Core i5-12500T vs Core Ultra 7 155U

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 i5-12500T

2022

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core Ultra 7 155U needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Core Ultra 7 155U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $302 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 155U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core Ultra 7 155U

2023

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (16,185 vs 16,339).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12500T.

Core i5-12500T

2022

Core Ultra 7 155U

2023

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core Ultra 7 155U needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Core Ultra 7 155U.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $302 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 155U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (16,185 vs 16,339).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 18 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12500T.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12500T better than Core Ultra 7 155U?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 7 155U is ahead with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12500T pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark. Core i5-12500T also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12500T is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i5-12500T is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12500T is at an unclear MSRP at $302 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 1% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core Ultra 7 155U is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (54.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 7 155U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i5-12500T Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 155U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12500T	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	183 FPS	276 FPS
medium	168 FPS	248 FPS
high	139 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	230 FPS
medium	132 FPS	185 FPS
high	106 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	160 FPS
medium	81 FPS	130 FPS
high	64 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	88 FPS

Open Core i5-12500T Open Core Ultra 7 155U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12500T	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	256 FPS	211 FPS
medium	217 FPS	176 FPS
high	187 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	140 FPS
1440p
low	222 FPS	179 FPS
medium	192 FPS	155 FPS
high	170 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	146 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	154 FPS	140 FPS
medium	136 FPS	124 FPS
high	127 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	108 FPS	101 FPS

Open Core i5-12500T Open Core Ultra 7 155U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12500T	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	408 FPS	405 FPS
medium	408 FPS	405 FPS
high	408 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	408 FPS	405 FPS
medium	408 FPS	405 FPS
high	408 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	405 FPS
4K
low	408 FPS	405 FPS
medium	389 FPS	405 FPS
high	337 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i5-12500T Open Core Ultra 7 155U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12500T	Core Ultra 7 155U
1080p
low	408 FPS	405 FPS
medium	408 FPS	405 FPS
high	408 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	408 FPS	405 FPS
medium	408 FPS	405 FPS
high	408 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	405 FPS
4K
low	408 FPS	405 FPS
medium	408 FPS	405 FPS
high	386 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	403 FPS

Open Core i5-12500T Open Core Ultra 7 155U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12500T and Core Ultra 7 155U

Core i5-12500T

The Core i5-12500T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 16,339 points. Launch price was $299.

Core Ultra 7 155U

The Core Ultra 7 155U 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 1.7 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: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,185 points. Launch price was $490.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12500T packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 155U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 155U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12500T versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 155U — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 155U (base: 2 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i5-12500T uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12500T scores 16,339 against the Core Ultra 7 155U's 16,185 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-12500T. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500T vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 155U.

Feature	Core i5-12500T	Core Ultra 7 155U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 14+100%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2 GHz+18%	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+50%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Meteor Lake-P (2023)
PassMark	16,339	16,185
Cinebench R23 Multi	6,625	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,300	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,900	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12500T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12500T	Core Ultra 7 155U
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500T) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 155U). The Core i5-12500T includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core Ultra 7 155U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500T targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12500T rivals Ryzen 5 5600GE.