Core i9-10920X vs Core Ultra 7 165H
Core i9-10920X
Core Ultra 7 165H
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 i9-10920X
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 165H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-10920X | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($430) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake-X (2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-10920X | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($430) | ✅ 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 i9-10920X and Core Ultra 7 165H
Core i9-10920X
The Core i9-10920X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 25,875 points. Launch price was $299.
Core Ultra 7 165H
The Core Ultra 7 165H 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 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 25,849 points. Launch price was $460.
Processing Power
The Core i9-10920X packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 165H offers 16 cores / 22 threads — the Core Ultra 7 165H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-10920X versus 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 165H — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 165H (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i9-10920X uses the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 165H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10920X scores 25,875 against the Core Ultra 7 165H's 25,849 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i9-10920X. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-10920X vs 24 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 165H.
| Feature | Core i9-10920X | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 | 16 / 22+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz | 5 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.8 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB (total) | 24 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake-X (2019) | Meteor Lake-H (2023) |
| PassMark | 25,875 | 25,849 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 15,458 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,250 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 12,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-10920X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 7 165H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-10920X | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2066 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 256 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 44 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-10920X) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 165H). Primary use case: Core i9-10920X targets HEDT/Workstation.
| Feature | Core i9-10920X | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | HEDT/Workstation | — |
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