Core Ultra 5 226V vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Core Ultra 5 226V
Ryzen 7 3700X
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 226V
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 226V | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Lunar Lake (2024) / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 226V | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+161%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
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 226V and Ryzen 7 3700X
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 7 3700X
The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 226V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 3700X's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 226V versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 226V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 226V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 226V scores 18,400 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 19.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 226V vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 226V | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+2% | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+71% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 32 MB+300% |
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core)+400% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-57% | 7 nm, 12 nm |
| Architecture | Lunar Lake (2024) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 18,400 | 22,430+22% |
| 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 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5X-8533 on the Core Ultra 5 226V versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Core Ultra 5 226V supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 5 226V) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 5 226V) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 226V | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2833 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5X-8533+25% | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 128 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 24+200% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 226V) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). The Core Ultra 5 226V includes integrated graphics (Arc 130V), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 226V | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| 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 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($300 vs $140), the Ryzen 7 3700X is $160 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 226V delivers 61.3 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 89.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 226V | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300-9% | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $300 | $140-53% |
| Performance per Dollar | 61.3 | 160.2+161% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2019 |
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