Core Ultra 5 225H
Ryzen 7 260
Core Ultra 5 225H vs Ryzen 7 260 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 225H vs Ryzen 7 260 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Core Ultra 5 225H vs Ryzen 7 260: 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 225H
2025Why buy it
- ✅+1.6% higher PassMark.
- ✅Draws 20W instead of 45W, a 25W reduction.
- ✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.
Ryzen 7 260
2025Why buy it
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (28,339 vs 28,802).
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Core Ultra 5 225H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌125% higher power demand at 45W vs 20W.
Quick Answers
So, is Core Ultra 5 225H better than Ryzen 7 260?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core Ultra 5 225H vs Ryzen 7 260 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
Core Ultra 5 225H
The Core Ultra 5 225H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 4.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 MB + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 28,802 points. Launch price was $385.
Ryzen 7 260
The Ryzen 7 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 28,339 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 225H packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the Ryzen 7 260 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225H has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225H versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 260 — a 4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 260 (base: 4.3 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225H uses the Arrow Lake-H (2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Ryzen 7 260 uses Hawk Point (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225H scores 28,802 against the Ryzen 7 260's 28,339 — a 1.6% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225H. L3 cache: 18 MB on the Core Ultra 5 225H vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 260.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 225H | Ryzen 7 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 14+75% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz | 5.1 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 4.3 GHz+13% | 3.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB+13% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm | 4 nm-20% |
| Architecture | Arrow Lake-H (2025) | Hawk Point (2024−2025) |
| PassMark | 28,802+2% | 28,339 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 14,526 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,678 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 12,337 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 5 225H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 260 uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6400 on the Core Ultra 5 225H versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 7 260 — the Core Ultra 5 225H supports 14.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 225H supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Core Ultra 5 225H) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 260) — the Core Ultra 5 225H offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 225H | Ryzen 7 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6400+14% | DDR5-5600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | No | No |
| PCIe Lanes | 28+40% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core Ultra 5 225H has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 260 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 225H) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 260). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc 130T GPU (Core Ultra 5 225H) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 260) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225H targets Professional Content Creation Laptop, Ryzen 7 260 targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225H rivals Ryzen 7 9800H.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 225H | Ryzen 7 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel Arc 130T GPU | Radeon 780M |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Professional Content Creation Laptop | Mobile |
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