Core i9-10900KF vs Core Ultra 5 135H
Core i9-10900KF
Core Ultra 5 135H
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 i9-10900KF
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 135H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-10900KF | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($336) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-10900KF | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($336) | ✅ 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 i9-10900KF and Core Ultra 5 135H
Core i9-10900KF
The Core i9-10900KF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 22,231 points. Launch price was $509.
Core Ultra 5 135H
The Core Ultra 5 135H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 14 cores and 18 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,116 points. Launch price was $342.
Processing Power
The Core i9-10900KF packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 135H offers 14 cores / 18 threads — the Core Ultra 5 135H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-10900KF versus 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H — a 12.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900KF (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i9-10900KF uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10900KF scores 22,231 against the Core Ultra 5 135H's 22,116 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-10900KF. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900KF vs 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 135H.
| Feature | Core i9-10900KF | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 14 / 18+40% |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz+13% | 4.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+3% | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+11% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Meteor Lake-H (2023) |
| PassMark | 22,231 | 22,116 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,767 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,261 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-10900KF uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 135H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-10900KF | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-10900KF) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 135H).
| Feature | Core i9-10900KF | Core Ultra 5 135H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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