Core Ultra 7 255U
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Core Ultra 7 265U
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Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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 7 255U
2025Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (17,834 vs 17,900).
Core Ultra 7 265U
2025Why buy it
- ✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Core Ultra 7 255U
2025Core Ultra 7 265U
2025Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Why buy it
- ✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (17,834 vs 17,900).
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Quick Answers
So, is Core Ultra 7 265U better than Core Ultra 7 255U?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
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.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | Core Ultra 7 255U | Core Ultra 7 265U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 292 FPS | 278 FPS |
| medium | 256 FPS | 249 FPS |
| high | 216 FPS | 210 FPS |
| ultra | 187 FPS | 181 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 243 FPS | 231 FPS |
| medium | 192 FPS | 186 FPS |
| high | 157 FPS | 153 FPS |
| ultra | 138 FPS | 134 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 168 FPS | 161 FPS |
| medium | 134 FPS | 131 FPS |
| high | 104 FPS | 102 FPS |
| ultra | 90 FPS | 89 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | Core Ultra 7 255U | Core Ultra 7 265U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| medium | 399 FPS | 372 FPS |
| high | 348 FPS | 327 FPS |
| ultra | 308 FPS | 287 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 445 FPS | 415 FPS |
| medium | 367 FPS | 344 FPS |
| high | 322 FPS | 303 FPS |
| ultra | 276 FPS | 256 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 331 FPS | 310 FPS |
| medium | 285 FPS | 268 FPS |
| high | 265 FPS | 249 FPS |
| ultra | 228 FPS | 211 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | Core Ultra 7 255U | Core Ultra 7 265U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| medium | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| high | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| ultra | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| medium | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| high | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| ultra | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| medium | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| high | 446 FPS | 415 FPS |
| ultra | 379 FPS | 348 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | Core Ultra 7 255U | Core Ultra 7 265U |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| medium | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| high | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| ultra | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| medium | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| high | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| ultra | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| medium | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| high | 446 FPS | 448 FPS |
| ultra | 427 FPS | 414 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 7 255U and Core Ultra 7 265U
Core Ultra 7 255U
Core Ultra 7 255U
The Core Ultra 7 255U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,834 points. Launch price was $299.
Core Ultra 7 265U
Core Ultra 7 265U
The Core Ultra 7 265U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,900 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
Both the Core Ultra 7 255U and Core Ultra 7 265U share an identical 12-core/14-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255U versus 5.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 265U — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 265U (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). Both are built on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture using a 5 nm process. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 255U scores 17,834 against the Core Ultra 7 265U's 17,900 — a 0.4% lead for the Core Ultra 7 265U. Both processors carry 12 MB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 255U | Core Ultra 7 265U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14 | 12 / 14 |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz | 5.3 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+58% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB | 12 MB |
| Process | 5 nm | 5 nm |
| Architecture | Arrow Lake-U (2025) | Arrow Lake-U (2025) |
| PassMark | 17,834 | 17,900 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the FCBGA2049 socket with PCIe 5.0.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 255U | Core Ultra 7 265U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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