Core i5-1235U vs Core Ultra 7 164U
Core i5-1235U
Core Ultra 7 164U
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. The Core i5-1235U is positioned at rank 171 and the Core Ultra 7 164U is on rank 675, so the Core i5-1235U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1235U
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 164U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-1235U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-U (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-1235U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i5-1235U and Core Ultra 7 164U
Core i5-1235U
The Core i5-1235U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 12,740 points. Launch price was $149.
Core Ultra 7 164U
The Core Ultra 7 164U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2551. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 12,625 points. Launch price was $448.
Processing Power
The Core i5-1235U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 164U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 164U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1235U versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 164U — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U (base: 1.3 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i5-1235U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 164U uses Meteor Lake-U (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1235U scores 12,740 against the Core Ultra 7 164U's 12,625 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-1235U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,095 vs 2,131, a 1.7% lead for the Core Ultra 7 164U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i5-1235U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 12 | 12 / 14+20% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.8 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz+18% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+60% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Meteor Lake-U (2023) |
| PassMark | 12,740 | 12,625 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,766 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,095 | 2,131+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,973 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-1235U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 164U uses FCBGA2551 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR5-5200 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-1235U) vs 12 (Core Ultra 7 164U) — the Core i5-1235U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-1235U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | FCBGA2551 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | LPDDR5x-6400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+67% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1235U) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 164U). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Xe Graphics 80EU (Core i5-1235U) and Intel Arc (Core Ultra 7 164U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1235U targets Mainstream Laptop, Core Ultra 7 164U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core i5-1235U rivals Ryzen 5 6600U; Core Ultra 7 164U rivals Ryzen 7 7840U.
| Feature | Core i5-1235U | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | Intel Arc |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Enthusiast |
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