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 i7-7820X

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.3% higher average FPS across 21 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+37.5% larger total L3 cache (11 MB vs 8 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.7 vs 57.5 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $295 MSRP).
❌723.5% higher power demand at 140W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 228V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 228V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 228V

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $304 less on MSRP ($295 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 100.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 57.5 vs 28.7 PassMark/$ ($295 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 140W, a 123W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-7820X across 21 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,955 vs 17,171).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 11 MB).

Core i7-7820X

2017

Core Ultra 5 228V

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.3% higher average FPS across 21 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+37.5% larger total L3 cache (11 MB vs 8 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $304 less on MSRP ($295 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 100.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 57.5 vs 28.7 PassMark/$ ($295 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 140W, a 123W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 28.7 vs 57.5 PassMark/$ ($599 MSRP vs $295 MSRP).
❌723.5% higher power demand at 140W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 228V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 228V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-7820X across 21 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,955 vs 17,171).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 11 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-7820X better than Core Ultra 5 228V?

Yes. Core i7-7820X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 16.3% average FPS lead across 21 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-7820X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.3% more average FPS across 21 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-7820X is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 37.5% larger total L3 cache (11 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i7-7820X is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i7-7820X is 103.1% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $295 MSRP, and it gives you a 16.3% average FPS lead across 21 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core Ultra 5 228V only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 16.3% in the shared gaming data.

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

Core Ultra 5 228V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2017) and a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066. 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 i7-7820X Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 228V Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	208 FPS	180 FPS
medium	165 FPS	145 FPS
high	132 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	174 FPS	148 FPS
medium	136 FPS	117 FPS
high	109 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	83 FPS
medium	74 FPS	71 FPS
high	59 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Core Ultra 5 228V

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	368 FPS	212 FPS
medium	297 FPS	176 FPS
high	265 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	139 FPS
1440p
low	327 FPS	181 FPS
medium	270 FPS	154 FPS
high	242 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	122 FPS
4K
low	257 FPS	137 FPS
medium	216 FPS	122 FPS
high	199 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	100 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Core Ultra 5 228V

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	424 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	405 FPS	384 FPS
high	364 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	292 FPS	272 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Core Ultra 5 228V

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Core Ultra 5 228V
1080p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	424 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	408 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Core Ultra 5 228V

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-7820X and Core Ultra 5 228V

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 228V

The Core Ultra 5 228V 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 16,955 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-7820X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, matching the Core Ultra 5 228V's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7820X versus 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 228V — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i7-7820X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 228V uses Lunar Lake (2024) (3 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7820X scores 17,171 against the Core Ultra 5 228V's 16,955 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i7-7820X. L3 cache: 11 MB (total) on the Core i7-7820X vs 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 228V.

Feature	Core i7-7820X	Core Ultra 5 228V
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 8
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+71%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	11 MB (total)+38%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2.5 MB (per core)+150%
Process	14 nm	3 nm-79%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Lunar Lake (2024)
PassMark	17,171+1%	16,955
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,932
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,585
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,053

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-7820X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 228V uses FCBGA2833 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-7820X	Core Ultra 5 228V
Socket	LGA2066	FCBGA2833
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5X-8533
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	8

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-7820X) / Yes (Core Ultra 5 228V). The Core Ultra 5 228V includes integrated graphics (Arc 130V), while the Core i7-7820X requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core i7-7820X	Core Ultra 5 228V
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Arc 130V
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	Yes

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-7820X launched at $599 MSRP, while the Core Ultra 5 228V debuted at $295. On MSRP ($599 vs $295), the Core Ultra 5 228V is $304 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-7820X delivers 28.7 pts/$ vs 57.5 pts/$ for the Core Ultra 5 228V — making the Core Ultra 5 228V the 66.9% better value option.