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 125W, a 110W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 9 285K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,183 vs 45,563).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1449 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 285K moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 9 285K

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +122.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+350% larger total L3 cache (36 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 $589 MSRP, while Core i5-1135G7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌733.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 15W.

Core i5-1135G7

2020

Core Ultra 9 285K

2024

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 125W, a 110W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +122.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+350% larger total L3 cache (36 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 9 285K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,183 vs 45,563).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 36 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1449 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 9 285K moves to LGA1851 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $589 MSRP, while Core i5-1135G7 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌733.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 9 285K better than Core i5-1135G7?

Yes. Core Ultra 9 285K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 122.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 779.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 616.8% 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 9 285K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 122.2% more average FPS across 50 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 285K is the better fit. You are getting 779.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 24 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 350% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core Ultra 9 285K is the smarter buy today. Core Ultra 9 285K is at an unclear MSRP at $589 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 122.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (114.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 285K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1851 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1449, 350% larger total L3 cache (36 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 24 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 9 285K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	168 FPS	341 FPS
medium	137 FPS	323 FPS
high	107 FPS	267 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	226 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	288 FPS
medium	118 FPS	239 FPS
high	91 FPS	184 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	162 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	188 FPS
medium	59 FPS	155 FPS
high	46 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	103 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 9 285K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	153 FPS	899 FPS
medium	129 FPS	778 FPS
high	118 FPS	623 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	544 FPS
1440p
low	135 FPS	756 FPS
medium	115 FPS	677 FPS
high	107 FPS	557 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	447 FPS
4K
low	106 FPS	421 FPS
medium	93 FPS	383 FPS
high	80 FPS	358 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	310 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 9 285K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	235 FPS	879 FPS
medium	235 FPS	718 FPS
high	235 FPS	637 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	545 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	750 FPS
medium	235 FPS	616 FPS
high	235 FPS	534 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	458 FPS
4K
low	235 FPS	534 FPS
medium	235 FPS	459 FPS
high	235 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 9 285K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 9 285K
1080p
low	235 FPS	1202 FPS
medium	235 FPS	1015 FPS
high	235 FPS	939 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	846 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	930 FPS
medium	235 FPS	811 FPS
high	235 FPS	713 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	633 FPS
4K
low	235 FPS	685 FPS
medium	235 FPS	606 FPS
high	235 FPS	539 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i5-1135G7 Open Core Ultra 9 285K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1135G7 and Core Ultra 9 285K

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 9 285K

The Core Ultra 9 285K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 24 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 67,482 points. Launch price was $589.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-1135G7 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 24 cores / 24 threads — the Core Ultra 9 285K has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-1135G7 versus 5.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 285K — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K (base: 1.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-1135G7 uses the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core Ultra 9 285K uses Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1135G7 scores 9,414 against the Core Ultra 9 285K's 67,482 — a 151% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285K. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 5,183 vs 45,563 (159.1% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,592 vs 3,200, a 67.1% lead for the Core Ultra 9 285K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 4,495 vs 22,563 (133.6% advantage for the Core Ultra 9 285K). L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i5-1135G7 vs 36 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 9 285K.

Feature	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 9 285K
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	24 / 24+500%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	5.6 GHz+33%
Base Clock	1.5 GHz	3.7 GHz+147%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	36 MB (total)+350%
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	67,482+617%
Cinebench R23 Multi	5,183	45,563+779%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,592	3,200+101%
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,495	22,563+402%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1135G7 uses the FCBGA1449 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 9 285K 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 9 285K — the Core Ultra 9 285K supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 9 285K supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-1135G7) vs 24 (Core Ultra 9 285K) — the Core Ultra 9 285K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core i5-1135G7) and Z890 (Core Ultra 9 285K).

Feature	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 9 285K
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	192 GB+200%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core Ultra 9 285K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i5-1135G7 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1135G7) vs true (Core Ultra 9 285K). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU) (Core i5-1135G7) and Intel Arc Graphics 64EU (Core Ultra 9 285K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1135G7 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-1135G7 rivals Ryzen 5 5500U; Core Ultra 9 285K rivals Ryzen 9 9950X.

Feature	Core i5-1135G7	Core Ultra 9 285K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU)	Intel Arc Graphics 64EU
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	true
Target Use	Productivity	—