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 226V

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 65W, a 48W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc 130V, while Ryzen 7 3700X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,400 vs 22,430).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.1% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 11.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
9.7% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$300 MSRP
❌282.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 226V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 226V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 226V

2024

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 65W, a 48W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc 130V, while Ryzen 7 3700X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.1% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 11.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,400 vs 22,430).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
9.7% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$300 MSRP
❌282.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 226V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 226V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Core Ultra 5 226V?

Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 41.1% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data and 21.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 41.1% more average FPS across 5 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better fit. You are getting 21.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 3700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 3700X is 9.7% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it gives you a 41.1% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 11.2% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 61.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 226V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 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 226V Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 3700X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	180 FPS	200 FPS
medium	145 FPS	163 FPS
high	117 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	156 FPS
medium	117 FPS	121 FPS
high	95 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	84 FPS
medium	71 FPS	71 FPS
high	57 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	212 FPS	561 FPS
medium	176 FPS	525 FPS
high	158 FPS	428 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	383 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	545 FPS
medium	154 FPS	471 FPS
high	142 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	350 FPS
medium	122 FPS	304 FPS
high	115 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	242 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	460 FPS	561 FPS
medium	460 FPS	561 FPS
high	460 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	561 FPS
medium	460 FPS	561 FPS
high	460 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	470 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	499 FPS
medium	384 FPS	394 FPS
high	343 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	275 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 7 3700X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	460 FPS	561 FPS
medium	460 FPS	561 FPS
high	460 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	561 FPS
medium	460 FPS	561 FPS
high	460 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	561 FPS
medium	460 FPS	501 FPS
high	460 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 226V and Ryzen 7 3700X

Core Ultra 5 226V

The Core Ultra 5 226V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,400 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. 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: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 226V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 3700X's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 226V versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 226V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 226V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 226V scores 18,400 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 19.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 226V vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+2%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.6 GHz+71%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	32 MB+300%
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)+400%	512K (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	18,400	22,430+22%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,041	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 226V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5X-8533 on the Core Ultra 5 226V versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Core Ultra 5 226V supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 5 226V) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 5 226V) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket	FCBGA2833	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5X-8533+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	8	24+200%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 226V) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). The Core Ultra 5 226V includes integrated graphics (Arc 130V), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 7 3700X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Arc 130V	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 226V launched at $300 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. On MSRP ($300 vs $329), the Core Ultra 5 226V is $29 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 226V delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 68.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 10.6% better value option.