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 i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255HX across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 49,765).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $385 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌72.7% higher power demand at 95W vs 55W.

Core Ultra 7 255HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +52.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 95W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2114 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core Ultra 7 255HX

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +52.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 95W, a 40W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2114 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255HX across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 49,765).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $385 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 255HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌72.7% higher power demand at 95W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255HX better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 255HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 52.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data, 245.7% 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 255HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 52.8% more average FPS across 5 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 255HX is the better fit. You are getting 245.7% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core Ultra 7 255HX is the smarter buy by a wide margin for a fresh build. Core Ultra 7 255HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 52.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-9700K only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that is mostly used-market pricing on an obsolete 2018 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (37.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a very cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

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

Core Ultra 7 255HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FCBGA2114 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151, 150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 20 threads instead of 8/8. 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 i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 255HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	308 FPS	280 FPS
medium	278 FPS	272 FPS
high	231 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	225 FPS
medium	221 FPS	193 FPS
high	178 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	151 FPS
medium	140 FPS	129 FPS
high	108 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	360 FPS	673 FPS
medium	321 FPS	574 FPS
high	291 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	438 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	584 FPS
medium	282 FPS	515 FPS
high	258 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	370 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	345 FPS
medium	221 FPS	310 FPS
high	208 FPS	292 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	254 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	360 FPS	839 FPS
medium	360 FPS	685 FPS
high	360 FPS	610 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	727 FPS
medium	360 FPS	596 FPS
high	360 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	515 FPS
medium	360 FPS	434 FPS
high	360 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 7 255HX
1080p
low	360 FPS	995 FPS
medium	360 FPS	901 FPS
high	360 FPS	782 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	709 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	814 FPS
medium	360 FPS	724 FPS
high	360 FPS	627 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	555 FPS
medium	360 FPS	501 FPS
high	360 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core Ultra 7 255HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core Ultra 7 255HX

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Core Ultra 7 255HX

The Core Ultra 7 255HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2025-01-01. It is based on the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture. It features 20 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2114. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 49,765 points. Launch price was $450.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 255HX offers 20 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 7 255HX has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255HX — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255HX (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses Arrow Lake-HX (2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core Ultra 7 255HX's 49,765 — a 110.2% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255HX. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 30 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 255HX.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 7 255HX
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	20 / 20+150%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.2 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+50%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	3 MB (per core)+1100%
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Arrow Lake-HX (2025)
PassMark	14,397	49,765+246%
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,923
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	16,885

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 7 255HX uses FCBGA2114 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K versus DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 255HX — the Core Ultra 7 255HX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 7 255HX supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 24 (Core Ultra 7 255HX) — the Core Ultra 7 255HX offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and Intel HM870,Intel WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255HX).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core Ultra 7 255HX
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA2114
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) vs true (Core Ultra 7 255HX). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and Intel Arc Xe-LPG (Core Ultra 7 255HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 255HX rivals Ryzen 9 9850HX.