Core i5-12450H vs Core Ultra 7 155U

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 i5-12450H

2022

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics for 12th Gen, while Core Ultra 7 155U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 155U across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,133 vs 16,185).

Core Ultra 7 155U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.2% higher average FPS across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12450H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-12450H

2022

Core Ultra 7 155U

2023

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics for 12th Gen, while Core Ultra 7 155U needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.2% higher average FPS across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 155U across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,133 vs 16,185).

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12450H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 155U better than Core i5-12450H?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 155U is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 8.2% average FPS lead across 46 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 7 155U is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.2% more average FPS across 46 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 155U is the better fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 14 threads.

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

Core Ultra 7 155U still looks like the safer overall buy. Core Ultra 7 155U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 8.2% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core Ultra 7 155U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 14 threads instead of 8/12. 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 i5-12450H Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 155U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12450H	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	169 FPS	276 FPS
medium	151 FPS	248 FPS
high	123 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	142 FPS	230 FPS
medium	122 FPS	185 FPS
high	98 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	160 FPS
medium	74 FPS	130 FPS
high	59 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i5-12450H Open Core Ultra 7 155U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12450H	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	194 FPS	214 FPS
medium	166 FPS	176 FPS
high	152 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	140 FPS
1440p
low	171 FPS	181 FPS
medium	150 FPS	155 FPS
high	140 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	139 FPS	141 FPS
medium	125 FPS	124 FPS
high	119 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	101 FPS

Open Core i5-12450H Open Core Ultra 7 155U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12450H	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	403 FPS	405 FPS
medium	403 FPS	405 FPS
high	403 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	397 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	403 FPS	405 FPS
medium	403 FPS	405 FPS
high	403 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	359 FPS	405 FPS
4K
low	403 FPS	405 FPS
medium	340 FPS	405 FPS
high	298 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i5-12450H Open Core Ultra 7 155U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12450H	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	403 FPS	405 FPS
medium	403 FPS	405 FPS
high	403 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	403 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	403 FPS	405 FPS
medium	403 FPS	405 FPS
high	403 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	403 FPS	405 FPS
4K
low	403 FPS	405 FPS
medium	403 FPS	405 FPS
high	379 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	403 FPS

Open Core i5-12450H Open Core Ultra 7 155U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12450H and Core Ultra 7 155U

Core i5-12450H

The Core i5-12450H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,133 points. Launch price was $299.

Core Ultra 7 155U

The Core Ultra 7 155U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,185 points. Launch price was $490.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12450H packs 8 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 155U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 155U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12450H versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 155U — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 155U (base: 2 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i5-12450H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12450H scores 16,133 against the Core Ultra 7 155U's 16,185 — a 0.3% lead for the Core Ultra 7 155U. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i5-12450H	Core Ultra 7 155U
Cores / Threads	8 / 12	12 / 14+50%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2 GHz+18%	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-H (2022)	Meteor Lake-P (2023)
PassMark	16,133	16,185
Geekbench 6 Single	2,100	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12450H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12450H	Core Ultra 7 155U
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-5200	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	28	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12450H) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 155U). The Core i5-12450H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen), while the Core Ultra 7 155U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12450H targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12450H rivals Ryzen 5 6600H.