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 $154 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 40.1 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,962 vs 2,683).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,041 vs 10,000).

Core Ultra 5 238V

2024

Why buy it

✅+36.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.1 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($454 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).

Core Ultra 5 226V

2024

Core Ultra 5 238V

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $154 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 61.3 vs 40.1 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+36.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,962 vs 2,683).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,041 vs 10,000).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.1 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($454 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 238V better than Core Ultra 5 226V?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 238V is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 10.6% better Cinebench R23 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 238V is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.8% 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, Core Ultra 5 238V is the better fit. You are getting 10.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core Ultra 5 238V is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core Ultra 5 238V is 51.3% more expensive on MSRP at $454 MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.8% 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.

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

Core Ultra 5 238V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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

Core Ultra 5 238V Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	180 FPS	180 FPS
medium	145 FPS	147 FPS
high	117 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	148 FPS
medium	117 FPS	118 FPS
high	95 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	83 FPS
medium	71 FPS	71 FPS
high	57 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	212 FPS	210 FPS
medium	176 FPS	176 FPS
high	158 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	179 FPS
medium	154 FPS	154 FPS
high	142 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	136 FPS
medium	122 FPS	122 FPS
high	115 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	100 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	460 FPS	455 FPS
medium	460 FPS	455 FPS
high	460 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	455 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	455 FPS
medium	460 FPS	455 FPS
high	460 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	455 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	455 FPS
medium	384 FPS	455 FPS
high	343 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Core Ultra 5 238V
1080p
low	460 FPS	455 FPS
medium	460 FPS	455 FPS
high	460 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	455 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	455 FPS
medium	460 FPS	455 FPS
high	460 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	455 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	455 FPS
medium	460 FPS	455 FPS
high	460 FPS	455 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	418 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Core Ultra 5 238V

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 226V and Core Ultra 5 238V

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.

Core Ultra 5 238V

The Core Ultra 5 238V 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 4.7 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: 18,219 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core Ultra 5 226V and Core Ultra 5 238V share an identical 8-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 226V versus 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 238V — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). Both are built on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture using a 3 nm process. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 226V scores 18,400 against the Core Ultra 5 238V's 18,219 — a 1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 226V. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,041 vs 10,000 (10.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,962 vs 2,683, a 31% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 10,130 (136.9% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V). Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Core Ultra 5 238V
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 8
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.7 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)	2.5 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm	3 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Lunar Lake (2024)
PassMark	18,400	18,219
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,041	10,000+11%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962	2,683+37%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	10,130+434%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FCBGA2833 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to LPDDR5X-8533 memory speed. The Core Ultra 5 238V supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 8 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 5 226V) and SoC (Core Ultra 5 238V).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Core Ultra 5 238V
Socket	FCBGA2833	FCBGA2833
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5X-8533	LPDDR5x-8533
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	8

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core Ultra 5 226V supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Arc 130V (Core Ultra 5 226V) and Arc Graphics 130V (Core Ultra 5 238V) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 238V targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 238V rivals Ryzen 5 8640U.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Core Ultra 5 238V
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Arc 130V	Arc Graphics 130V
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 226V launched at $300 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 238V debuted at $454. On MSRP ($300 vs $454), the Core Ultra 5 226V is $154 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 226V delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 40.1 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 238V — making the Core Ultra 5 226V the 41.8% better value option.