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 238V

2024

Why buy it

✅+564.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.1 vs 58.4 PassMark/$ ($454 MSRP vs $311 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $143 less on MSRP ($311 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅Delivers 45.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$ ($311 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,504 vs 10,000).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 238V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 5 238V

2024

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

2021

Why buy it

✅+564.9% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $143 less on MSRP ($311 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅Delivers 45.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$ ($311 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.1 vs 58.4 PassMark/$ ($454 MSRP vs $311 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,504 vs 10,000).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 238V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 238V better than Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is ahead with a 5.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 238V pulls ahead with 564.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

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 564.9% 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 still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 5 238V is 46.0% more expensive on MSRP at $454 MSRP versus $311 MSRP, and it gives you 564.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 5.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is also 45.5% better value on MSRP (58.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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 a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/12. 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 238V Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE
1080p
low	180 FPS	184 FPS
medium	147 FPS	154 FPS
high	120 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	101 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	157 FPS
medium	118 FPS	128 FPS
high	96 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	84 FPS
medium	71 FPS	75 FPS
high	57 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE
1080p
low	210 FPS	360 FPS
medium	176 FPS	303 FPS
high	158 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	237 FPS
1440p
low	179 FPS	319 FPS
medium	154 FPS	276 FPS
high	142 FPS	254 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	216 FPS
4K
low	136 FPS	248 FPS
medium	122 FPS	218 FPS
high	115 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	172 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE
1080p
low	455 FPS	454 FPS
medium	455 FPS	454 FPS
high	455 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	416 FPS
1440p
low	455 FPS	454 FPS
medium	455 FPS	412 FPS
high	455 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	309 FPS
4K
low	455 FPS	341 FPS
medium	455 FPS	287 FPS
high	404 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE
1080p
low	455 FPS	454 FPS
medium	455 FPS	454 FPS
high	455 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	454 FPS
1440p
low	455 FPS	454 FPS
medium	455 FPS	454 FPS
high	455 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	454 FPS
4K
low	455 FPS	454 FPS
medium	455 FPS	433 FPS
high	455 FPS	380 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	329 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 238V and Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

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.

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 18,155 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 238V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 5 238V has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 238V versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 238V scores 18,219 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE's 18,155 — a 0.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 10,000 vs 1,504 (147.7% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,683 vs 1,900, a 34.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,130 vs 6,700 (40.8% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V). L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 238V vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+7%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.4 GHz+62%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	16 MB+100%
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)+400%	512K (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	18,219	18,155
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,000+565%	1,504
Geekbench 6 Single	2,683+41%	1,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,130+51%	6,700

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-8533 on the Core Ultra 5 238V versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE — the Core Ultra 5 238V supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 5 238V) vs 16 (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE) — the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 5 238V) and AM4 (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE
Socket	FCBGA2833	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5x-8533+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	64 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 238V) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE). Both include integrated graphics — Arc Graphics 130V (Core Ultra 5 238V) and Radeon Graphics (Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 238V targets Productivity, Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 238V rivals Ryzen 5 8640U; Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE rivals Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Arc Graphics 130V	Radeon Graphics
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Productivity	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 238V launched at $454 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE debuted at $311. On MSRP ($454 vs $311), the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE is $143 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 238V delivers 40.1 pts/$ vs 58.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE the 37% better value option.