Core i5-11500 vs Core Ultra 5 235U
Core i5-11500
Core Ultra 5 235U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-11500
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 235U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-11500 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Arrow Lake-U (2025) / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-11500 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($110) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11500 and Core Ultra 5 235U
Core i5-11500
The Core i5-11500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 17,096 points. Launch price was $299.
Core Ultra 5 235U
The Core Ultra 5 235U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,397 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i5-11500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 235U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235U — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235U (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-11500 uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 235U uses Arrow Lake-U (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500 scores 17,096 against the Core Ultra 5 235U's 17,397 — a 1.7% lead for the Core Ultra 5 235U. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500 vs 12 MB on the Core Ultra 5 235U.
| Feature | Core i5-11500 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 14+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+13% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 12 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 14 nm | 5 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Arrow Lake-U (2025) |
| PassMark | 17,096 | 17,397+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 9,883 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,064 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,564 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-11500 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 5 235U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-11500 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11500) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 235U). The Core i5-11500 includes integrated graphics (UHD 750), while the Core Ultra 5 235U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500 rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | Core i5-11500 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD 750 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-11500 and Core Ultra 5 235U
