Core i7-1255U
VS
Core Ultra 5 134U

Core i7-1255U vs Core Ultra 5 134U

Intel

Core i7-1255U

10 Cores12 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2022
VS
Intel

Core Ultra 5 134U

12 Cores14 Thrd0 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2023

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-1255U

#184
Core Ultra 7 266V
MSRP: $520|Avg: $520
120%
#185
Ryzen 7 5825C
MSRP: $400|Avg: $400
118%
#187
Core Ultra 9 288V
MSRP: $600|Avg: $600
110%
#188
Core i7-10870H
MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A
110%
#195
Core i7-1255U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 134U

#161
Core Ultra 7 268V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $400
110%
#162
Core Ultra 7 256V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $350
110%
#167
Core Ultra 7 258V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $400
106%
#169
Core i7-1280P
MSRP: $482|Avg: $482
105%
#173
Core Ultra 5 238V
MSRP: $454|Avg: $454
101%
#174
Core Ultra 5 134U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#176
Core i9-13900HK
MSRP: $697|Avg: N/A
98%
#178
Core i7-1360P
MSRP: $480|Avg: $280
97%
#179
Core i7-1260P
MSRP: $432|Avg: $432
97%
#184
Core Ultra 7 266V
MSRP: $520|Avg: $520
93%
#185
Ryzen 7 5825C
MSRP: $400|Avg: $400
92%
#187
Core Ultra 9 288V
MSRP: $600|Avg: $600
85%
#188
Core i7-10870H
MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A
85%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i7-1255U leads in gaming performance. However, the Core Ultra 5 134U is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.3% greater multi-core processing power.
InsightCore i7-1255UCore Ultra 5 134U
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm)
✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-U (2023) / 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightCore i7-1255UCore Ultra 5 134U
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

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.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-1255U and Core Ultra 5 134U

Intel

Core i7-1255U

The Core i7-1255U 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 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 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: 13,128 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Core Ultra 5 134U

The Core Ultra 5 134U 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 0.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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: 13,169 points. Launch price was $332.

Processing Power

The Core i7-1255U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 134U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 134U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-1255U versus 4.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 134U — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-1255U (base: 1.7 GHz vs 0.7 GHz). The Core i7-1255U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 134U uses Meteor Lake-U (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-1255U scores 13,128 against the Core Ultra 5 134U's 13,169 — a 0.3% lead for the Core Ultra 5 134U. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureCore i7-1255UCore Ultra 5 134U
Cores / Threads
10 / 12
12 / 14+20%
Boost Clock
4.7 GHz+7%
4.4 GHz
Base Clock
1.7 GHz+143%
0.7 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
13,128
13,169
Geekbench 6 Single
1,809
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-1255U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 5 134U uses FCBGA2551 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i7-1255UCore Ultra 5 134U
Socket
FCBGA1744
FCBGA2551
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-1255U) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 134U). The Core i7-1255U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 96EU), while the Core Ultra 5 134U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1255U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-1255U rivals Ryzen 7 6800U.

FeatureCore i7-1255UCore Ultra 5 134U
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Iris Xe Graphics 96EU
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Mainstream Laptop