Core i9-9900 vs Core Ultra 7 155U

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.

Core i9-9900 vs Core Ultra 7 155U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-9900 vs Core Ultra 7 155U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-9900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Core Ultra 7 155U needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core Ultra 7 155U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $423 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 155U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 7 155U moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 7 155U

2023

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,185 vs 16,238).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i9-9900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-9900.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9900 better than Core Ultra 7 155U?

Yes. Core i9-9900 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 13.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9900 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 13.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Core i9-9900 is the better buy right now. Core i9-9900 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $423 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core Ultra 7 155U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i9-9900 vs Core Ultra 7 155U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i9-9900

The Core i9-9900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 16,238 points. Launch price was $439.

Core Ultra 7 155U

The Core Ultra 7 155U 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 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 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: 16,185 points. Launch price was $490.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-9900 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 155U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 155U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900 versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 155U — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i9-9900 uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9900 scores 16,238 against the Core Ultra 7 155U's 16,185 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i9-9900. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 155U.

Feature	Core i9-9900	Core Ultra 7 155U
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	12 / 14+50%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+4%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+82%	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)+33%	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+12700%	2 MB (per core)
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Meteor Lake-P (2023)
PassMark	16,238	16,185
Cinebench R23 Multi	7,619	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,637	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,619	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9900 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 7 155U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-9900	Core Ultra 7 155U
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-9900) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 155U). The Core i9-9900 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core Ultra 7 155U requires a dedicated GPU.