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

✅Costs $309 less on MSRP ($240 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 82.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 129.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($240 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Ryzen 9 5900X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 21,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+220% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 71.0 vs 129.7 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌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.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Ryzen 9 5900X

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $309 less on MSRP ($240 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Delivers 82.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 129.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$ ($240 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores), while Ryzen 9 5900X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.2% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+220% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 20 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5900X across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,020 vs 21,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 71.0 vs 129.7 PassMark/$ ($549 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌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.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5900X better than Core Ultra 5 225?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5900X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 17.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 23.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 25.1% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.2% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 5900X is the better fit. You are getting 23.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 220% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 5900X is still the faster CPU overall, but Core Ultra 5 225 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 9 5900X is 128.8% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $240 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.2% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 225 is also 82.8% better value on MSRP (129.7 vs 71.0 PassMark/$), 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 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1851 and DDR5 instead of AM4. 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 9 5900X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	256 FPS	323 FPS
medium	244 FPS	291 FPS
high	208 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	219 FPS	307 FPS
medium	187 FPS	248 FPS
high	154 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	157 FPS
4K
low	150 FPS	193 FPS
medium	127 FPS	156 FPS
high	99 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	103 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 9 5900X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	603 FPS	772 FPS
medium	512 FPS	647 FPS
high	421 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	450 FPS
1440p
low	501 FPS	619 FPS
medium	441 FPS	536 FPS
high	372 FPS	443 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	301 FPS	365 FPS
medium	266 FPS	318 FPS
high	248 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	255 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 9 5900X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	778 FPS	832 FPS
medium	680 FPS	645 FPS
high	609 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	725 FPS	721 FPS
medium	588 FPS	565 FPS
high	515 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	407 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	511 FPS
medium	422 FPS	421 FPS
high	377 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	308 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 9 5900X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 9 5900X
1080p
low	778 FPS	974 FPS
medium	778 FPS	974 FPS
high	777 FPS	934 FPS
ultra	699 FPS	826 FPS
1440p
low	778 FPS	959 FPS
medium	716 FPS	843 FPS
high	623 FPS	726 FPS
ultra	547 FPS	617 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	694 FPS
medium	510 FPS	621 FPS
high	457 FPS	541 FPS
ultra	402 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225 Open Ryzen 9 5900X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 225 and Ryzen 9 5900X

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 9 5900X

The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 225 packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 31,137 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 22.3% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,020 vs 21,000 (20.9% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,653 vs 2,174, a 19.8% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,028 vs 11,888 (9.2% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 9 5900X
Cores / Threads	10 / 10	12 / 24+20%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+2%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	3.7 GHz+12%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	64 MB+220%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+500%	512K (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	31,137	38,955+25%
Cinebench R23 Multi	17,020	21,000+23%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,653+22%	2,174
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,028+10%	11,888

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X 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 9 5900X — 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 A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 9 5900X
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	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 5900X 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 AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). The Core Ultra 5 225 includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)), while the Ryzen 9 5900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency, Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G; Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225	Ryzen 9 5900X
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	AMD-V
Target Use	Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 225 launched at $240 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 5900X debuted at $549. On MSRP ($240 vs $549), the Core Ultra 5 225 is $309 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 225 delivers 129.7 pts/$ vs 71.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 5900X — making the Core Ultra 5 225 the 58.6% better value option.