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

✅Draws 17W instead of 65W, a 48W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics 130V, while Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.1 vs 124.4 PassMark/$ ($454 MSRP vs $146 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

2024

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $308 less on MSRP ($146 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅Delivers 210.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 124.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$ ($146 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,169 vs 18,219).
❌282.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 238V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 238V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 238V

2024

Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

2024

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 65W, a 48W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc Graphics 130V, while Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $308 less on MSRP ($146 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).
✅Delivers 210.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 124.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$ ($146 MSRP vs $454 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 40.1 vs 124.4 PassMark/$ ($454 MSRP vs $146 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,169 vs 18,219).
❌282.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 238V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 238V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 238V better than Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 238V is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, 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 1.1% 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 238V is the better fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, 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 5655GE makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 5 238V is 211.0% more expensive on MSRP at $454 MSRP versus $146 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is also 210.1% better value on MSRP (124.4 vs 40.1 PassMark/$), 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 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 5655GE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
1080p
low	180 FPS	175 FPS
medium	147 FPS	147 FPS
high	120 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	148 FPS
medium	118 FPS	123 FPS
high	96 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	79 FPS
medium	71 FPS	71 FPS
high	57 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
1080p
low	212 FPS	335 FPS
medium	176 FPS	284 FPS
high	158 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	221 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	297 FPS
medium	154 FPS	259 FPS
high	142 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	202 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	231 FPS
medium	122 FPS	205 FPS
high	115 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	161 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
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	436 FPS
high	455 FPS	399 FPS
ultra	455 FPS	339 FPS
4K
low	455 FPS	361 FPS
medium	455 FPS	304 FPS
high	404 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	211 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
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	445 FPS
high	455 FPS	393 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	345 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 238V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 238V and Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

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 5655GE

The Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 May 2024 (1 year 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: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,169 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 238V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE 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 5655GE — 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 5655GE uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 238V scores 18,219 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE's 18,169 — a 0.3% lead 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 5655GE.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
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%	512 kB (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	18,219	18,169
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,683	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,130	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
Socket	FCBGA2833	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5x-8533	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 238V) / not specified (Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE). The Core Ultra 5 238V includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics 130V), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE requires 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 238V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Arc Graphics 130V	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Productivity	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 238V launched at $454 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE debuted at $146. On MSRP ($454 vs $146), the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is $308 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 238V delivers 40.1 pts/$ vs 124.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE the 102.5% better value option.