Core i7-7820X vs Core Ultra 5 125U
Core i7-7820X
Core Ultra 5 125U
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7820X
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 125U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-7820X | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-P (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-7820X | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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 i7-7820X and Core Ultra 5 125U
Core i7-7820X
The Core i7-7820X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 17,171 points. Launch price was $599.
Core Ultra 5 125U
The Core Ultra 5 125U 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 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 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: 17,152 points. Launch price was $363.
Processing Power
The Core i7-7820X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 125U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 125U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7820X versus 4.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U — a 4.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-7820X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core i7-7820X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7820X scores 17,171 against the Core Ultra 5 125U's 17,152 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-7820X. L3 cache: 11 MB (total) on the Core i7-7820X vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125U.
| Feature | Core i7-7820X | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 12 / 14+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+5% | 4.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+177% | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 11 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+9% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Meteor Lake-P (2023) |
| PassMark | 17,171 | 17,152 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-7820X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-7820X | Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2066 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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