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

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Laminar RM2), unlike Core Ultra 7 255H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255H across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (13,028 vs 15,700).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $240 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌150% higher power demand at 65W vs 26W.

Core Ultra 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 26W instead of 65W, a 39W reduction.
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Core Ultra 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Laminar RM2), unlike Core Ultra 7 255H.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 26W instead of 65W, a 39W reduction.
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255H across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (13,028 vs 15,700).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $240 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌150% higher power demand at 65W vs 26W.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255H better than Core Ultra 5 225?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 255H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 17.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 20.5% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 7 255H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.9% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 255H is the better fit. You are getting 20.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 16 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 7 255H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 225 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 7 255H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $240 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 225 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (129.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core Ultra 7 255H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 16 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 7 255H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	256 FPS	309 FPS
medium	244 FPS	278 FPS
high	208 FPS	232 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	199 FPS
1440p
low	219 FPS	251 FPS
medium	187 FPS	201 FPS
high	154 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	143 FPS
4K
low	150 FPS	173 FPS
medium	127 FPS	139 FPS
high	99 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	603 FPS	773 FPS
medium	512 FPS	636 FPS
high	421 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	501 FPS	704 FPS
medium	441 FPS	567 FPS
high	372 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	389 FPS
4K
low	301 FPS	412 FPS
medium	266 FPS	340 FPS
high	248 FPS	314 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	270 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	778 FPS	773 FPS
medium	680 FPS	773 FPS
high	609 FPS	773 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	662 FPS
1440p
low	725 FPS	773 FPS
medium	588 FPS	735 FPS
high	515 FPS	635 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	544 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	642 FPS
medium	422 FPS	534 FPS
high	377 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	409 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 7 255H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	778 FPS	773 FPS
medium	778 FPS	773 FPS
high	777 FPS	773 FPS
ultra	699 FPS	773 FPS
1440p
low	778 FPS	773 FPS
medium	716 FPS	773 FPS
high	623 FPS	703 FPS
ultra	547 FPS	609 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	612 FPS
medium	510 FPS	540 FPS
high	457 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	402 FPS	427 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 225 and Core Ultra 7 255H

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 7 255H

The Core Ultra 7 255H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 26 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 30,932 points. Launch price was $514.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 225 packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255H offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 7 255H has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255H — a 4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H (base: 3.3 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses Arrow Lake-H (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 31,137 against the Core Ultra 7 255H's 30,932 — a 0.7% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,653 vs 2,800, a 5.4% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,028 vs 15,700 (18.6% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225 vs 24 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255H.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 7 255H
Cores / Threads	10 / 10	16 / 16+60%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.1 GHz+4%
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	4.4 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	24 MB+20%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)	—
Process	3 nm-40%	5 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Arrow Lake-H (2025)
PassMark	31,137	30,932
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,020	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,653	2,800+6%
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,028	15,700+21%

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-6400 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: 24 (Core Ultra 5 225) vs 28 (Core Ultra 7 255H) — the Core Ultra 7 255H offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225) and HM870,WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255H).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 7 255H
Socket	LGA1851	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+100%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	24	28+17%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 5 225) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 255H). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 225) and Intel Arc Graphics 140T (Core Ultra 7 255H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency, Core Ultra 7 255H targets High-End Laptop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Core Ultra 7 255H
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)	Intel Arc Graphics 140T
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency	High-End Laptop