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

✅Better for gaming: +15.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 46.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 129.7 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($240 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).
❌
20.6% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$199 MSRP

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $41 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 17,020).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 129.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 225 moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 46.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 129.7 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($240 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $41 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).
❌
20.6% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$199 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 17,020).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 129.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 225 moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 225 better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 225 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 15.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 79.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 76.1% higher 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 5 225 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 15.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 225 is the better fit. You are getting 79.2% 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 5 225 is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 225 is 20.6% more expensive on MSRP at $240 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 15.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 46.0% better value on MSRP (129.7 vs 88.9 PassMark/$), 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 AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 3600 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 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1851 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 10 threads instead of 6/12. 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 Ultra 5 225 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 3600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	256 FPS	200 FPS
medium	244 FPS	161 FPS
high	208 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	219 FPS	154 FPS
medium	187 FPS	119 FPS
high	154 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	150 FPS	70 FPS
medium	127 FPS	58 FPS
high	99 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 5 3600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	603 FPS	442 FPS
medium	512 FPS	404 FPS
high	421 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	295 FPS
1440p
low	501 FPS	420 FPS
medium	441 FPS	359 FPS
high	372 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	301 FPS	297 FPS
medium	266 FPS	259 FPS
high	248 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	201 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 5 3600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	778 FPS	442 FPS
medium	680 FPS	442 FPS
high	609 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	725 FPS	442 FPS
medium	588 FPS	442 FPS
high	515 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	432 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	442 FPS
medium	422 FPS	361 FPS
high	377 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	242 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 5 3600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	778 FPS	442 FPS
medium	778 FPS	442 FPS
high	777 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	699 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	778 FPS	442 FPS
medium	716 FPS	442 FPS
high	623 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	547 FPS	442 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	442 FPS
medium	510 FPS	442 FPS
high	457 FPS	413 FPS
ultra	402 FPS	357 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 5 3600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 225 and Ryzen 5 3600

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.

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 225 packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 31,137 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 55.1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,020 vs 9,500 (56.7% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,653 vs 1,295, a 68.8% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,028 vs 1,898 (149.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	10 / 10+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+17%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	3.6 GHz+9%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+60%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+500%	512K (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	31,137+76%	17,685
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,020+79%	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,653+105%	1,295
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,028+586%	1,898

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Core Ultra 5 225 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. 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. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	LGA1851	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+100%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 5 225) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Core Ultra 5 225 includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	Yes
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency	Gaming/Budget Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 225 launched at $240 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($240 vs $199), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $41 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 225 delivers 129.7 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Core Ultra 5 225 the 37.4% better value option.