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 i9-9960X

2018

Why buy it

✅+22.2% larger total L3 cache (22 MB vs 18 MB).
✅57.1% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 235H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,700 vs 14,040).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,684 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 235H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌725% higher power demand at 165W vs 20W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 235H moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 5 235H

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +24.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 20W instead of 165W, a 145W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc 140T Graphics, while Core i9-9960X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 22 MB).

Core i9-9960X

2018

Core Ultra 5 235H

2025

Why buy it

✅+22.2% larger total L3 cache (22 MB vs 18 MB).
✅57.1% more PCIe lanes (44 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +24.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 20W instead of 165W, a 145W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc 140T Graphics, while Core i9-9960X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 235H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,700 vs 14,040).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,684 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 235H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌725% higher power demand at 165W vs 20W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 235H moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 22 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 235H better than Core i9-9960X?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 235H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 24.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 31.2% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 235H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 24.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 235H is the better fit. You are getting 31.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads.

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

Core Ultra 5 235H is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core Ultra 5 235H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,684 MSRP, and it gives you a 24.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-9960X only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (17.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA2066.

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

Core Ultra 5 235H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 14 threads instead of 16/32. 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 i9-9960X Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 235H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-9960X	Core Ultra 5 235H
1080p
low	168 FPS	299 FPS
medium	148 FPS	262 FPS
high	118 FPS	218 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	187 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	245 FPS
medium	120 FPS	193 FPS
high	96 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	76 FPS	168 FPS
medium	70 FPS	134 FPS
high	55 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open Core Ultra 5 235H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-9960X	Core Ultra 5 235H
1080p
low	498 FPS	746 FPS
medium	429 FPS	625 FPS
high	366 FPS	499 FPS
ultra	332 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	704 FPS
medium	377 FPS	566 FPS
high	325 FPS	453 FPS
ultra	283 FPS	379 FPS
4K
low	266 FPS	415 FPS
medium	233 FPS	339 FPS
high	219 FPS	311 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	268 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open Core Ultra 5 235H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-9960X	Core Ultra 5 235H
1080p
low	748 FPS	746 FPS
medium	748 FPS	746 FPS
high	728 FPS	746 FPS
ultra	645 FPS	653 FPS
1440p
low	734 FPS	746 FPS
medium	659 FPS	721 FPS
high	624 FPS	624 FPS
ultra	554 FPS	537 FPS
4K
low	492 FPS	628 FPS
medium	414 FPS	519 FPS
high	371 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	306 FPS	383 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open Core Ultra 5 235H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-9960X	Core Ultra 5 235H
1080p
low	748 FPS	746 FPS
medium	748 FPS	746 FPS
high	748 FPS	746 FPS
ultra	679 FPS	741 FPS
1440p
low	748 FPS	746 FPS
medium	737 FPS	746 FPS
high	639 FPS	677 FPS
ultra	558 FPS	579 FPS
4K
low	579 FPS	604 FPS
medium	525 FPS	538 FPS
high	469 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	409 FPS	423 FPS

Open Core i9-9960X Open Core Ultra 5 235H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-9960X and Core Ultra 5 235H

Core i9-9960X

The Core i9-9960X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 29,927 points. Launch price was $1,684.

Core Ultra 5 235H

The Core Ultra 5 235H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 MB + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 29,820 points. Launch price was $354.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-9960X packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235H offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the Core i9-9960X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-9960X versus 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235H — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235H (base: 3.1 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i9-9960X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 235H uses Arrow Lake-H (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9960X scores 29,927 against the Core Ultra 5 235H's 29,820 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i9-9960X. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,650 vs 2,693, a 48% lead for the Core Ultra 5 235H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,700 vs 14,040 (27% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235H). L3 cache: 22 MB (total) on the Core i9-9960X vs 18 MB on the Core Ultra 5 235H.

Feature	Core i9-9960X	Core Ultra 5 235H
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+14%	14 / 14
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	5 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	4.4 GHz+42%
L3 Cache	22 MB (total)+22%	18 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	5 nm-64%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Arrow Lake-H (2025)
PassMark	29,927	29,820
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,607
Geekbench 6 Single	1,650	2,693+63%
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,700	14,040+31%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9960X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 235H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i9-9960X versus DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 235H — the Core Ultra 5 235H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 235H supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i9-9960X) vs 2 (Core Ultra 5 235H). PCIe lanes: 44 (Core i9-9960X) vs 28 (Core Ultra 5 235H) — the Core i9-9960X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X299 (Core i9-9960X) and WM880,HM870 (Core Ultra 5 235H).

Feature	Core i9-9960X	Core Ultra 5 235H
Socket	LGA2066	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	44+57%	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-9960X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9960X) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 5 235H). The Core Ultra 5 235H includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc 140T Graphics), while the Core i9-9960X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-9960X targets HEDT, Core Ultra 5 235H targets Thin-and-light Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 235H rivals Ryzen 7 9800H.

Feature	Core i9-9960X	Core Ultra 5 235H
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Intel Arc 140T Graphics
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	HEDT	Thin-and-light Performance Laptop