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 i5-13490F

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $5 less on MSRP ($235 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Stock), unlike Core Ultra 5 225T.

Trade-offs

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

Core Ultra 5 225T

2025

Why buy it

✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics (16EU), while Core i5-13490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13490F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,943 vs 11,200).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌
2.1% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$235 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13490F.

Core i5-13490F

2023

Core Ultra 5 225T

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $5 less on MSRP ($235 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Stock), unlike Core Ultra 5 225T.

Why buy it

✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics (16EU), while Core i5-13490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-13490F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,943 vs 11,200).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 24 MB).
❌
2.1% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$235 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-13490F.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-13490F better than Core Ultra 5 225T?

Yes. Core i5-13490F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 25.2% better Geekbench multi-core, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-13490F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.7% 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 i5-13490F is the better fit. You are getting 25.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 10 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 i5-13490F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-13490F is $5 cheaper on MSRP at $235 MSRP versus $240 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1.4% better value on MSRP (113.5 vs 112.0 PassMark/$), 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 LGA1851 + DDR5 setup, Core Ultra 5 225T 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 225T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2023). 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 i5-13490F Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	246 FPS	253 FPS
medium	231 FPS	244 FPS
high	196 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	169 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	215 FPS	217 FPS
medium	183 FPS	186 FPS
high	151 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	149 FPS	148 FPS
medium	127 FPS	126 FPS
high	98 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	590 FPS	595 FPS
medium	501 FPS	508 FPS
high	422 FPS	420 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	377 FPS
1440p
low	485 FPS	498 FPS
medium	427 FPS	438 FPS
high	370 FPS	370 FPS
ultra	316 FPS	317 FPS
4K
low	296 FPS	299 FPS
medium	263 FPS	264 FPS
high	248 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	215 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	667 FPS	672 FPS
medium	667 FPS	672 FPS
high	667 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	667 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	667 FPS	672 FPS
medium	667 FPS	588 FPS
high	667 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	656 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	596 FPS	504 FPS
medium	502 FPS	422 FPS
high	447 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13490F	Core Ultra 5 225T
1080p
low	667 FPS	672 FPS
medium	667 FPS	672 FPS
high	667 FPS	672 FPS
ultra	667 FPS	672 FPS
1440p
low	667 FPS	672 FPS
medium	667 FPS	672 FPS
high	667 FPS	611 FPS
ultra	592 FPS	535 FPS
4K
low	661 FPS	550 FPS
medium	585 FPS	501 FPS
high	514 FPS	448 FPS
ultra	436 FPS	393 FPS

Open Core i5-13490F Open Core Ultra 5 225T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13490F and Core Ultra 5 225T

Core i5-13490F

The Core i5-13490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 26,670 points. Launch price was $235.

Core Ultra 5 225T

The Core Ultra 5 225T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2025 (recentemente). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 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: 26,874 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13490F packs 10 cores / 16 threads, matching the Core Ultra 5 225T's 10 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-13490F versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225T — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225T (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-13490F uses the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture (10 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-13490F scores 26,670 against the Core Ultra 5 225T's 26,874 — a 0.8% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,844 vs 2,677, a 36.9% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,200 vs 8,943 (22.4% advantage for the Core i5-13490F). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i5-13490F vs 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225T.

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core Ultra 5 225T
Cores / Threads	10 / 16	10 / 10
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	4.9 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+20%	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	10 nm	3 nm-70%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	26,670	26,874
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,844	2,677+45%
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,200+25%	8,943

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13490F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 225T uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Core Ultra 5 225T supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13490F) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 225T) — the Core Ultra 5 225T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B660,B760,H610,H670,Z690,Z790 (Core i5-13490F) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 225T).

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core Ultra 5 225T
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	256 GB+33%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-13490F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 225T). The Core Ultra 5 225T includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics (16EU)), while the Core i5-13490F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13490F targets Gaming, Core Ultra 5 225T targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225T rivals Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i5-13490F	Core Ultra 5 225T
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Arc Graphics (16EU)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13490F launched at $235 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 225T debuted at $240. On MSRP ($235 vs $240), the Core i5-13490F is $5 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13490F delivers 113.5 pts/$ vs 112.0 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 225T — making the Core i5-13490F the 1.3% better value option.