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 Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Core Ultra 5 225F needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Laminar RM2), unlike Core Ultra 5 225F.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 17,050).
❌
3.9% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$231 MSRP

Core Ultra 5 225F

2025

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $9 less on MSRP ($231 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Core Ultra 5 225F

2025

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Core Ultra 5 225F needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Laminar RM2), unlike Core Ultra 5 225F.

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $9 less on MSRP ($231 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 17,050).
❌
3.9% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$231 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 225F better than Core Ultra 5 225?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 225F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 0.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 1.3% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 225F is the better fit. You are getting 0.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 10 threads.

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

Core Ultra 5 225F is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 225F is $9 cheaper on MSRP at $231 MSRP versus $240 MSRP, and it gives you 1.3% higher PassMark. It is also 5.2% better value on MSRP (136.5 vs 129.7 PassMark/$), 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 225F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 10 threads instead of 10/10. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 Ultra 5 225 Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	256 FPS	256 FPS
medium	244 FPS	244 FPS
high	208 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	219 FPS	219 FPS
medium	187 FPS	187 FPS
high	154 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	150 FPS	150 FPS
medium	127 FPS	127 FPS
high	99 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	603 FPS	603 FPS
medium	512 FPS	512 FPS
high	421 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	501 FPS	501 FPS
medium	441 FPS	441 FPS
high	372 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	301 FPS	301 FPS
medium	266 FPS	266 FPS
high	248 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	218 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	778 FPS	789 FPS
medium	680 FPS	680 FPS
high	609 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	725 FPS	725 FPS
medium	588 FPS	588 FPS
high	515 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	504 FPS
medium	422 FPS	422 FPS
high	377 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	778 FPS	789 FPS
medium	778 FPS	789 FPS
high	777 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	699 FPS	699 FPS
1440p
low	778 FPS	789 FPS
medium	716 FPS	716 FPS
high	623 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	547 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	560 FPS
medium	510 FPS	510 FPS
high	457 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	402 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 225 and Core Ultra 5 225F

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.

Core Ultra 5 225F

The Core Ultra 5 225F 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: 31,541 points. Launch price was $231.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core Ultra 5 225 and Core Ultra 5 225F share an identical 10-core/10-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225F — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). Both are built on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture using a 3 nm process. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 31,137 against the Core Ultra 5 225F's 31,541 — a 1.3% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,020 vs 17,050 (0.2% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,653 vs 2,653, a 0% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,028 vs 13,028 (0% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225F). Both processors carry 20 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 5 225F
Cores / Threads	10 / 10	10 / 10
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm	3 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	31,137	31,541+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,020	17,050
Geekbench 6 Single	2,653	2,653
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,028	13,028

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1851 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-6400 memory speed. Both support up to 256 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 225F).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 5 225F
Socket	LGA1851	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	256 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core Ultra 5 225F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 5 225) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 225F). The Core Ultra 5 225 includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)), while the Core Ultra 5 225F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 5 225F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)	—
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 225 launched at $240 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 225F debuted at $231. On MSRP ($240 vs $231), the Core Ultra 5 225F is $9 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 225 delivers 129.7 pts/$ vs 136.5 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 225F — making the Core Ultra 5 225F the 5.1% better value option.