Core Ultra 7 266V vs Ryzen 7 7445HS

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 266V

2024

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of FP7/FP7r2 and older memory support.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $520 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 7445HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Ryzen 7 7445HS

2023

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,008 vs 19,274).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on FP7/FP7r2, while Core Ultra 7 266V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 7 266V

2024

Ryzen 7 7445HS

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of FP7/FP7r2 and older memory support.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $520 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 7445HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,008 vs 19,274).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on FP7/FP7r2, while Core Ultra 7 266V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 266V better than Ryzen 7 7445HS?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 266V is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.5% average FPS lead across 20 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.4% 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 266V is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.5% more average FPS across 20 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 266V is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core Ultra 7 266V is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 7 266V is at an unclear MSRP at $520 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 2.5% average FPS lead across 20 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (37.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core Ultra 7 266V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023), a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 and DDR5 instead of FP7/FP7r2, 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 7 266V Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 7445HS Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 7 266V	Ryzen 7 7445HS
1080p
low	272 FPS	177 FPS
medium	243 FPS	144 FPS
high	205 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	151 FPS
medium	185 FPS	121 FPS
high	152 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	161 FPS	85 FPS
medium	130 FPS	74 FPS
high	101 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 266V Open Ryzen 7 7445HS

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 7 266V	Ryzen 7 7445HS
1080p
low	236 FPS	458 FPS
medium	195 FPS	362 FPS
high	176 FPS	314 FPS
ultra	155 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	210 FPS	392 FPS
medium	181 FPS	321 FPS
high	164 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	240 FPS
4K
low	155 FPS	295 FPS
medium	138 FPS	247 FPS
high	132 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	114 FPS	187 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 266V Open Ryzen 7 7445HS

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 7 266V	Ryzen 7 7445HS
1080p
low	482 FPS	475 FPS
medium	482 FPS	475 FPS
high	482 FPS	475 FPS
ultra	482 FPS	475 FPS
1440p
low	482 FPS	475 FPS
medium	482 FPS	475 FPS
high	482 FPS	475 FPS
ultra	468 FPS	443 FPS
4K
low	482 FPS	475 FPS
medium	462 FPS	439 FPS
high	404 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	308 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 266V Open Ryzen 7 7445HS

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 7 266V	Ryzen 7 7445HS
1080p
low	482 FPS	475 FPS
medium	482 FPS	475 FPS
high	482 FPS	475 FPS
ultra	482 FPS	475 FPS
1440p
low	482 FPS	475 FPS
medium	482 FPS	475 FPS
high	482 FPS	475 FPS
ultra	482 FPS	475 FPS
4K
low	482 FPS	475 FPS
medium	482 FPS	475 FPS
high	480 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	371 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 266V Open Ryzen 7 7445HS

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 7 266V and Ryzen 7 7445HS

Core Ultra 7 266V

The Core Ultra 7 266V 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 19,274 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 7 7445HS

The Ryzen 7 7445HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 May 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 19,008 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 7 266V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7445HS offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 7 266V has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7445HS — a 6.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 266V (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 266V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7445HS uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 266V scores 19,274 against the Ryzen 7 7445HS's 19,008 — a 1.4% lead for the Core Ultra 7 266V. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 266V vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 7 7445HS.

Feature	Core Ultra 7 266V	Ryzen 7 7445HS
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+6%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.2 GHz+45%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB+33%
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)	6 MB+140%
Process	3 nm-25%	4 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	19,274+1%	19,008

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 7 266V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7445HS uses FP7/FP7r2 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.