Core i5-11500B vs Core Ultra 5 125U
Core i5-11500B
Core Ultra 5 125U
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 i5-11500B
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 125U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-11500B | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-H (2021) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-P (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-11500B | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) | ✅ 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 i5-11500B and Core Ultra 5 125U
Core i5-11500B
The Core i5-11500B is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. L2 cache: 7.5 MB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,075 points. Launch price was $299.
Core Ultra 5 125U
The Core Ultra 5 125U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,152 points. Launch price was $363.
Processing Power
The Core i5-11500B packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 125U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 125U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500B versus 4.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U — a 6.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-11500B (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core i5-11500B uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500B scores 17,075 against the Core Ultra 5 125U's 17,152 — a 0.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 125U. L3 cache: 12 MB on the Core i5-11500B vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125U.
| Feature | Core i5-11500B | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 12 / 14+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+7% | 4.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+154% | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 7.5 MB+275% | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm | 7 nm-30% |
| Architecture | Tiger Lake-H (2021) | Meteor Lake-P (2023) |
| PassMark | 17,075 | 17,152 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-11500B uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-11500B | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1787 | 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 (Core i5-11500B) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 125U). The Core i5-11500B includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 32EU), while the Core Ultra 5 125U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500B targets Desktop / Mini PC.
| Feature | Core i5-11500B | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 32EU | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop / Mini PC | — |
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