Core i7-12800HX vs Core Ultra 7 255H

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 i7-12800HX

2022

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255H across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 15,700).
❌111.5% higher power demand at 55W vs 26W.

Core Ultra 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +44.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 26W instead of 55W, a 29W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

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

Core i7-12800HX

2022

Core Ultra 7 255H

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +44.5% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 26W instead of 55W, a 29W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 7 255H across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (15,000 vs 15,700).
❌111.5% higher power demand at 55W vs 26W.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 7 255H better than Core i7-12800HX?

Yes. Core Ultra 7 255H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 44.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 4.7% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 Ultra 7 255H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 44.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 7 255H is the better fit. You are getting 4.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core Ultra 7 255H still looks like the safer overall buy. Core Ultra 7 255H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 44.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core Ultra 7 255H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 16 threads instead of 16/24. 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 i7-12800HX Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 255H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	269 FPS	309 FPS
medium	259 FPS	278 FPS
high	214 FPS	232 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	199 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	251 FPS
medium	198 FPS	201 FPS
high	159 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	143 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	173 FPS
medium	136 FPS	139 FPS
high	106 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	313 FPS	773 FPS
medium	265 FPS	636 FPS
high	224 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	205 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	258 FPS	704 FPS
medium	228 FPS	567 FPS
high	199 FPS	466 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	389 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	412 FPS
medium	142 FPS	340 FPS
high	135 FPS	314 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	270 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	775 FPS	773 FPS
medium	616 FPS	773 FPS
high	545 FPS	773 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	662 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	773 FPS
medium	554 FPS	735 FPS
high	485 FPS	635 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	544 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	642 FPS
medium	416 FPS	534 FPS
high	373 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	409 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Core Ultra 7 255H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Core Ultra 7 255H
1080p
low	781 FPS	773 FPS
medium	781 FPS	773 FPS
high	672 FPS	773 FPS
ultra	597 FPS	773 FPS
1440p
low	742 FPS	773 FPS
medium	658 FPS	773 FPS
high	566 FPS	703 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	609 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	612 FPS
medium	473 FPS	540 FPS
high	419 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	427 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Core Ultra 7 255H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12800HX and Core Ultra 7 255H

Core i7-12800HX

The Core i7-12800HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,229 points. Launch price was $499.

Core Ultra 7 255H

The Core Ultra 7 255H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 26 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 30,932 points. Launch price was $514.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-12800HX packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the Core Ultra 7 255H's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-12800HX versus 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255H — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H (base: 2 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i7-12800HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses Arrow Lake-H (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12800HX scores 31,229 against the Core Ultra 7 255H's 30,932 — a 1% lead for the Core i7-12800HX. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,962 vs 2,800, a 35.2% lead for the Core Ultra 7 255H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,000 vs 15,700 (4.6% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 255H). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12800HX vs 24 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255H.

Feature	Core i7-12800HX	Core Ultra 7 255H
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 16
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	5.1 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2 GHz	4.4 GHz+120%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+4%	24 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-HX (2022)	Arrow Lake-H (2025)
PassMark	31,229	30,932
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,680	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962	2,800+43%
Geekbench 6 Multi	15,000	15,700+5%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12800HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 255H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12800HX) vs 28 (Core Ultra 7 255H) — the Core Ultra 7 255H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i7-12800HX) and HM870,WM880 (Core Ultra 7 255H).

Feature	Core i7-12800HX	Core Ultra 7 255H
Socket	FCBGA1964	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

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Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12800HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-12800HX) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 255H). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12800HX) and Intel Arc Graphics 140T (Core Ultra 7 255H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12800HX targets Extreme Gaming Laptop, Core Ultra 7 255H targets High-End Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-12800HX rivals Ryzen 7 6800HX.

Feature	Core i7-12800HX	Core Ultra 7 255H
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel Arc Graphics 140T
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Extreme Gaming Laptop	High-End Laptop