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 i5-1135G7

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU), while Core Ultra 5 225F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225F across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,183 vs 17,050).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1449 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 225F moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 5 225F

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +89.3% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1449 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $231 MSRP, while Core i5-1135G7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1135G7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-1135G7

2020

Core Ultra 5 225F

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU), while Core Ultra 5 225F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +89.3% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1851 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1449 and DDR4.
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 225F across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,183 vs 17,050).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1449 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 225F moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $231 MSRP, while Core i5-1135G7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1135G7 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 225F better than Core i5-1135G7?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 225F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 89.3% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data, 229% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 235.0% higher 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 5 225F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 89.3% more average FPS across 38 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 225F is the better fit. You are getting 229% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 10 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core Ultra 5 225F is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 5 225F is at an unclear MSRP at $231 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 89.3% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (136.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 5 225F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1851 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1449, 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 10 threads instead of 4/8. 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 i5-1135G7 Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 225F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	168 FPS	256 FPS
medium	137 FPS	244 FPS
high	107 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	219 FPS
medium	118 FPS	187 FPS
high	91 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	150 FPS
medium	59 FPS	127 FPS
high	46 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	153 FPS	603 FPS
medium	129 FPS	512 FPS
high	118 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	135 FPS	501 FPS
medium	115 FPS	441 FPS
high	107 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	106 FPS	301 FPS
medium	93 FPS	266 FPS
high	80 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	218 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	235 FPS	789 FPS
medium	235 FPS	680 FPS
high	235 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	522 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	725 FPS
medium	235 FPS	588 FPS
high	235 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	235 FPS	504 FPS
medium	235 FPS	422 FPS
high	235 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	318 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 5 225F
1080p
low	235 FPS	789 FPS
medium	235 FPS	789 FPS
high	235 FPS	777 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	699 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	789 FPS
medium	235 FPS	716 FPS
high	235 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	547 FPS
4K
low	235 FPS	560 FPS
medium	235 FPS	510 FPS
high	235 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 5 225F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1135G7 and Core Ultra 5 225F

Core i5-1135G7

The Core i5-1135G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 September 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1449. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,414 points. Launch price was $309.

Core Ultra 5 225F

The Core Ultra 5 225F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 31,541 points. Launch price was $231.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-1135G7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 225F offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225F has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-1135G7 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225F — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225F (base: 1.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-1135G7 uses the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core Ultra 5 225F uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1135G7 scores 9,414 against the Core Ultra 5 225F's 31,541 — a 108.1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 5,183 vs 17,050 (106.8% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,592 vs 2,653, a 50% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 4,495 vs 13,028 (97.4% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225F). L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i5-1135G7 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225F.

Feature	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 5 225F
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	10 / 10+150%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.9 GHz+17%
Base Clock	1.5 GHz	3.3 GHz+120%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	20 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB (per core)+140%
Process	10 nm SuperFin	3 nm-70%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021)	Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
PassMark	9,414	31,541+235%
Cinebench R23 Multi	5,183	17,050+229%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,592	2,653+67%
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,495	13,028+190%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1135G7 uses the FCBGA1449 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 5 225F uses LGA1851 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267 on the Core i5-1135G7 versus DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 225F — the Core Ultra 5 225F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 225F supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-1135G7) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 225F) — the Core Ultra 5 225F offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core i5-1135G7) and Z890,B860 (Core Ultra 5 225F).

Feature	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 5 225F
Socket	FCBGA1449	LGA1851
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267	DDR5-6400+25%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	256 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1135G7) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 225F). The Core i5-1135G7 includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU)), while the Core Ultra 5 225F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1135G7 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-1135G7 rivals Ryzen 5 5500U.