Core Ultra 5 125U vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Core Ultra 5 125U
Ryzen 7 3700X
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 125U
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 125U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-P (2023) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 125U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
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 125U and Ryzen 7 3700X
Core Ultra 5 125U
The Core Ultra 5 125U 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 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 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: 17,152 points. Launch price was $363.
Ryzen 7 3700X
The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 125U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 5 125U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 125U uses the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 125U scores 17,152 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 26.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125U vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 125U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14+50% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.4 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+177% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 32 MB+167% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+300% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-P (2023) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 17,152 | 22,430+31% |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 5 125U uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 125U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
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