Core Ultra 5 235U vs Xeon W-11855M

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 235U

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 14W instead of 35W, a 21W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,397 vs 17,462).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).

Xeon W-11855M

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $450 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 235U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌150% higher power demand at 35W vs 14W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 235U moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 5 235U

2025

Xeon W-11855M

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 14W instead of 35W, a 21W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,397 vs 17,462).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $450 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 235U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌150% higher power demand at 35W vs 14W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 235U moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-11855M better than Core Ultra 5 235U?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-11855M makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core Ultra 5 235U is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon W-11855M is the better fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Xeon W-11855M is the smarter buy today. Xeon W-11855M is at an unclear MSRP at $450 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 235U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787. 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 235U Benchmark Check

Xeon W-11855M Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235U	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	277 FPS	249 FPS
medium	248 FPS	230 FPS
high	210 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	222 FPS
medium	185 FPS	186 FPS
high	152 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	161 FPS	154 FPS
medium	131 FPS	131 FPS
high	101 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235U Open Xeon W-11855M

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235U	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	416 FPS	437 FPS
medium	335 FPS	403 FPS
high	295 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	302 FPS
1440p
low	354 FPS	407 FPS
medium	296 FPS	344 FPS
high	266 FPS	297 FPS
ultra	227 FPS	259 FPS
4K
low	276 FPS	269 FPS
medium	237 FPS	233 FPS
high	219 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	181 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235U Open Xeon W-11855M

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235U	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	435 FPS	437 FPS
medium	435 FPS	437 FPS
high	435 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	435 FPS	383 FPS
1440p
low	435 FPS	437 FPS
medium	435 FPS	437 FPS
high	435 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	435 FPS	333 FPS
4K
low	435 FPS	393 FPS
medium	435 FPS	341 FPS
high	409 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	342 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235U Open Xeon W-11855M

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 235U	Xeon W-11855M
1080p
low	435 FPS	437 FPS
medium	435 FPS	437 FPS
high	435 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	435 FPS	437 FPS
1440p
low	435 FPS	437 FPS
medium	435 FPS	437 FPS
high	435 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	435 FPS	437 FPS
4K
low	435 FPS	437 FPS
medium	435 FPS	437 FPS
high	435 FPS	410 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 235U Open Xeon W-11855M

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 235U and Xeon W-11855M

Core Ultra 5 235U

The Core Ultra 5 235U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,397 points. Launch price was $299.

Xeon W-11855M

The Xeon W-11855M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,462 points. Launch price was $450.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 235U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Xeon W-11855M offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 5 235U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235U versus 4.9 GHz on the Xeon W-11855M — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 235U uses the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Xeon W-11855M uses Tiger Lake-H (2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 235U scores 17,397 against the Xeon W-11855M's 17,462 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon W-11855M. L3 cache: 12 MB on the Core Ultra 5 235U vs 18 MB (total) on the Xeon W-11855M.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 235U	Xeon W-11855M
Cores / Threads	12 / 14+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.2 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	12 MB	18 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	—	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm-50%	10 nm SuperFin
Architecture	Arrow Lake-U (2025)	Tiger Lake-H (2021)
PassMark	17,397	17,462

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 235U uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W-11855M uses FCBGA1787 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.