z690,B660 (Core i5-13500) and Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225).

Feature	Core i5-13500	Core Ultra 5 225
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-13500) and Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 225) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13500 targets High-end Productivity / Gaming, Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency. Direct competitor: Core i5-13500 rivals Ryzen 7 7700; Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G.

Feature	Core i5-13500	Core Ultra 5 225
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	High-end Productivity / Gaming	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13500 launched at $242 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 225 debuted at $240. On MSRP ($242 vs $240), the Core Ultra 5 225 is $2 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13500 delivers 128.5 pts/$ vs 129.7 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 225 — making the Core Ultra 5 225 the 0.9% better value option.