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 i9-12950HX

2022

Why buy it

✅+35.8% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Laminar RM2), unlike Core i9-12950HX.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 23,113).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $240 MSRP, while Core i9-12950HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Core i9-12950HX

2022

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

✅+35.8% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 65W, a 10W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Laminar RM2), unlike Core i9-12950HX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 23,113).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $240 MSRP, while Core i9-12950HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌18.2% higher power demand at 65W vs 55W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 225 better than Core i9-12950HX?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 5 225 is ahead with a 8.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12950HX pulls ahead with 35.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i9-12950HX also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12950HX is the better fit. You are getting 35.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (30 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 at an unclear MSRP at $240 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 8.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i9-12950HX is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 35.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (129.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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 2022). 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 i9-12950HX Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-12950HX	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	269 FPS	256 FPS
medium	259 FPS	244 FPS
high	214 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	219 FPS
medium	198 FPS	187 FPS
high	159 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	150 FPS
medium	136 FPS	127 FPS
high	106 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i9-12950HX Open Core Ultra 5 225

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-12950HX	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	611 FPS	603 FPS
medium	523 FPS	512 FPS
high	439 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	397 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	527 FPS	501 FPS
medium	470 FPS	441 FPS
high	397 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	340 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	310 FPS	301 FPS
medium	281 FPS	266 FPS
high	266 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	232 FPS	218 FPS

Open Core i9-12950HX Open Core Ultra 5 225

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-12950HX	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	775 FPS	778 FPS
medium	616 FPS	680 FPS
high	545 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	725 FPS
medium	554 FPS	588 FPS
high	485 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	504 FPS
medium	416 FPS	422 FPS
high	373 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i9-12950HX Open Core Ultra 5 225

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-12950HX	Core Ultra 5 225
1080p
low	787 FPS	778 FPS
medium	783 FPS	778 FPS
high	676 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	600 FPS	699 FPS
1440p
low	744 FPS	778 FPS
medium	659 FPS	716 FPS
high	569 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	496 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	523 FPS	560 FPS
medium	474 FPS	510 FPS
high	421 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i9-12950HX Open Core Ultra 5 225

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12950HX and Core Ultra 5 225

Core i9-12950HX

The Core i9-12950HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,494 points. Launch price was $499.

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 i9-12950HX packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core i9-12950HX has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12950HX versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i9-12950HX (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i9-12950HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 225 uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12950HX scores 31,494 against the Core Ultra 5 225's 31,137 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i9-12950HX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 23,113 vs 17,020 (30.4% advantage for the Core i9-12950HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,349 vs 2,653, a 12.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,711 vs 13,028 (18.7% advantage for the Core i9-12950HX). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12950HX vs 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225.

Feature	Core i9-12950HX	Core Ultra 5 225
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+60%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	5 GHz+2%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	3.3 GHz+43%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+50%	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Alder Lake-HX (2022)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	31,494+1%	31,137
Cinebench R23 Multi	23,113+36%	17,020
Geekbench 6 Single	2,349	2,653+13%
Geekbench 6 Multi	15,711+21%	13,028

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12950HX uses the FCBGA1964 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 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-12950HX) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 225) — the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i9-12950HX) and Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225).

Feature	Core i9-12950HX	Core Ultra 5 225
Socket	FCBGA1964	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-12950HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-12950HX) 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 i9-12950HX targets Mobile Workstation Flagship, Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency. Direct competitor: Core i9-12950HX rivals Ryzen 9 6980HX; Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G.

Feature	Core i9-12950HX	Core Ultra 5 225
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Mobile Workstation Flagship	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency