Core Ultra 5 225U vs Xeon W-1290T
Core Ultra 5 225U
Xeon W-1290T
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 225U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-1290T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 225U | Xeon W-1290T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($494) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Arrow Lake-U (2025) / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 225U | Xeon W-1290T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($494) |
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 225U and Xeon W-1290T
Core Ultra 5 225U
The Core Ultra 5 225U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,434 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon W-1290T
The Xeon W-1290T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 18,409 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 225U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Xeon W-1290T offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 5 225U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225U versus 4.7 GHz on the Xeon W-1290T — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 225U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 225U is built on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 225U scores 18,434 against the Xeon W-1290T's 18,409 — a 0.1% lead for the Core Ultra 5 225U. L3 cache: 12 MB on the Core Ultra 5 225U vs 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon W-1290T.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 225U | Xeon W-1290T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+2% | 4.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+26% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB | 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache+67% |
| Process | 5 nm-64% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Arrow Lake-U (2025) | — |
| PassMark | 18,434 | 18,409 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,374 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,846 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 5 225U uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-1290T uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 225U | Xeon W-1290T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-6400 / LPDDR5x-8400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core Ultra 5 225U) / not specified (Xeon W-1290T). The Core Ultra 5 225U includes integrated graphics (Intel Graphics (4 Xe Cores)), while the Xeon W-1290T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 225U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 225U rivals Ryzen 5 8640U.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 225U | Xeon W-1290T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel Graphics (4 Xe Cores) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x / VT-d / EPT | — |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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