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 226V

2024

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 17W instead of 65W, a 48W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc 130V, while Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 124.4 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $146 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $154 less on MSRP ($146 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 102.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 124.4 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($146 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,169 vs 18,400).
❌282.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 226V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 226V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core Ultra 5 226V

2024

Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

2024

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 17W instead of 65W, a 48W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA2833 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Arc 130V, while Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $154 less on MSRP ($146 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 102.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 124.4 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($146 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE across 5 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 124.4 PassMark/$ ($300 MSRP vs $146 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (18,169 vs 18,400).
❌282.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 17W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core Ultra 5 226V moves to FCBGA2833 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core Ultra 5 226V can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 226V better than Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is ahead with a 6.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 226V pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 226V is the better fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core Ultra 5 226V is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core Ultra 5 226V is 105.5% more expensive on MSRP at $300 MSRP versus $146 MSRP, and it gives you 1.3% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.8% average FPS lead across 5 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is also 102.9% better value on MSRP (124.4 vs 61.3 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core Ultra 5 226V is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with FCBGA2833 and DDR5 instead of AM4 and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 226V Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
1080p
low	180 FPS	175 FPS
medium	145 FPS	147 FPS
high	117 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	148 FPS
medium	117 FPS	123 FPS
high	95 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	83 FPS	79 FPS
medium	71 FPS	71 FPS
high	57 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	44 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
1080p
low	212 FPS	335 FPS
medium	176 FPS	284 FPS
high	158 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	221 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	297 FPS
medium	154 FPS	259 FPS
high	142 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	122 FPS	202 FPS
4K
low	137 FPS	231 FPS
medium	122 FPS	205 FPS
high	115 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	161 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
1080p
low	460 FPS	454 FPS
medium	460 FPS	454 FPS
high	460 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	454 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	454 FPS
medium	460 FPS	436 FPS
high	460 FPS	399 FPS
ultra	424 FPS	339 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	361 FPS
medium	384 FPS	304 FPS
high	343 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	211 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
1080p
low	460 FPS	454 FPS
medium	460 FPS	454 FPS
high	460 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	454 FPS
1440p
low	460 FPS	454 FPS
medium	460 FPS	454 FPS
high	460 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	460 FPS	454 FPS
4K
low	460 FPS	454 FPS
medium	460 FPS	445 FPS
high	460 FPS	393 FPS
ultra	408 FPS	345 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 226V Open Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 226V and Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

Core Ultra 5 226V

The Core Ultra 5 226V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,400 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

The Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 May 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,169 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 226V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 5 226V has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 226V versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 226V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 226V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 226V scores 18,400 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE's 18,169 — a 1.3% lead for the Core Ultra 5 226V. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 226V vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+2%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.4 GHz+62%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	16 MB+100%
L2 Cache	2.5 MB (per core)+400%	512 kB (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	7 nm
Architecture	Lunar Lake (2024)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	18,400+1%	18,169
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,041	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 226V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
Socket	FCBGA2833	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5X-8533	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	8	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 226V) / not specified (Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE). The Core Ultra 5 226V includes integrated graphics (Arc 130V), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE requires a dedicated GPU.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 226V	Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Arc 130V	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core Ultra 5 226V launched at $300 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE debuted at $146. On MSRP ($300 vs $146), the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is $154 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 226V delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 124.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE the 67.9% better value option.