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 i7-12700TE

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $72 less on MSRP ($378 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 20.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 52.2 vs 43.5 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 7 256V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 7 256V

2024

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics 140V, while Core i7-12700TE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,579 vs 19,744).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 43.5 vs 52.2 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).

Core i7-12700TE

2022

Core Ultra 7 256V

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $72 less on MSRP ($378 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).
✅Delivers 20.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 52.2 vs 43.5 PassMark/$ ($378 MSRP vs $450 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Arc Graphics 140V, while Core i7-12700TE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 7 256V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (19,579 vs 19,744).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 43.5 vs 52.2 PassMark/$ ($450 MSRP vs $378 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 256V better than Core i7-12700TE?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core Ultra 7 256V is ahead with a 1.1% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700TE pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark. Core i7-12700TE also has the bigger cache pool with 108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700TE is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core Ultra 7 256V is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700TE makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 7 256V is 19.0% more expensive on MSRP at $450 MSRP versus $378 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-12700TE is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.8% better PassMark. Core i7-12700TE is also 20.1% better value on MSRP (52.2 vs 43.5 PassMark/$), 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 Ultra 7 256V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022). 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 i7-12700TE Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 256V Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core Ultra 7 256V
1080p
low	169 FPS	272 FPS
medium	153 FPS	243 FPS
high	128 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	230 FPS
medium	121 FPS	185 FPS
high	99 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	77 FPS	161 FPS
medium	71 FPS	130 FPS
high	57 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core Ultra 7 256V

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core Ultra 7 256V
1080p
low	319 FPS	217 FPS
medium	273 FPS	179 FPS
high	230 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	142 FPS
1440p
low	273 FPS	184 FPS
medium	241 FPS	157 FPS
high	210 FPS	145 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	125 FPS
4K
low	168 FPS	141 FPS
medium	150 FPS	124 FPS
high	142 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	102 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core Ultra 7 256V

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core Ultra 7 256V
1080p
low	494 FPS	489 FPS
medium	494 FPS	489 FPS
high	494 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	448 FPS	489 FPS
1440p
low	494 FPS	489 FPS
medium	494 FPS	489 FPS
high	445 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	387 FPS	468 FPS
4K
low	450 FPS	489 FPS
medium	363 FPS	462 FPS
high	323 FPS	404 FPS
ultra	266 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core Ultra 7 256V

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700TE	Core Ultra 7 256V
1080p
low	494 FPS	489 FPS
medium	494 FPS	489 FPS
high	494 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	494 FPS	489 FPS
1440p
low	494 FPS	489 FPS
medium	494 FPS	489 FPS
high	494 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	494 FPS	489 FPS
4K
low	494 FPS	489 FPS
medium	474 FPS	489 FPS
high	423 FPS	480 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	418 FPS

Open Core i7-12700TE Open Core Ultra 7 256V

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700TE and Core Ultra 7 256V

Core i7-12700TE

The Core i7-12700TE 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 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 19,744 points. Launch price was $299.

Core Ultra 7 256V

The Core Ultra 7 256V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,579 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700TE packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 256V offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-12700TE has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i7-12700TE versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 256V — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 256V (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-12700TE uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 256V uses Lunar Lake (2024) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700TE scores 19,744 against the Core Ultra 7 256V's 19,579 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-12700TE. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700TE vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 256V.

Feature	Core i7-12700TE	Core Ultra 7 256V
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+50%	8 / 8
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.8 GHz+4%
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	2.2 GHz+57%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+108%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2.5 MB (per core)+100%
Process	10 nm	3 nm-70%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Lunar Lake (2024)
PassMark	19,744	19,579
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	10,065
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,658
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700TE uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 7 256V uses FCBGA2833 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-12700TE	Core Ultra 7 256V
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA2833
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5x 8533 MT/s
Max RAM Capacity	—	16 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	8

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-12700TE) / true (Core Ultra 7 256V). The Core Ultra 7 256V includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc Graphics 140V), while the Core i7-12700TE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 256V targets Mobile.

Feature	Core i7-12700TE	Core Ultra 7 256V
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel Arc Graphics 140V
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	true
Target Use	—	Mobile

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700TE launched at $378 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 7 256V debuted at $450. On MSRP ($378 vs $450), the Core i7-12700TE is $72 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700TE delivers 52.2 pts/$ vs 43.5 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 7 256V — making the Core i7-12700TE the 18.2% better value option.