Core Ultra 5 125U vs Xeon D-1848TER

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core Ultra 5 125U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.3% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA2227 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 15 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-1848TER, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.

Xeon D-1848TER

2023

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 125U across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,952 vs 17,152).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA2227 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 125U moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Core Ultra 5 125U

2023

Xeon D-1848TER

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.3% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2049 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA2227 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 15 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-1848TER, which brings 10 cores / 20 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 125U across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,952 vs 17,152).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA2227 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 125U moves to FCBGA2049 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 125U better than Xeon D-1848TER?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon D-1848TER makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core Ultra 5 125U is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 125U is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.3% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 125U is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 14 threads.

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

Core Ultra 5 125U still looks like the safer overall buy. Core Ultra 5 125U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 9.3% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core Ultra 5 125U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with FCBGA2049 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA2227 and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 14 threads instead of 10/20. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core Ultra 5 125U Benchmark Check

Xeon D-1848TER Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 125U	Xeon D-1848TER
1080p
low	181 FPS	177 FPS
medium	145 FPS	144 FPS
high	117 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	143 FPS
medium	116 FPS	114 FPS
high	93 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	68 FPS
medium	67 FPS	57 FPS
high	54 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 125U Open Xeon D-1848TER

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 125U	Xeon D-1848TER
1080p
low	181 FPS	141 FPS
medium	153 FPS	124 FPS
high	140 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	123 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	160 FPS	124 FPS
medium	139 FPS	112 FPS
high	129 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	111 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	131 FPS	91 FPS
medium	117 FPS	84 FPS
high	110 FPS	75 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	58 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 125U Open Xeon D-1848TER

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 125U	Xeon D-1848TER
1080p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	398 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	413 FPS	328 FPS
4K
low	429 FPS	404 FPS
medium	380 FPS	313 FPS
high	331 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	214 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 125U Open Xeon D-1848TER

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 125U	Xeon D-1848TER
1080p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	424 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	424 FPS
high	429 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	418 FPS
4K
low	429 FPS	424 FPS
medium	429 FPS	401 FPS
high	417 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	308 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 125U Open Xeon D-1848TER

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 125U and Xeon D-1848TER

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.

Xeon D-1848TER

The Xeon D-1848TER is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB. Socket: FCBGA2227. Thermal design power (TDP): 57 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 16,952 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 125U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Xeon D-1848TER offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 5 125U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon D-1848TER — a 32.4% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 125U (base: 1.3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 125U is built on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 125U scores 17,152 against the Xeon D-1848TER's 16,952 — a 1.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 125U. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125U vs 15360 kB on the Xeon D-1848TER.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 125U	Xeon D-1848TER
Cores / Threads	12 / 14+20%	10 / 20
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+39%	3.1 GHz
Base Clock	1.3 GHz	2 GHz+54%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	15360 kB+25%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	7 nm	—
Architecture	Meteor Lake-P (2023)	—
PassMark	17,152+1%	16,952

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 125U uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon D-1848TER uses FCBGA2227 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.