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 i5-1245U

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

2024

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-1245U across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,761 vs 12,964).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $180 MSRP, while Core i5-1245U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.

Core i5-1245U

2022

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.2% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-1245U across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,761 vs 12,964).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $180 MSRP, while Core i5-1245U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-1245U better than Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE?

Yes. Core i5-1245U is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 29.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.6% better 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 i5-1245U is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 29.2% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-1245U is the better fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i5-1245U is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-1245U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $180 MSRP, and it gives you a 29.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (70.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-1245U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 12 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 i5-1245U Benchmark Check

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1245U	Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE
1080p
low	186 FPS	173 FPS
medium	153 FPS	143 FPS
high	127 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	148 FPS
medium	119 FPS	120 FPS
high	97 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	67 FPS
medium	72 FPS	58 FPS
high	58 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-1245U Open Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1245U	Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE
1080p
low	206 FPS	268 FPS
medium	172 FPS	231 FPS
high	158 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	232 FPS
medium	156 FPS	204 FPS
high	146 FPS	187 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	159 FPS
4K
low	147 FPS	182 FPS
medium	130 FPS	165 FPS
high	124 FPS	141 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	118 FPS

Open Core i5-1245U Open Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1245U	Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE
1080p
low	324 FPS	319 FPS
medium	324 FPS	319 FPS
high	324 FPS	319 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	319 FPS
medium	324 FPS	319 FPS
high	324 FPS	319 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	324 FPS	319 FPS
medium	324 FPS	301 FPS
high	324 FPS	265 FPS
ultra	273 FPS	212 FPS

Open Core i5-1245U Open Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1245U	Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE
1080p
low	324 FPS	319 FPS
medium	324 FPS	319 FPS
high	324 FPS	319 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	319 FPS
medium	324 FPS	319 FPS
high	324 FPS	319 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	319 FPS
4K
low	324 FPS	319 FPS
medium	324 FPS	319 FPS
high	324 FPS	319 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	319 FPS

Open Core i5-1245U Open Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1245U and Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

Core i5-1245U

The Core i5-1245U 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 1.6 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: 12,964 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE

The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,761 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-1245U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-1245U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1245U versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-1245U (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-1245U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1245U scores 12,964 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE's 12,761 — a 1.6% lead for the Core i5-1245U. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1245U vs 8 MB on the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE.

Feature	Core i5-1245U	Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE
Cores / Threads	10 / 12+150%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+5%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	1.6 GHz	3.6 GHz+125%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-U (2022)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	12,964+2%	12,761
Geekbench 6 Single	2,150	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1245U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-1245U	Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE
Socket	FCBGA1744	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-5200	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1245U) / not specified (Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE). The Core i5-1245U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1245U targets Business Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1245U rivals Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U.