Core Ultra 5 125H vs Core i9-7900X
Core Ultra 5 125H
Core i9-7900X
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 Ultra 5 125H
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-7900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 125H | Core i9-7900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 125H | Core i9-7900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($188) |
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 Ultra 5 125H and Core i9-7900X
Core Ultra 5 125H
The Core Ultra 5 125H 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 4.5 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: 20,754 points. Launch price was $375.
Core i9-7900X
The Core i9-7900X 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 14 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,907 points. Launch price was $999.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 125H packs 14 cores / 18 threads, while the Core i9-7900X offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 5 125H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125H versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i9-7900X — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 125H uses the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i9-7900X uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 125H scores 20,754 against the Core i9-7900X's 20,907 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i9-7900X. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125H vs 14 MB (total) on the Core i9-7900X.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 125H | Core i9-7900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 18+40% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz | 4.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+9% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+29% | 14 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+100% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-H (2023) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 20,754 | 20,907 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,323 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,536 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 5 125H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-7900X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 125H | Core i9-7900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 44 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core Ultra 5 125H) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-7900X). Primary use case: Core i9-7900X targets High-End Desktop.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 125H | Core i9-7900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | High-End Desktop |
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