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 258V

2024

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 105W, a 88W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (10,000 vs 15,300).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 42.1 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $151 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 125.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅250% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌517.6% higher power demand at 105W vs 17W.

Core Ultra 7 258V

2024

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 105W, a 88W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $151 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 125.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 94.7 vs 42.1 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅250% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (10,000 vs 15,300).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 42.1 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌517.6% higher power demand at 105W vs 17W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7600X better than Core Ultra 7 258V?

Yes. Ryzen 5 7600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 41.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 53% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 49.5% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 7600X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 41.2% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 7600X is the better fit. You are getting 53% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 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?

Ryzen 5 7600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 7600X is $151 cheaper on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $450 MSRP, and it gives you a 41.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 125.0% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 42.1 PassMark/$), 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 258V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 258V Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 7 258V	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	272 FPS	266 FPS
medium	243 FPS	246 FPS
high	205 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	226 FPS
medium	185 FPS	189 FPS
high	152 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	161 FPS	157 FPS
medium	130 FPS	131 FPS
high	101 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 258V Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 7 258V	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	217 FPS	649 FPS
medium	179 FPS	524 FPS
high	161 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	142 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	184 FPS	544 FPS
medium	157 FPS	455 FPS
high	145 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	141 FPS	341 FPS
medium	124 FPS	290 FPS
high	117 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	232 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 258V Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 7 258V	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	474 FPS	708 FPS
medium	474 FPS	652 FPS
high	474 FPS	571 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	484 FPS
1440p
low	474 FPS	708 FPS
medium	474 FPS	554 FPS
high	474 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	468 FPS	409 FPS
4K
low	474 FPS	463 FPS
medium	462 FPS	392 FPS
high	404 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	281 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 258V Open Ryzen 5 7600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 7 258V	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	474 FPS	708 FPS
medium	474 FPS	708 FPS
high	474 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	708 FPS
1440p
low	474 FPS	708 FPS
medium	474 FPS	708 FPS
high	474 FPS	658 FPS
ultra	474 FPS	571 FPS
4K
low	474 FPS	560 FPS
medium	474 FPS	502 FPS
high	474 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	391 FPS

Open Core Ultra 7 258V Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 7 258V and Ryzen 5 7600X

Core Ultra 7 258V

The Core Ultra 7 258V 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 4.8 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: 18,947 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 7 258V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 7 258V has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 258V versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X — a 9.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 2.2 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 258V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 258V scores 18,947 against the Ryzen 5 7600X's 28,325 — a 39.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 10,000 vs 15,300 (41.9% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,750 vs 2,900, a 5.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,000 vs 13,800 (22.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 258V vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X.

Feature	Core Ultra 7 258V	Ryzen 5 7600X
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	5.3 GHz+10%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	4.7 GHz+114%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)	6 MB+140%
Process	3 nm-40%	5 nm, 6 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	18,947	28,325+49%
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,000	15,300+53%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,750	2,900+5%
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,000	13,800+25%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 7 258V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR5X-8533 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 7600X 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 7 258V) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) — the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Lunar Lake (Core Ultra 7 258V) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X).

Feature	Core Ultra 7 258V	Ryzen 5 7600X
Socket	FCBGA2833	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5X-8533	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	128 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	8	28+250%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 7600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 7600X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 258V) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X). Both include integrated graphics — Arc 140V (Core Ultra 7 258V) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600X) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 258V targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 258V rivals Ryzen 7 8840U; Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K.

Feature	Core Ultra 7 258V	Ryzen 5 7600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Arc 140V	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 7 258V launched at $450 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 7600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($450 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 7600X is $151 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 7 258V delivers 42.1 pts/$ vs 94.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 7600X — making the Ryzen 5 7600X the 76.9% better value option.