Core Ultra 5 225 vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

Intel

Core Ultra 5 225

10 Cores10 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2025
Core Ultra family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 5.2 GHz2024
Similar parts
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Core Ultra 5 225 vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS Performance Spectrum

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.

Core Ultra 5 225 vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS 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 Ultra 5 225 vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core Ultra 5 225

2025

Why buy it

  • +3% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
  • +25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
  • 20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Intel Laminar RM2), unlike Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Launch MSRP is still $240 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

2024

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +10.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,529 vs 17,020).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core Ultra 5 225.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 225 better than Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is ahead with a 10.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 225 pulls ahead with 3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core Ultra 5 225 also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 225 is the stronger fit. You are getting 3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 10 cores and 10 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core Ultra 5 225 is the better buy right now. Core Ultra 5 225 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $240 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The compromise is that Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 10.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (129.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 5 225 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2024), 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 10 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core Ultra 5 225 vs Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Core Ultra 5 225

The Core Ultra 5 225 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1851. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 31,137 points. Launch price was $246.

AMD

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

The Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 April 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,689 points. Launch price was $499.

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 225 packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS (base: 3.3 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225 scores 31,137 against the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS's 30,689 — a 1.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 17,020 vs 16,529 (2.9% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,653 vs 2,617, a 1.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,028 vs 13,098 (0.5% advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 225 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 225Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS
Cores / Threads
10 / 10+25%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
4.9 GHz
5.2 GHz+6%
Base Clock
3.3 GHz
4 GHz+21%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)+25%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
3 MB (per core)+200%
1 MB (per core)
Process
3 nm-25%
4 nm
Architecture
Arrow Lake-S (2024−2025)
Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024)
PassMark
31,137+1%
30,689
Cinebench R23 Multi
17,020+3%
16,529
Geekbench 6 Single
2,653+1%
2,617
Geekbench 6 Multi
13,028
13,098
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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 225 uses the LGA1851 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 225 versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS — the Core Ultra 5 225 supports 14.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 256 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Core Ultra 5 225) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) — the Core Ultra 5 225 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z890,B860,H810 (Core Ultra 5 225) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS).

FeatureCore Ultra 5 225Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS
Socket
LGA1851
FP7
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-6400+14%
DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity
256 GB
256 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24+20%
20
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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 5 225) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS). Both include integrated graphics Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores) (Core Ultra 5 225) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225 targets Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency, Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS targets Professional AI Business Laptop. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225 rivals Ryzen 5 8600G; Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS rivals Core Ultra 9 185H.

FeatureCore Ultra 5 225Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel Arc Graphics (2 Xe-cores)
Radeon 780M
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
AMD-V, SVM
Target Use
Mainstream Desktop / Efficiency
Professional AI Business Laptop