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 $246 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $546 MSRP).
✅Delivers 81.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 33.7 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $546 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-1290T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,400 vs 18,409).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-1290T, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.

Xeon W-1290T

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.7 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($546 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 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

Xeon W-1290T

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $246 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $546 MSRP).
✅Delivers 81.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 33.7 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $546 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon W-1290T across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,400 vs 18,409).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-1290T, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.7 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($546 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 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 Xeon W-1290T better than Core Ultra 5 226V?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-1290T makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core Ultra 5 226V is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon W-1290T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.3% 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, Xeon W-1290T is the better fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Xeon W-1290T is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Xeon W-1290T is 82.0% more expensive on MSRP at $546 MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 226V only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 4.3% in the shared gaming data.

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 2020), a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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

Xeon W-1290T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Xeon W-1290T
1080p
low	180 FPS	183 FPS
medium	145 FPS	149 FPS
high	117 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	149 FPS
medium	117 FPS	118 FPS
high	95 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	83 FPS
medium	71 FPS	72 FPS
high	57 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Xeon W-1290T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Xeon W-1290T
1080p
low	212 FPS	287 FPS
medium	176 FPS	242 FPS
high	158 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	186 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	247 FPS
medium	154 FPS	215 FPS
high	142 FPS	185 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	159 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	153 FPS
medium	122 FPS	133 FPS
high	115 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	110 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Xeon W-1290T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Xeon W-1290T
1080p
low	460 FPS	460 FPS
medium	460 FPS	460 FPS
high	460 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	460 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	460 FPS
medium	460 FPS	460 FPS
high	460 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	454 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	460 FPS
medium	384 FPS	456 FPS
high	343 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	339 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Xeon W-1290T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Xeon W-1290T
1080p
low	460 FPS	460 FPS
medium	460 FPS	460 FPS
high	460 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	460 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	460 FPS
medium	460 FPS	460 FPS
high	460 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	460 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	460 FPS
medium	460 FPS	460 FPS
high	460 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	422 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Xeon W-1290T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 226V and Xeon W-1290T

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.

Xeon W-1290T

The Xeon W-1290T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 18,409 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 226V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon W-1290T offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon W-1290T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 226V versus 4.7 GHz on the Xeon W-1290T — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290T (base: 2.1 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 226V is built on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 226V scores 18,400 against the Xeon W-1290T's 18,409 — a 0% lead for the Xeon W-1290T. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 226V vs 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon W-1290T.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Xeon W-1290T
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	10 / 20+25%
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.7 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz+11%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	20 MB Intel® Smart Cache+150%
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)	—
Process	3 nm-79%	14 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	—
PassMark	18,400	18,409
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 Xeon W-1290T uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Xeon W-1290T
Socket	FCBGA2833	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5X-8533	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 226V) / not specified (Xeon W-1290T). The Core Ultra 5 226V includes integrated graphics (Arc 130V), while the Xeon W-1290T requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Xeon W-1290T
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
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 Xeon W-1290T debuted at $546. On MSRP ($300 vs $546), the Core Ultra 5 226V is $246 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 226V delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 33.7 pts/$ for the Xeon W-1290T — making the Core Ultra 5 226V the 58.1% better value option.