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 9 288V

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 30W instead of 65W, a 35W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.8 vs 145.1 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600GT.

Ryzen 5 5600GT

2024

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $460 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 329.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 145.1 vs 33.8 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Core Ultra 9 288V.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 288V across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (9,300 vs 10,000).
❌116.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 30W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 288V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 9 288V

2024

Ryzen 5 5600GT

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 30W instead of 65W, a 35W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $460 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅Delivers 329.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 145.1 vs 33.8 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Core Ultra 9 288V.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.8 vs 145.1 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600GT.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 288V across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (9,300 vs 10,000).
❌116.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 30W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 288V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 288V better than Ryzen 5 5600GT?

Yes. Core Ultra 9 288V is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 18.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 7.5% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 9 288V is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 18.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 9 288V is the better fit. You are getting 7.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core Ultra 9 288V is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600GT makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 9 288V is 328.6% more expensive on MSRP at $600 MSRP versus $140 MSRP, and it gives you a 18.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600GT is also 329.2% better value on MSRP (145.1 vs 33.8 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 9 288V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 and DDR5 instead of AM4 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 9 288V Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600GT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 288V	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	278 FPS	178 FPS
medium	246 FPS	150 FPS
high	207 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	178 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	153 FPS
medium	187 FPS	125 FPS
high	153 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	135 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	163 FPS	83 FPS
medium	132 FPS	74 FPS
high	102 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 288V Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 9 288V	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	481 FPS	360 FPS
medium	383 FPS	304 FPS
high	337 FPS	267 FPS
ultra	298 FPS	231 FPS
1440p
low	426 FPS	313 FPS
medium	352 FPS	271 FPS
high	312 FPS	245 FPS
ultra	267 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	311 FPS	235 FPS
medium	269 FPS	207 FPS
high	251 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	161 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 288V Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 9 288V	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	507 FPS	508 FPS
medium	507 FPS	508 FPS
high	507 FPS	502 FPS
ultra	507 FPS	418 FPS
1440p
low	507 FPS	499 FPS
medium	507 FPS	409 FPS
high	507 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	477 FPS	308 FPS
4K
low	507 FPS	343 FPS
medium	473 FPS	291 FPS
high	419 FPS	252 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	194 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 288V Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 9 288V	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	507 FPS	508 FPS
medium	507 FPS	508 FPS
high	507 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	507 FPS	508 FPS
1440p
low	507 FPS	508 FPS
medium	507 FPS	508 FPS
high	507 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	507 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	507 FPS	508 FPS
medium	507 FPS	459 FPS
high	496 FPS	407 FPS
ultra	433 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core Ultra 9 288V Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 9 288V and Ryzen 5 5600GT

Core Ultra 9 288V

The Core Ultra 9 288V 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 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): 30 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,280 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600GT

The Ryzen 5 5600GT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $140.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 9 288V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600GT offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 9 288V has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 288V versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600GT — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 288V (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 9 288V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600GT uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 9 288V scores 20,280 against the Ryzen 5 5600GT's 20,312 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600GT. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,800 vs 2,000, a 33.3% lead for the Core Ultra 9 288V that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,000 vs 9,300 (7.3% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 288V). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 288V vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600GT.

Feature	Core Ultra 9 288V	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+11%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz	3.6 GHz+9%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB+33%
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)+400%	512 kB (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	20,280	20,312
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,300	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,800+40%	2,000
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,000+8%	9,300

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 9 288V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600GT uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5X-8533 on the Core Ultra 9 288V versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600GT — the Core Ultra 9 288V supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600GT supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 9 288V) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600GT) — the Ryzen 5 5600GT offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 9 288V) and A520,B550,X570,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 5600GT).

Feature	Core Ultra 9 288V	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Socket	FCBGA2833	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5X-8533+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	128 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	24+200%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: true (Core Ultra 9 288V) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600GT). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc 140V (Core Ultra 9 288V) and Radeon Vega 7 (Ryzen 5 5600GT) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600GT targets Budget Gaming/Desktop.

Feature	Core Ultra 9 288V	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Arc 140V	Radeon Vega 7
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Budget Gaming/Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 9 288V launched at $600 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600GT debuted at $140. On MSRP ($600 vs $140), the Ryzen 5 5600GT is $460 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 9 288V delivers 33.8 pts/$ vs 145.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600GT — making the Ryzen 5 5600GT the 124.4% better value option.