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

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($240 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 129.7 vs 115.7 PassMark/$ ($240 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Ryzen 7 8700F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 18,040).

Ryzen 7 8700F

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.4% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 115.7 vs 129.7 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Ryzen 7 8700F

2024

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($240 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
✅Delivers 12.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 129.7 vs 115.7 PassMark/$ ($240 MSRP vs $270 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Ryzen 7 8700F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.4% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700F across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 18,040).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 115.7 vs 129.7 PassMark/$ ($270 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 225 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8700F better than Core Ultra 5 225?

Yes. Ryzen 7 8700F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 9.4% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 0.3% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 8700F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.4% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 8700F is the better fit. You are getting 6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 8700F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 225 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 8700F is 12.5% more expensive on MSRP at $270 MSRP versus $240 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.4% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 225 is also 12.1% better value on MSRP (129.7 vs 115.7 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1851 + DDR5 setup, Core Ultra 5 225 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 2024) and 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 7 8700F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	256 FPS	266 FPS
medium	244 FPS	240 FPS
high	208 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	219 FPS	233 FPS
medium	187 FPS	190 FPS
high	154 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	150 FPS	158 FPS
medium	127 FPS	131 FPS
high	99 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 7 8700F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	603 FPS	483 FPS
medium	512 FPS	403 FPS
high	421 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	308 FPS
1440p
low	501 FPS	423 FPS
medium	441 FPS	374 FPS
high	372 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	273 FPS
4K
low	301 FPS	283 FPS
medium	266 FPS	259 FPS
high	248 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	209 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 7 8700F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	778 FPS	781 FPS
medium	680 FPS	781 FPS
high	609 FPS	767 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	649 FPS
1440p
low	725 FPS	766 FPS
medium	588 FPS	629 FPS
high	515 FPS	544 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	463 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	530 FPS
medium	422 FPS	457 FPS
high	377 FPS	402 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	338 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 7 8700F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 7 8700F
1080p
low	778 FPS	781 FPS
medium	778 FPS	781 FPS
high	777 FPS	781 FPS
ultra	699 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	778 FPS	781 FPS
medium	716 FPS	781 FPS
high	623 FPS	692 FPS
ultra	547 FPS	602 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	615 FPS
medium	510 FPS	553 FPS
high	457 FPS	495 FPS
ultra	402 FPS	431 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 7 8700F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 225 and Ryzen 7 8700F

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 7 8700F

The Ryzen 7 8700F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,240 points. Launch price was $270.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 225 packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8700F offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8700F — a 2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F (base: 3.3 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8700F uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 31,137 against the Ryzen 7 8700F's 31,240 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 8700F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,020 vs 18,040 (5.8% advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,653 vs 2,649, a 0.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,028 vs 13,500 (3.6% advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700F). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8700F.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 7 8700F
Cores / Threads	10 / 10+25%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	4.1 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+200%	1 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-25%	4 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	31,137	31,240
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,020	18,040+6%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,653	2,649
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,028	13,500+4%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8700F uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-6400 memory speed. Both support up to 256 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Core Ultra 5 225) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 8700F) — the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225) and XB650,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 8700F).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 7 8700F
Socket	LGA1851	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	256 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	24+20%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 8700F has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 8700F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 5 225) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8700F). The Core Ultra 5 225 includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)), while the Ryzen 7 8700F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency, Ryzen 7 8700F targets High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G; Ryzen 7 8700F rivals Core i7-14700F.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 7 8700F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency	High-performance Gaming w/ dGPU

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 225 launched at $240 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 8700F debuted at $270. On MSRP ($240 vs $270), the Core Ultra 5 225 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 225 delivers 129.7 pts/$ vs 115.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 8700F — making the Core Ultra 5 225 the 11.4% better value option.