Core i7-1255U vs Ryzen 5 3500X

CPU

GPU

Core i7-1255U

10 Cores12 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2022

Popular choices:

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Ryzen 5 3500X

6 Cores6 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2019

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-1255U

10 / 12

13,128

0.0%

13,165

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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 i7-1255U

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while Ryzen 5 3500X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,128 vs 13,165).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 3500X

2019

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $155 MSRP, while Core i7-1255U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-1255U moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1255U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-1255U

2022

Ryzen 5 3500X

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 96EU, while Ryzen 5 3500X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,128 vs 13,165).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $155 MSRP, while Core i7-1255U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-1255U moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-1255U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-1255U better than Ryzen 5 3500X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-1255U is ahead with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3500X pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 3500X also has the bigger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3500X is the better fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i7-1255U is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3500X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-1255U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $155 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 3500X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.3% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 3500X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-1255U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of AM4. 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 i7-1255U Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 3500X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-1255U	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	187 FPS	197 FPS
medium	156 FPS	159 FPS
high	130 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	103 FPS
1440p
low	151 FPS	154 FPS
medium	120 FPS	119 FPS
high	98 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	74 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	70 FPS
medium	73 FPS	58 FPS
high	59 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i7-1255U Open Ryzen 5 3500X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-1255U	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	219 FPS	329 FPS
medium	182 FPS	329 FPS
high	164 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	294 FPS
1440p
low	190 FPS	329 FPS
medium	162 FPS	329 FPS
high	150 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	129 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	148 FPS	286 FPS
medium	130 FPS	249 FPS
high	124 FPS	221 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	198 FPS

Open Core i7-1255U Open Ryzen 5 3500X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-1255U	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	328 FPS	329 FPS
medium	328 FPS	329 FPS
high	328 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	328 FPS	329 FPS
medium	328 FPS	329 FPS
high	328 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	328 FPS	309 FPS
medium	328 FPS	243 FPS
high	328 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	160 FPS

Open Core i7-1255U Open Ryzen 5 3500X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-1255U	Ryzen 5 3500X
1080p
low	328 FPS	329 FPS
medium	328 FPS	329 FPS
high	328 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	328 FPS	329 FPS
medium	328 FPS	329 FPS
high	328 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	328 FPS	329 FPS
medium	328 FPS	329 FPS
high	328 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	329 FPS

Open Core i7-1255U Open Ryzen 5 3500X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-1255U and Ryzen 5 3500X

Core i7-1255U

The Core i7-1255U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 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): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,128 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 5 3500X

The Ryzen 5 3500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,165 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-1255U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3500X offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i7-1255U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-1255U versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500X — a 13.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-1255U (base: 1.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-1255U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-1255U scores 13,128 against the Ryzen 5 3500X's 13,165 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 3500X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1255U vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500X.

Feature	Core i7-1255U	Ryzen 5 3500X
Cores / Threads	10 / 12+67%	6 / 6
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+15%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	3.6 GHz+112%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-U (2022)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	13,128	13,165
Geekbench 6 Single	1,809	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1255U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i7-1255U versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3500X — the Core i7-1255U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3500X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-1255U) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3500X) — the Ryzen 5 3500X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Alder Lake-U (Core i7-1255U) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 3500X).

Feature	Core i7-1255U	Ryzen 5 3500X
Socket	FCBGA1744	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-1255U) / not specified (Ryzen 5 3500X). The Core i7-1255U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 96EU), while the Ryzen 5 3500X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1255U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-1255U rivals Ryzen 7 6800U.