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 225T

2025

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,677 vs 2,800).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,943 vs 12,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).
❌
4.8% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$229 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 7600.

Ryzen 5 7600

2023

Why buy it

✅+4.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $11 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 225T.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core Ultra 5 225T

2025

Ryzen 5 7600

2023

Why buy it

✅+4.6% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $11 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $240 MSRP).
✅16.7% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 5 225T.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,677 vs 2,800).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,943 vs 12,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 32 MB).
❌
4.8% HIGHER MSRP
$240 MSRPvs$229 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 7600.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7600 better than Core Ultra 5 225T?

Yes. Ryzen 5 7600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 34.2% better Geekbench multi-core, and 0.5% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 7600 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.5% 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, Ryzen 5 7600 is the better fit. You are getting 34.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 60% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 7600 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 7600 is $11 cheaper on MSRP at $229 MSRP versus $240 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 5.3% better value on MSRP (118.0 vs 112.0 PassMark/$), 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 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 225T Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225T	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	253 FPS	261 FPS
medium	244 FPS	238 FPS
high	206 FPS	203 FPS
ultra	175 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	217 FPS	225 FPS
medium	186 FPS	187 FPS
high	153 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	148 FPS	157 FPS
medium	126 FPS	131 FPS
high	98 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225T Open Ryzen 5 7600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225T	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	595 FPS	588 FPS
medium	508 FPS	486 FPS
high	420 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	366 FPS
1440p
low	498 FPS	504 FPS
medium	438 FPS	432 FPS
high	370 FPS	368 FPS
ultra	317 FPS	318 FPS
4K
low	299 FPS	318 FPS
medium	264 FPS	277 FPS
high	246 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	217 FPS	225 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225T Open Ryzen 5 7600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225T	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	672 FPS	675 FPS
medium	672 FPS	657 FPS
high	609 FPS	575 FPS
ultra	522 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	672 FPS	675 FPS
medium	588 FPS	559 FPS
high	515 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	412 FPS
4K
low	504 FPS	471 FPS
medium	422 FPS	396 FPS
high	377 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	284 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225T Open Ryzen 5 7600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 225T	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	672 FPS	675 FPS
medium	672 FPS	675 FPS
high	672 FPS	675 FPS
ultra	672 FPS	675 FPS
1440p
low	672 FPS	675 FPS
medium	672 FPS	675 FPS
high	611 FPS	666 FPS
ultra	535 FPS	573 FPS
4K
low	550 FPS	567 FPS
medium	501 FPS	504 FPS
high	448 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	393 FPS	392 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 225T Open Ryzen 5 7600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 225T and Ryzen 5 7600

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.

Ryzen 5 7600

The Ryzen 5 7600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 27,013 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 225T packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225T has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225T versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600 — a 4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225T uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7600 uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225T scores 26,874 against the Ryzen 5 7600's 27,013 — a 0.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,677 vs 2,800, a 4.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,943 vs 12,000 (29.2% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225T vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225T	Ryzen 5 7600
Cores / Threads	10 / 10+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.1 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.8 GHz+52%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+60%
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)+200%	1 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-40%	5 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	26,874	27,013
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	14,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,677	2,800+5%
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,943	12,000+34%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 225T uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600 uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-6400 memory speed. The Core Ultra 5 225T 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 225T) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 7600) — the Ryzen 5 7600 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 225T) and A620,B650,X670,B840,B850,X870 (Ryzen 5 7600).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225T	Ryzen 5 7600
Socket	LGA1851	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6400	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB+100%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	28+17%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 7600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 7600 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 225T) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600). Both include integrated graphics — Arc Graphics (16EU) (Core Ultra 5 225T) and Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225T targets Budget, Ryzen 5 7600 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225T rivals Ryzen 5 9600X; Ryzen 5 7600 rivals Core i5-13400.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 225T	Ryzen 5 7600
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Arc Graphics (16EU)	Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Budget	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 225T launched at $240 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 7600 debuted at $229. On MSRP ($240 vs $229), the Ryzen 5 7600 is $11 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 225T delivers 112.0 pts/$ vs 118.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 7600 — making the Ryzen 5 7600 the 5.2% better value option.